Sun Expands SunTone to iForce Partners

Sun Microsystems, Inc. announced a new initiative that will allow its iForce partners to expand their service offerings to customers, to include Sun’s SunTone certified consulting services. The first programs in this initiative will give qualified Sun iForce partners the ability to refer, sell, and deliver expert services from Sun Professional Services, Sun’s consulting arm.

“The SunTone Certified Consulting Services initiative allows Sun to provide services without becoming a services company,” said Janet Waxman, program director, Systems and Storage Distribution Channels for International Data Corporation. “By proactively pulling their partners into delivering services with Sun, Sun and its iForce partners can be competitive in addressing the significant services opportunities and be armed to face competitors. With this initiative, Sun is being far more aggressive in drawing partners to them than their competitors.”

Today’s announcement includes two new programs:

–Authorized Sales and Referral Program: This program gives Sun’s iForce partners the ability and incentives to resell Sun fixed-price consulting services delivered by Sun Professional Services consultants, to receive a fee for a Sun Professional Services consulting service referral, and to team with Sun Professional Services on the delivery of services.

Authorized Delivery Program: This program provides qualified iForce partners the ability to market, sell and deliver SunTone certified consulting services directly to their customers. Sun will work with these partners to train and mentor them to deliver the same, high-quality services for computing solutions as those offered by Sun Professional Services.