VirtualWorks Group, which describes itself as a “pioneer” in the field of content virtualization, has launched the PartnerWorks Alliance Program, designed to bring cloud providers, solutions integrators and distributors into its fold.
PartnerWorks, which VirtualWorks plans to roll out in phases, currently supports providing resellers and distributors with training, product information and technical resources, all designed to give them a footing in selling and maintaining the VirtualWorks content virtualization solution.
That’s all well and good, but what exactly does VirtualWorks mean by “content virtualization?” Here’s what the company had to say about its value proposition in the official press release:
VirtualWorks is pioneering a new software category called content virtualization that breaks down the walls between application silos to ease data sprawl and deliver a more productive end-user computing experience. Content virtualization abstracts content from disparate application silos, records the metadata in a single index, and federates the results, so users can securely and rapidly access business-critical information from anywhere.
According to the release, VirtualWorks and its time-saving approach to data has value for businesses of all sizes, from the SMB all the way to the global enterprise.
There are two tiers to the PartnerWorks partner program as it exists today: PartnerWorks Registered and PartnerWorks Premier, with the higher tier available for resellers with demonstrated sales ability and expertise.
Premier partners, as one may expect, receive benefits including deal registration, higher margins, sales leads and customized marketing programs. The authorization fee for this exclusive club is $1,495. Entry-level channel enrollees in the free Registered tier receive basic training and the addition of VirtualWorks to their product portfolios.
The first partner to sign on was Lifeboat Distribution, a subsidiary of Wayside Technology Group, which sells technology and services to VARs, SIs and other channel pros. And VirtualWorks noted in the press release the company is looking for a few good VARs, preferring to recruit an elite channel core before the product actually launches later this summer.
We’ll be keeping an eye on VirtualWorks as its attempts to make its mark in the channel, so stay tuned.
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