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| News Release |
Eco-Friend Inc (HQ) & ITL Calgary Attains Gold Certified Partner Status in Microsoft Partner Program Eco-Friend Inc (HQ) & ITL Calgary Further Distinguishes Itself by earning Microsoft Competencies in ISV/Software Solutions, Security Solutions, Networking Infrastructure Solutions & Small Business Specialization. Calgary, Alberta, Canada — June 12, 2008 —Eco-Friend Inc & ITL Calgary, Integrated Software Technologies, today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in ISV/Software Solutions, Security Solutions, Networking Infrastructure Solutions & Small Business Specialization recognizing Eco-Friend & ITL Calgary’s expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, Eco-Friend & ITL Calgary 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. Eco-Friend Inc. & ITL Calgary is an IT Integrated Solutions and IT Implementations provider, specializing in IT Security and Auditing. "We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program. This allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers", said Maris Sekar, Vice President, ITL Calgary. " The benefits provided through our Gold Certified Partner status will allow us to continue to enhance the offerings that we provide for 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 recognizes Eco-Friend Inc & ITL Calgary 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, Eco-Friend Inc & ITL Calgary 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 Specializations that focus on specific solution areas that recognize deeper expertise within that Competency. Serving as a specialized path to earning those Competencies, Specializations give direct access to the tools and resources that support that specific area of focus. The ISV/Software Solutions Competency recognizes the skill and focus partners bring to a particular solution set. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners that have obtained this competency have a successful record of developing and marketing packed software based on Microsoft technologies. “Solutions competencies are an important way for Microsoft to better enable ISVs to meet customer needs,” said Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president of the Developer and Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft Corp. “They allow ISVs to keep and win customers through their deep knowledge of solutions-based Microsoft platform technologies. Microsoft has a long history of working closely with ISV partners to help them deliver compelling solutions and applications to our mutual customers, and the Microsoft Competencies are an important step in continuing to enhance vital relationships with ISVs worldwide.” The Security Solutions Competency is designed to recognize the unique skills and requirements of partners specializing in delivering security-based solutions. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners enrolled in this competency have proved their skill in advanced security solutions to help protect customer information assets by building solutions such as security management and operations, anti-malware protection and network-edge security, and identity and access management solutions. “Security is a priority for Microsoft, and we rely on our partners to help us deliver security-based solutions to our customers,” said Mark Hassall, director of Security and Access Product Management at Microsoft Corp. “As customers continue to automate business processes, solutions competencies such as this one enable our partners to better identify and showcase their security solutions skills to respond to increasing customer demands to better secure and optimize their infrastructure.” “Customers having an integrated security solution that spans client and server technology, mobile devices, and across the network edge to enhance protection of their business and its assets is crucial,” said Mark Hassall, director of Security and Access Product Management at Microsoft Corp. “Partners specializing in Infrastructure Security through the Security Solutions Competency are uniquely able to work with customers to better secure and manage their infrastructure from platform to network.” 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 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 recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners’ businesses be successful. Eco-Friend Inc & ITL Calgary currently has one office in Calgary, Alberta, with national and international expansion plans. ######### The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. For more information, press only: |