Partners reap diverse vendor awards

Large resellers -- leavened with a few small players and newer names -- have creamed off the bulk of vendor awards at several recent annual partner events.

Citrix -- itself named global ISV partner of the year by Microsoft at that software behemoth's worldwide partner conference -- recently held a shindig to recognise its top Australasian Access partners.

Volante, based in Victoria, won a prize for coming up with the most innovative Citrix solution of the year, Citrix said.

The partners that grew their Citrix businesses the most were AGM IT from NSW, Alphawest from Western Australia -- for both Western Australia and South Australia -- and Volante from Victoria for Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Solutions Advisor of the Year went to Dimension Data, while Citrix' Trusted Advisor award for 2005 went to Brisbane-based Clariti, the software vendor said.

Top authorised Citrix distributor was Alstom IT and the number one authorised learning centre was EXCOM Education, Citrix said.

Meanwhile, homegrown system builder Optima recognised reseller business achievements at a channel conference in Sydney.

"COLMAC and Easy Internet Services were among those to win awards, also having their high sales figures rewarded with a free trip to Turkey," said a spokeswoman for Optima.

Queensland-based, long-time Optima reseller COLMAC took out Most Improved Business Partner, while Easy Internet Services was best national business partner for 2005, Optima said.
Sun also just had its partner awards for the year. NSW system integrator Frontline Systems came away with Sun's National System Provider of the Year prize for the second year running, the company said.

"Dimension Data was another dual award winner for 2005, and secured the State-based System Provider of the Year awards for both Victoria and Western Australia," Sun said.

Alphawest won the ACT and Queensland system provider of the year awards and Volante won in South Australia, the vendor said.

NEC was judged best network equipment provider. Ardec International and Server Central received CDP partner and CDP new partner awards, respectively, Sun said.

Eagle Technology was recognised as Sun's system provider of the year in NZ, the vendor said.

Dimension Data, Frontline Systems and Alphawest all also received awards for their provision of Sun services, Sun said.

Meanwhile, RSA Security has announced the winners of its Australia and New Zealand partner awards. Dimension Data won partner of the year and a prize for winning the most new customers.

Option 2 Networks won a prize for Best Newcomer while Commander won for being the fastest-growing Australian partner, RSA Security said.

Check Point recognised Sydney-based LAN Systems with a Complete Solution Provider Award (Distribution) for the greatest growth for a distributor in the Asia Pacific region.

Dimension Data won the same award in the integration category, the security vendor said.

Brisbane's Priority One was recognised as the Check Point Fastest Growing New Partner in the Asia Pacific, Check Point said.