VARs tool-up for Win2000
As Microsoft gave resellers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) a sneak preview of its launch and training plans for Windows 2000, a row was brewing between the software giant and arch rival IBM over product certification.
As Microsoft gave resellers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) a sneak preview of its launch and training plans for Windows 2000, a row was brewing between the software giant and arch rival IBM over product certification.
Microsoft also unveiled its latest round of Direct Access channel briefings and revealed how it hopes to increase its focus on the application service provider (ASP) market.
At the Computer Trade Show in Birmingham, resellers heard details about how Microsoft intends to market Windows 2000, which is due to launch on 17 February. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates was expected in the UK yesterday (1 February) to promote the OS.
Robert Royce, sales director at Microsoft VAR Management Software, said: "I can't really fault Microsoft's marketing efforts, but however many seminars they stage and publicity they produce, adoption will still take a little time. Take-up will not happen immediately, and the big corporate customers have not expressed much interest yet."
Meanwhile, Microsoft has defended the introduction of a tougher product certification standard for software applications running on Windows 2000.
The move came after IBM said it will not forward any of its 300 software applications for Windows 2000 certification because customers were not asking for it, even though all its software will eventually be compatible with the operating system.
Adam Jollans, EMEA marketing manager for IBM software on NT, said: "What is important is that applications are ready and exploiting Windows 2000.
The certification process has additional elements of testing, which takes time and money. Certification on Windows 2000 is more complex than on NT4, as Microsoft has added more requirements."
Mark Tennant, Windows 2000 product marketing manager at Microsoft, claimed that certified applications would reduce the total cost of ownership by having extra functionality, and denied IBM's decision was a snub to the certification programme.
The programme is so stringent just six applications have been awarded certification so far. Microsoft Office is not among them.
Paul Tollet, manager of Microsoft's small business customer unit, said the vendor's Direct Access briefings, between 17 February and 15 April, will discuss not only how VARs can make more sales with Windows 2000, but how they can benefit from the ASP market.
Tollet also said Microsoft intends to deliver the UK version of its bCentral portal, designed for application hosting, "this calendar year". From this site, Microsoft could host its own and even some third-party software if the demand was there, Tollet said.