AMD Channel Program Empowers More Partners to Deliver Superior Customer Value

Business Wire,  March 27, 2006  

Tags: Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

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SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- More Than 20,000 Channel Sales and Technical Personnel Introduced to Benefits of AMD64 Technology Through the AMD Commercial Systems Channel Program

AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced more than 500 new participants have joined the AMD Commercial Systems Channel Program, further validating the company's commitment to customer-centric innovation and collaboration among the growing worldwide AMD64 ecosystem of solutions integrators, value-added resellers (VARs) and distributors. Since launching in October 2005, the program has welcomed companies from all over the world, including some of the newest members: Advanced Systems Group (ASG), Agilysys, Inc., Beijing Kinraso Info-Tech Co. Ltd., Chengdu Golden Harbor Science Trade Co. Ltd., GE's Access Distribution, Innovativ, Mainline Information Systems, Matrix Integration, MOCA, Novanis, Shanghai Zhuoge Computer Information System Co. Ltd., Specialist Computer Centres (SCC) and Technology Integration Group (TIG).

AMD64 processor-based systems have been added to the solution centers of various channel leaders throughout North America and are planned for installation in centers in the United Kingdom, China, India, Japan and a growing list of other locations by the end of the year. Here, visitors can experience first-hand the performance and performance-per-watt leadership of AMD Opteron(TM) processor-based systems. In addition, since the program's inception, more than 20,000 global channel sales and technical representatives have been educated on the AMD64 technology value propositions through on-site training, Webinars and partner events in North America, EMEA and Asia.

"By embracing AMD64 technology, channel partners get a clear benefit, undisputed differentiation from their competitors and a stronger value proposition with their offerings," said Kevin Knox, vice president, Commercial Business, AMD. "This can lead to a positive impact to their bottom lines and a winning solution for end-customers who are able to tap leading-edge performance-per-watt and native dual-core computing."

To date, participants in the AMD Commercial Systems Channel Program have already begun to experience the positive effects of working directly with AMD to develop solutions. For example, AMD is currently working with Innovativ, the largest strategic technology integrator for Sun Microsystems in the United States, and an industry leader in thin-client computing solutions, who is developing an offering for the telecommunications industry.

"As a society, we are witness to information being transformed into utilities, with more pervasive and effortless access than ever before," said Dave Nocera, chief technology officer, Innovativ. "Innovativ and AMD's solutions will be leveraged to serve this new utility market space. This shift from the information age to the utility age will create new challenges and responsibilities on the datacenter infrastructure. Innovativ has been at the forefront of developing technologies and services practices to meet these emerging markets from thin-client and identity management to the enablement of mobile devices in the enterprise. The Innovativ technologies, skills and experiences combined with AMD's advanced thin-client, processor and server engineering prowess are an ideal combination to help address the emerging challenges of centralization."

"Today's successful channel programs focus on partner collaboration and flexibility to address the real needs of users today and tomorrow," said Janet Waxman, vice president for Hardware Channels research at IDC. "AMD is enabling these key elements by building a community that truly enables partners to take full advantage of ever-evolving solutions and mindshare resident within the greater channel."

As part of today's announcement, AMD has made significant enhancements to the AMD Commercial Systems Channel Program portal, including a new self-registration capability that allows participants to post member profiles and register solutions powered by AMD technology; and eventually classify and search based on the type of solution they're registering or researching. Additionally, the portal is designed to allow access to tools, information and training materials through its Resource Center. To visit the portal, go to http://channel.amd.com.

Support for Commercial Systems Channel Program

The AMD Commercial Systems Channel Program builds on the company's strong relationships, and to date, more than 40 solutions and campaigns have already been staffed and funded by AMD with the solutions integrators, VARs and distributors participating in the program.

Today, the new members of the program pledged their support for AMD.

"AMD Opteron processors with Direct Connect Architecture offer enhanced processing power, dual-core density and memory bandwidth which we're looking forward to illustrating to our customers at the newly opened Agilysys Customer Solutions Center in Manhattan," said Dave Williams, vice president of marketing, Agilysys.