New Open-Source Channel Programs You Should Know About
There's an
open-source channel offensive under way
as a new wave of emerging Linux application providers make serious channel investments in 2007.
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It's a partner push that represents the biggest influx of new channel dollars in many, many years. These programs cover every segment of the solution stack and are backed up by solution margins as high as 30 percent to 50 percent.
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Here are the high points of some of these new vendor programs:
COMPANY:
Astaro
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Burlington, Mass.
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KEY PRODUCT:
Astaro Security Gateway
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PRICING:
Basic appliance starts at $695 for 10 users, $1,560 wirth full services for 10 users
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PROGRAM:
Astaro Partner Program
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
Premier Level ($200K per year), Preferred Level ($50K per year)
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KEY BENEFITS:
Free partner training, tech support, listing on Web site, Astaro portal access
COMPANY:
Centric CRM
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Norfolk, Va.
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KEY PRODUCT:
Centric CRM 4.1
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PRICING:
$400 per user, on demand $50 per month
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PROGRAM:
Centric CRM Solution Provider Program
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
Single level, 2-day training session
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KEY BENEFITS:
Leads, deal registration, certification training, online portal co-marketing
Next: Covalent
COMPANY:
Covalent
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Walnut Creek, Calif.
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KEY PRODUCT:
Covalent subscription support plans for Apache Tomcat, Geronimo, Axis and HTTPD
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PRICING:
$2,000 for online support to $25,000 for 24x7
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PROGRAM:
Covalent Reseller Program
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
1 Level, 30 percent margin
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KEY BENEFITS:
Tech support, partner community
COMPANY:
Digium
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Huntsville, Ala.
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KEY PRODUCT:
Asterisk Business Edition
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PRICING:
5-license set $3,795
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PROGRAM:
Digium Authorized Reseller Program
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
Authorized, Premier Authorized and Elite Authorized Reseller levels
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KEY BENEFITS:
Co-op funds, leads, tech support, certification
COMPANY:
Funambol
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Redwood City, Calif.
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KEY PRODUCT:
Funambol
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PRICING:
Perpetual or recurring user-based pricing
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PROGRAM:
Funambol Channel Program
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
2 levels (Systems Integrator and VAR)
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KEY BENEFITS:
Technical support, marketing assistance
COMPANY:
Ingres
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Redwood City, Calf.
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KEY PRODUCT:
Ingres 2006
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PRICING:
$7,995/CPU
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PROGRAM:
Ingres Partner Program
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
Integrated Partners, Embedded Partners
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KEY BENEFITS:
Technical support, training
Next: JasperSoft
COMPANY:
JasperSoft
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San Francisco, Calif.
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KEY PRODUCT:
JasperSoft BI Suite
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PRICING:
Silver subscription starts at $2,500
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PROGRAM:
Jasper Partner Network
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
Referral Partner, Systems Integrator, Reseller
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KEY BENEFITS:
Consulting, technical, marketing assistance
COMPANY:
MySQL
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Cupertino, Calif.
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KEY PRODUCT:
MySQL Enterprise
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PRICING:
Basic $595 per year to MySQL Platinum $4,999 per year
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PROGRAM:
MySQL Enterprise Alliance, Connection Alliance
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
3 levels: Ready, no charge; Gold, $2,995; Platinum, by invitation
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KEY BENEFITS:
Partner portal, listing in solution partner catalog
COMPANY:
Novell
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Waltham, Mass.
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KEY PRODUCT:
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop
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PRICING:
Varies depending on architecture product/architecture
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PROGRAM:
Novell PartnerNet
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
Reseller, Silver, Gold, Platinum
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KEY BENEFITS:
Training, marketing assistance, partner portal
COMPANY:
Open-Xchange
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Tarrytown, N.Y..
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KEY PRODUCT:
Open-Xchange Server 5
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PRICING:
$1,095 server license, 25 named users, support
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PROGRAM:
Open-Xchange Partner Program
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
Member: Free, 15% product discount; Value Pack: $980/year, 1 server license, 50 named user licenses; Certified: Free, 25% product discount
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KEY BENEFITS:
Leads, discounts, partner locator certification, support and training discounts
Next: Red Hat
COMPANY:
Red Hat
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Raleigh, N.C..
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KEY PRODUCT:
Enterprise Linux 5/4
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PRICING:
N/A
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PROGRAM:
Red Hat Business Partner Programs
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
Ready Partner, Advanced
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KEY BENEFITS:
Leads, co-marketing, sales training discounts
COMPANY:
SugarCRM
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Cupertino, Calif.
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KEY PRODUCT:
Sugar Professional, Sugar Enterprise
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PRICING:
Professional subscription $275 per user per year, Professional On Demand $480 per user per year
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PROGRAM:
SugarCRM Partner Program
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
Gold Level (formal certification, training)
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KEY BENEFITS:
Formal certification, training, marketing and sales support
COMPANY:
SwitchVox (Four Loop Technologies)
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San Diego, Calif.
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KEY PRODUCT:
SwitchVox SMB
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PRICING:
$2,495
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PROGRAM:
SwitchVox Reseller Partner Program
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
Level One (1-4 units), Level Two
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KEY BENEFITS:
Bulk discounts, hardware certification, co-op in targeted areas
COMPANY:
Zimbra
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San Mateo, Calif.
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KEY PRODUCT:
Zimbra Collaboration Suite
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PRICING:
75 Professional Edition mailboxes $28 per user, per year
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PROGRAM:
Zimbra Partner Program
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PROGRAM LEVELS & REQUIREMENTS:
3 VAR levels, is developing overall Premium Partner status
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KEY BENEFITS:
Technical support, marketing assistance