Microsoft To Sell, Co-Brand Indian Products

Software major Microsoft Corp. plans to jointly market and brand products developed by its independent software vendors in India. This is the first time that the company has launched such a programme anywhere in the world.

Microsoft has charted out a programme for this purpose, the Microsoft Circle, for the Indian ISVs. It has also set up a laboratory in India, the third such lab that the company has set up outside the US. The other two countries are China and Israel.

The lab set up in Chennai in partnership with Kumaran Systems will have special focus on SQL Server 2000, its latest database product. Here, the company aims to showcase its upcoming database and analysis software packages and other technologies.

 

Under the Microsoft Circle programme, the ISVs and Microsoft Certified Solutions Providers (MCSPs) can now embed Microsoft's database software, Microsoft SQL Server and other select products into their own applications to create and sell integrated solutions.

According to Microsoft's marketing manager for the sub-continent, Daniel Ingitaraj, "Microsoft Circle will help generate distinct business and technology advantages for Indian application developers with minimum investment."

The software major will also help the ISVs to develop applications of various Microsoft technology platforms.

"Though this is not a joint product development strategy, Microsoft consultants will help the ISVs develop and shrink-wrap the products developed using Microsoft technologies," Ingi-taraj said.

According to the new programme, application developers can also generate additional revenues by reselling Microsoft licences and providing technology upgrades.

The vendors will get to participate in customer labs and gain access to the latest beta programs of Microsoft.

The company will also provide consultancy to developers and help them Web-enable their existing products.

The programme empowers ISVs to offer a one-stop solution to the end-user to prevent deployment delays since the customer will not have to go through a separate procurement process to purchase Microsoft products.

The Microsoft Circle

* Set up a lab to focus on SQL Server 2000

* Enable ISVs and MCSPs to use database software

* Generate busienss and technology advantages for Indian application developers

* Help vendors develop applications of various technology platforms

* Help vendors participate in customer labs and access beta programmes

* Empower ISVs to offer one-stop solution to end-customers

* Allow ISVs to participate in the SQL Server product integration programme