Microsoft cuddles up to ISVs

By Byron Connolly

Mar 17 2004 12:00AM

Microsoft Australia this week unveiled two new programs designed to help ISVs make money from software they had developed on the software giant’s platforms and hone their business skills.

Microsoft Australia this week unveiled two new programs designed to help ISVs make money from software they had developed on the software giant's platforms and hone their business skills.

The first initiative, a program dubbed Channel Builder, attempts to link local ISVs with Microsoft's channel partners so these companies can develop a channel.

At its partner forum in Sydney on Tuesday, Microsoft had displaying their software nine ISVs who were looking for system integration partners. The Builder program was designed to help certified partners achieve commercial successes with solutions they had built on the Microsoft platform. 'These companies have invested heavily in the development of their solutions but have limited expertise in building sales engagement relationships,' Microsoft said.

As part of the program, Microsoft would also launch to global web-based networking tool in July. The tool would identify and group companies by industry and specialisation and would offer chat rooms, bulletin boards, event registration and e-commerce functionality, Microsoft said. These online tools and resources for ISVs could help them find system integration partners in other countries.

'Succeeding as an ISV is a challenge today, said Kerstin Baxter, partner group director at Microsoft Australia. 'Software development is a substantial investment. Our goal is to enable partners with everything we can to help them overcome these challenges and build a successful business,' said Baxter. Microsoft claimed it had invested $4 million in the ISV community during calendar 2003.

The second program, Business Builder, includes a Software Business Management course for ISVs, a 'mini-MBA' course developed in conjunction with Southern Cross University.

The courses are being run across the country over the next few months and would assist ISVs with business management skills.

'We found that partners are looking to Microsoft for assistance with translating the power of technology into language the board members can understand,' said Baxter.