We're a company that is building a web based product to be offered as an online service. Our platform is all Microsoft based using the latest .Net technologies.

My question is whether our company is suitable as a Microsoft Partner? I'm having difficulty identifying the best Competency for us as a company. Any insights are most welcome.

Regards,

Neil

Hi Neil,

I'm pretty sure that your company would be quite welcome as a Microsoft Partner, but unfortunately I can't answer your question more thoroughly. I would suggest that you contact the Partner Resource Center for some advice on which competency would be most valuable to you. Their email and phone can be found on https://partners.microsoft.com/PartnerProgram/ContactMicrosoft.aspx.

-brenda (ISV Buddy Team)

Hi Neil,

The Microsoft partner program is indeed open to both non consulting and non isv organisations; based upon the information which you have supplied I would imagine that the best competency for your company could be CDS (Custom Development Solutions), further info can be found at the link provided below:

https://partner.microsoft.com/global/competency/cdsolutions/40020206

As part of the benefits of this competency you will also receive (as a Certified partner) Visual Studio team edn for software developers, which as you may be aware is usually only open to Gold certified partners.

I also note that you have mentioned hosting solutions, if your organisation does indeed host perhaps you can also look into the Advanced Infrastructure Solutions (hosting specialisation):

https://partner.microsoft.com/global/competency/aisolutions/40012889

Further to this, simply contact the Microsoft partner program regional service centre;

https://partners.microsoft.com/PartnerProgram/ContactMicrosoft.aspx

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the responses, I put a call through to the Partner Program Service Center and had a nice chat with a MS representative. I thought I'd summarise my findings for others who may find this post.

To clarify, our company builds a single product, using MS technologies, that we host at our Data Center. We have many clients that use this product via a Data Center. We don't build custom products and our clients do not install our product (therefore we do not generate license revenue for MS with each client sale).

According to the information that I've been told, we would still be eligible to become a MS partner. The suggested competency would be 'Custom Development Solutions'. To achieve Silver partner level we would need to do the following:

* Have 2 employees that are MCPs (there is a list of which certifications are valid for this competency)
* Complete a competency (for example, get 3 customer references)

The easiest approach for me would be to get 3 customer references, this would reward me with 30 partner points followed by 20 partner points for achieving my first competency. This would take me over the 50 points required to achieve Silver partner requirements.

I hope that this info. may be helpful to others.

- Neil

Well, there is no "Silver partner level". Actually, there are 3 levels of partnership - Registered Partner, Certified Partner and Gold Certified Partner. You can start with Registered Partner (free registration) and achieve a competency to upgrade your level to Certified Partner. Note that it's not enough to get just 3 references in order to obtain a competency. ALL competencies require either to have 2 or more certified professionals or at least 1 product tested by Veritest. If you give more details about your product, I will try to give you an advice what tests are most suitable for it. Otherwise, you'll have to certify your specialists for any other competency.

Actually, the "Certified Partner" level gives much more benefits than specified on the site. After getting to this level, we are in constant touch with the local MS representatives. We regularly receive invitations to free events and visit them, we can talk with local specialists and receive answers to many questions which help us in our work, we can get use of some interesting marketing programs to promote our products etc. So I'm sure it worth spending money and achieve the Certified Partner level through the most appropriate for you competency.