MS certifies ASP partners
Microsoft has announced the first three US companies to have met its criteria for specially certified ASP (application service provider) partners.
The first US ASPs to be listed under the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Program for hosting and application services include ManagedOps.com, Qwest Communications International and USinternetworking.
"We are highlighting these three companies as the pillars that will hold up the ASP channel," said Rosa Garcia, general manager of the Worldwide Partner Programs Group at Microsoft. About 20 companies have applied to begin Microsoft's certification process, she added.
Gold certification partners must meet "rigorous certification requirements and must prove their expertise in a given solution area by providing real-world customer references," Microsoft said in a release.
Sausage's growth snag
Software development and consulting group Sausage Software has posted a record loss on the back of record revenues.
Sausage sourced revenues in excess of $76.3 million for the second half of 2000, up from just over $17 million in the previous period. But these revenues could not match the group's expenses, posting a net loss of over $211.3 million.
Subsequently the recently revised management team has been doing some revision of its own, rationalising the business by closing non-performing business units and selling non-performing assets acquired the previous financial year. The blame was also imparted on the Olympics, the introduction of the GST and a general downturn in the economy.
Despite the loss, Roberts is confident the company can turn its fortunes around in the next two quarters.
ASP poaches channel staff
At a time when most Internet technology companies are culling the ranks to match a declining market, the local office of application service provider Interpath is out on a recruitment drive.
Newly appointed CEO Mark Franklin has signed on several new recruits. Winnie Chua has been appointed product manager at Interpath's Sydney office. Chua was formerly business manager for Web applications at Peakhour and SME product marketing manager at Quicken. Her job will involve partner relationship management with vendors, consultants and outsourcing companies.
Franklin has also signed Angela Hede as senior sales executive in Melbourne, who was previously sales manager at systems integrator Praxa. Her previous roles included the move to licensing Microsoft products over ASP.
