HP ProCurve Networking

In addition, a new Service Advantage initiative exclusively available to qualified ProCurve Elite channel partners offers a choice of HP branded services, their own services or a combination of both.

The enhancements to the ProCurve Elite benefits build upon the HP PartnerONE program by recognising partner expertise and rewarding partner loyalty, providing the best alternative for resellers looking to increase their value to customers.

The new ProCurve Elite benefits empower partners to be more efficient and competitive by delivering comprehensive solutions – hardware, software, services, support and tools – that solve real business problems. Partners will be better equipped to offer network solutions that support the ProCurve Adaptive EDGE Architecture, providing a unified, holistic approach to the development of secure, mobile, multi-service networks.

“Decisive Business Systems believes that the networking infrastructure should add value to a company’s environment. ProCurve Networking by HP continues to be a strong partner in helping deliver that value, offering industry-proven networking solutions, services and support that helps me sign deals and keeps my customers happy,” said Peter A. Busam, vice president and chief operating officer, Decisive Business Systems, Inc. “ProCurve recognises that its success is integrally linked with ours and therefore has simplified the design, deployment, management, service and support of network solutions – empowering us with a future-proof, holistic approach, which their customers, and ours, are demanding.”

Through PartnerONE, ProCurve creates value for both customers and partners. Enterprises and small- and medium-size businesses alike are demanding simple networking solutions, not just products or technology that they must deploy on their own. Vendors and channel partners must align to that demand to succeed, providing customers with better, more comprehensive service.

“We recognise that ultimately ProCurve, our channel partners and our customers must work together in order to succeed. Our health depends on the success of our partners, and so we go the extra mile to provide them with tools to become more efficient and competitive,” said Wenceslao Lada, vice president and general manager, ProCurve, EMEA. “Unlike some of our competitors, who recognise only their own bottom line, ProCurve provides the best alternative for channel partners looking to add more value in a world of shrinking margins. Channel partners who invest in ProCurve are investing in the fastest-growing vendor in the market – and in a partner who is committed to their success as well as its own.”

• Expanded training content – New credentials and training programs will enable ProCurve channel partners to go beyond the product sale, delivering solutions that address customers’ business challenges. New classes will be offered in mobility and security, as well as refreshed switching classes and new sales training curriculum and certification.
• Adapted training delivery to meet Elite partner needs – ProCurve will be offering new “Fast Track” training which will provide ProCurve knowledge and skills with minimal time investment to engineers with existing networking expertise. Additionally, hands-on “New Product Introduction” training will be offered for mobility, security and convergence solutions deployment.
• Exclusive tools – Comprehensive sales, design and implementation guides are available to facilitate ProCurve solutions sales and deployment to meet the entire range of customer needs.

ProCurve’s new set of Master Accredited Systems Engineer (MASE) certifications cover mobility, security, convergence and command from the center, enabling channel partners to develop skills and knowledge in specific areas. The MASE level of certification is the highest level of achievement within the HP Certified Professional Program.

Current courseware will be expanded to help resellers meet the challenging and changing needs of customers’ networked environments. A fast track also will be available for the technical audience so that reseller personnel with existing technical and solution knowledge can efficiently gain knowledge of ProCurve products and solutions.

The mobility MASE track is available now. The convergence track will be released this fall. Other tracks are currently in development.

Through the ProCurve Service Advantage initiative, ProCurve Elite partners are able to leverage HP network services knowledge and offer a stronger services program to more easily meet customer needs on their own terms. Partners can offer a choice of HP branded services, their own services or a combination of both, combined with 24x7 factory direct phone support, multi-vendor fault isolation and exclusive Web access to known issues, workarounds and fixes.

The Service Advantage initiative will roll out later this year with a set of services to help qualified resellers plan, deploy, manage and transition customer networks. ProCurve will provide dedicated engineers to support the Service Advantage program and will leverage HP Services’ strength in multi-vendor networks.

HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2004, HP revenue totaled $76.8 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.