“The Technology Provider program will now extend to partners whoalso resell Intel technology- based systems and solutions”

What has been the response of
Intel's Solution Summit, 2011?

Intel Solution Summit (ISS) is the
largest premium event for Intel channel partners,which is held around
the world once every year. At this ISS which was held for the APAC
and Japan markets, we invited 580 delegates from 18 countries.
Moreover, we saw 20 ODMs from China and Taiwan todisplay their
products. The objective of this event was to bring all tiers of
partners at one place and give heads up for coming technologies,
changing environment, networking and matchmaking.

According to you, what are the
primary take-aways from ISS, 2011?

With new technologies evolving faster,
it is essential for channel partners to give newbusiness directions
beyond computing. We have identified new avenues for channel
partners, includingtablets, new form factors for netbooks and
laptops, and embedded technologies such as digital signage and
point-of-sales systems. Moreover, our Atom processor and 2nd
generation technologies have given advent to plethora of products.
Hence, weintended to help, train, support and position our channel
partners for sustained growth, both in their current PC segments,
while

helping them capture new opportunities
in reselling integrated solutions, and in high growth emerging
segments such as SSDs and PC-like embedded solutions.

In 2011, Intel has improved its
membership program. What are the enhancements?

We have integrated our Intel membership
program with the newly introduced Technology Provider program. The
new program will assist its partners for sustained success amidst the
changing realities of today's IT business environment (both in real
world and online) in the different economies of Asia. The program
will now extend to partners that not only build systems but alsothose
which resell Intel technology-based systems and solutions, supporting
theirproduct evelopment, technical support and sales efforts.
Moreover, the evolved programhas three new membership levels
comprising Registered partners, Gold partners and Platinum partners.

Could you discuss the partner
categories in detail?

A Registered partner is the entry
membership level which provides the partner access to

'members-only content' on the Intel
Reseller Centre website, channel e-newsletters, andonline training on
Intel products and solutions free of cost. At the next tier, we have
the Gold partners,where as one develops their knowledge of Intel
technologies to meet key membership criteria, they will become
eligible for Gold Partner status so as to access enhancedsupport,
training, channel events, sales tools and rewards. At the top, we
have Platinum partner program, under which our most valued partners
who demonstrate superior business, technical skills and leadership in
the development of innovative customer solutions based on Intel
technologies will qualify to fit in this program.

With the new suggestive categories,
how will you bifurcate your existing channel structure?

As of now, Intel has 8,000 active
system builders across APAC. Under the new program Intel willadd new
resellers into the portfolio. Existing members of the Intel Channel
Partner Program (ICPP) and the 2010 Intel Technology Provider (ITP)
program will be automatically migrated to the new program membership
levels. For eg, ICPP premier members will migrate to Platinum Partner
status, ICPP associate members will become Gold Partners and ICPP
Registered Members, while ITP Members will migrate to Registered
partner status.