Telephonetics VIP Attains Gold Certified Partner Status in Microsoft Partner Program

Telephonetics VIP Further Distinguishes Itself by Earning a Microsoft Competency in Network Infrastructure Solutions and OEM Hardware Solutions

Hemel Hempstead, 18th April 2008 – Telephonetics VIP, the speech recognition and voice automation specialist, today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in Network Infrastructure Solutions and OEM Hardware Solutions, recognizing Telephonetics VIP’s expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, Telephonetics VIP has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and a proven ability to meet customers’ needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the channel.

Telephonetics VIP offer diverse automation solutions, drawing on over 15 years of understanding how people interact over the telephone to provide a range of customer-focused solutions for speech self-service, mobility, outbound messaging, emergency notification and business continuity.
 
“The attainment of Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program demonstrates our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our partners,” said Mike Matthews, Head of Product Management at Telephonetics VIP. “The benefits associated with Gold Certified Partner Status will allow us to continue to enhance the solutions and services we provide for our customers.”

“Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities,” said Allison Watson, corporate vice president of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp. “They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies. Today, Microsoft recognises Telephonetics VIP as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology.”

As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, Telephonetics VIP had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each Competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry. Within select Competencies, there are Specialisations that focus on specific solution areas that recognize deeper expertise within that Competency. Serving as a specialised path to earning those Competencies, Specialisations give direct access to the tools and resources that support that specific area of focus.

Microsoft Gold Certified Partners enrolled in the Networking Infrastructure Solutions Competency have proved their expertise in implementing technology solutions based on either the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server operating system, with a particular focus on Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 and Windows Small Business Server 2003. These implementations may include crafting solutions that connect Windows-based servers, PC locations and the Internet; installing a server farm; or building a small-business Windows Server stand-alone solution that includes file and print capabilities.

“We place tremendous value on our partners, which help us deliver solutions and applications to customers,” said Allison Watson, corporate vice president of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp. “Solutions competencies provide an integrated partnering framework that recognizes an enterprise’s expertise and rewards it for the effect it has in the technology marketplace. It also allows companies to demonstrate for customers their knowledge of building solutions based on Microsoft technologies, such as setting up networks using Windows Server 2003 R2 and Windows Small Business Server 2003.”

The OEM Hardware Solutions Competency is intended for partners that build and deliver desktop or server hardware systems, and those that design and manufacture hardware devices used as computer parts, peripherals or accessories. Partners that attain the OEM Hardware Solutions Competency are recognized for their expertise in delivering high-quality hardware solutions and are provided with information and tools needed to expand their market opportunities and maintain a competitive advantage in the industry.

“Partners that acquire the OEM Hardware Solutions Competency have demonstrated expertise and have a track record of building high-quality hardware solutions that are designed and configured with Microsoft technologies according to customer needs and supported to help ensure customer satisfaction,” said John Ball, general manager of the U.S. System Builder Partners Group at Microsoft Corp. “These partners are able to closely engage with Microsoft and have access to specialized resources to help them meet and even surpass customer expectations.”

The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in October 2003 and represents Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognises partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners’ businesses be successful.