Microsoft to enhance partner skills to tap SMEs

Microsoft is launching a new partner program, which would enable them to make
more inroads into SMBs in the country. The company today earns 50 percent of its
revenue from the SMB-space worldwide, and this move would help them achieve 60
percent revenues from small businesses in the financial year 2005, which starts
from July 1 for the company.

Said John Ball, Director (Small, Mid-Market Solutions) and APAC-GC Region
Partner, Microsoft, "We have launched the first phase of our new program on
April 26 where we would be trying to enhance some key competencies of our
partners which would help them to provide more solutions to the SMBs."

The second phase of the Microsoft Partner program would start in July 2004,
where the company would specially certify those partners who satisfy certain
criteria. The company also plans to increase the focus on the ISVs (Inde-pendent
Software Vendors) and plans to bring them closer with the SIs to work on some
new application for the SMB space.

Microsoft has 500 ISVs and this figure is expected to increase in the coming
fiscal. Overall the company has 4,000 resellers in India. Vahe Torossian, GM
(Small, Mid-Market Solutions) and APAC-GC Region Partner, Microsoft, said,
"The IT spending for the SMEs in the APAC region has increased from $ 475
million in 2003 to $ 690 million in 2004 and India is one of the top three
highest growing market in APAC. Globally we are spending $ 2 billion in research
and development this fiscal, as we want to ensure that we provide the best of
solutions to our SMB customers."

Atanu Das

New Delhi