Palm launch Business Solutions Alliance Program at GITEX 2003

Palm will be running a recruitment campaign across the region during October and November to increase its existing reseller base by 200 new partners by the end of November.

Palm's goal is to grow the handheld mobile solution market with the SMB sector across the Middle East as well as increase its revenues through the business channels. Palm is a 100% committed to the channel and recognises the value of its partners, which is why this new program has been established and launched.

The Business Solutions Alliance Program is aimed at business and solution. Solution partners develop across industry or business applications and include groups such as independent software vendors, developers, web service providers and application service providers. Business partners market, sell, integrate, implement and support Palm products. The program has been developed with both business and solution partners in mind.

The program will be defined by three tiers Silver, Gold and Platinum. The first tier, Silver, will constitute the breadth of the channel, the second and third tier, Gold and Platinum, provides higher revenue and greater benefits. These partners will have the added advantage of being directly managed and will be able to demonstrate the importance of customer satisfaction, their ability in technical skills and have shown a willingness to use the sales and marketing tools at their disposal.

Stuart Maughan, general manager for Palm Middle East Branch said, 'It is both our business and solutions partners who can ensure our customers get the right mobile solutions with the service and support they need. The Business Solutions Alliance Program has been designed with these objectives in mind. Our pledge to the channel is that we will continually identify areas for partner development and improvement, with efficient and effective communication streams. The program has been structured to support and provide partners with the tools and documentation required to ensure that together we can penetrate the business solutions handheld market.'

Palm is running a business incentive this month for all new partners recruited onto the program giving them an opportunity to own discounted units for demonstration and evaluation purposes. Partners are invited to sign up at either at GITEX, Hall 3 Stand K3 or log on to the url:
http://www-5.palmone.com/europe/en/enterprise/basp_business.html

Summarised Benefits of joining the Business Solution Alliance Program

• Information on the handheld market. Palm invested into Market Analysis to establish where its product currently fits as well as information on who uses the Palm product. Palm will share with the partners the true wants and requirements from the market place for a PDA- enabling the partners to more effectively target their customers with the Palm offering.

• New distance learning program allowing partners to test themselves and be awarded a Palm Masters and opportunities to win their own Palm handhelds and accessories.

• Palm wants to give its partners the ability to make decent margins, but also devices for demonstration and for staff. Schemes have been devised that make this possible.

• Creation of the Palm marketing center that will help the partners with material that will generate awareness and demand as well as make available needed marketing and product collateral.

• Creation of a new partner website for delivering the program as per the feedback received by our partners.

• On joining the Business Solution Alliance Program, Partners will be awarded the Palm pledge which is demonstrable proof to its customers of its partners high standards of customer service