Microsoft plans to launch SAM partner program

Microsoft Corporation India will unveil Software Asset Management (SAM) program for business partners by August this
year. The new program aims at raising awareness of the benefits of sound asset management to businesses
and how to avoid the legal and financial risks of pirated software. Through this initiative, the company plans to empower its channel partners to grow
their business beyond the packaged services of annual maintenance contracts (AMCs) and facilities management.

"We plan to appoint VARs and business partners to play the role of software asset managers in the country," says Punit
Vanvaria, Manager - Business Development, Microsoft Corporation India. Currently, Microsoft has around
30 partners registered under this program. 

Microsoft is looking at SAM as the next growth opportunity for partners. During the next fiscal, starting July 2003, it also plans
to organize a series of licensing seminars to educate the channel on SAM. It has built
tools that help partners to audit and monitor the software applications in any organization.

"Through this, partners can help companies build a software code of conduct for themselves," says Punit. Microsoft has also
launched a SAM partner guide which helps partners identify business opportunities and provides essential
information about licensing agreements that partners may need. "Microsoft is committed towards creating a responsible PC community of
distributors and resellers who supply genuine products and who invest in providing good
support and value to the users," adds Punit.

Channel partners agree that Microsoft's SAM initiative to help curb software piracy and to educate channel on the use of
genuine software is a good move. Considering the magnitude of pirated licenses of software titles being
distributed in the business community, they feel the company has done a good job by introducing this program.

Manoj Aggarwal, MD, Ashram Computers says, "SAM is a key business process for organizations to know their exact usage
of software and to protect their investments in software and business reputation by allowing only authorized
software to run on their systems." According to him, this initiative will help companies to standardize their software needs across the organization
thereby, enabling them to reduce costs.

Sanjay Srivastava, MD, Login Infotech, feels that SAM allows partners to expand existing services with their customers. "By
becoming a SAM service provider for our customers we can help to write their SAM policies and
procedures, deploy SAM tools to track and manage software deployments in the organization. This will enable them to make smart decisions on their
software investments," he adds.

SUNILA PAUL

BANGALORE