HP has shocked its EMEA partners by reinstating the Gold Preferred Partner level, less than a year after axing the accreditation.

Revealed early to UK journalists at its EMEA Preferred Partner Conference held at the Hilton in San Francisco, Gold Preferred Partners will be offered greater differentiation and a higher level of compensation and marketing funding from HP. They will also gain exclusive access to certain HP programmes and use of the HP Gold logo.

In the same announcement HP unveiled its new virtualisation specialisation and also deepened its relationship with Microsoft, under the new joint HP and Microsoft Frontline Partner Programme.

Specialist partners from both companies will be jointly branded and endorsed as HP and Microsoft Frontline Partners and will earn increased training, sales rebates and new business support.

In a statement, Antoine Barre, vice president, Solutions Partners Organisation, HP EMEA, said: "We believe in our partner strategy more than ever. Our channel commitment is defined by business results, and we are investing heavily in partners that share that vision, while making it simpler and more rewarding to work with us."

To find out more about the Gold level accreditation and HP's joint channel venture with Microsoft, stay tuned to channelweb over the coming days.