Ingram Micro and rhipe are the newest members of Microsoft’s Cloud Solution Provider Program

At Microsoft, we believe that creating Australia’s most complete cloud is about more than just technology. It needs an elite cloud ecosystem created by the amazing partners that we work with every day.

To meet the growing demand for our cloud-based solutions, it is essential that we continue to evolve our partner programs and licensing models and make it easier for partners and customers to purchase, deploy and use Microsoft solutions.

In December last year, we announced the first 1-tier partners in our Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP) Program. These are partners who will transact sufficient volumes of Microsoft Cloud Services that it makes sense to invest in the provisioning and billing infrastructure to support buying direct from Microsoft.

Today I can share that we are expanding the program and welcoming our next wave of partners - the Cloud Wholesalers. I am thrilled to announce both Ingram Micro and rhipe are joining the CSP Program as 2-Tier (or wholesale) partners and will help grow their Cloud ready channel and offer our broad partner network the opportunity to deepen customer relationships and expand business opportunities in the cloud.

Through their participation, Ingram Micro and rhipe have both demonstrated dedication to helping the broad channel as well as our mutual customers successfully move to the cloud.

So, what does this mean for you? As Ingram Micro and rhipe go live with their services in the coming few months you will have two wholesalers to buy Microsoft Cloud services from, billed monthly and with additional services to compliment the underlying services of Office 365, Azure and CRM Online. We will of course continue to provide our services through other purchasing mechanisms such as Open Licensing, Enterprise Agreements as well as direct through the web.  

Along with our current 1-tier CSP Partners in the program, you will be able to own the complete lifecycle of customers buying Microsoft Cloud Services including direct monthly billing, provisioning, management and support.

Over the coming 12 months, we will re-evaluate the 2-Tier CSP partner landscape and market place to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers and partners and potentially look to expand the number of Cloud Wholesalers in the program.

It’s been a fantastic few weeks for Microsoft Cloud Services here in Australia with the General Availability of Office 365 and CRM Online just a few weeks ago and now new CSP wholesale partners in the coming months.

Watch for more details from Ingram Micro and rhipe directly as they get ready to launch local services in Australia!