DataCore has released new versions of its flagship SANmelody and
SANsymphony software, and has added enhancements to its channel partner
program to make it more profitable for solution providers selling the
vendor’s storage virtualization solutions.
Incentives such as increased margins, a more flexible deal registration
program and an “open door” model that will allow more solution
providers to sell DataCore’s flagship SANmelody and SANsymphony
solutions, says Brooks Butler, North American Central Region Sales
Director, Data Core.
“One of the major things we’ve done is to add 10 points of margin for
each registered deal,” Butler says. “That’s in addition to the previous
5 points solution providers used to get that didn’t offer them a lot of
incentive or protection. Now they can get 15 points, and that’s
resonated a lot with our partners,” he says.
Butler also says DataCore has changed its deal registration program to
allow solution provider to register any deal, including upgrades and
add-ons to existing customers’ deployments. Previously, DataCore only
allowed solution providers to register deals with new customers, he
says.
A new "open door" policy will also extend DataCore’s reach, Butler
says. The change will allow any solution provider to order SANmelody
and SANsymphony from major broadline distributors including Lifeboat,
Ingram Micro, Tech Data, Promark and Alternative Technologies, he says.
“This open program means that any solution provider can sell our
products as long as they have a relationship with one of those
distributors,” says Butler, opening the door for more solution
providers to add DataCore solutions to their linecard.
These partner program enhancements come as DataCore also is announcing
SANmelody 3.0 and SANsymphony 7.0 versions, says Butler. The newest
versions include performance enhancements, easier data migration, thin
provisioning and high-availability that improve storage performance and
capacity, Butler says.
Currently, Butler says there are about 60 solution providers eager to
take advantage of the new enhancements in his territory alone, which
stretches from Minnesota to Texas.
He says the new incentives serve as a sort of "stimulus program" for
solution providers looking to accelerate their storage and
virtualization practices, and expects partners to jump at the chance to
sell the solutions.
“Right now, I have about 60 partners participating and I expect that number to triple by the end of 2009,” he says.