Novell Partners of the Year

North American Solution Provider Partner of the Year - Novacoast

Novacoast has become strategic to Novell's partner-led business model. Over 80% of Novacoast's revenues come from Novell business. Shortly after Novell completed its SUSE acquisition, Novacoast converted its internal business to run completely on SUSE Linux, including running the Novell Linux Desktop. Novacoast has created packages of multiple Novell solutions to help shorten the sales cycle for Novell products. Called ZENrd, SIMrd, SUSErd and eLearning, each of these packaged solutions makes it easier for customers to clearly see the benefit of the Novell solution – and to visualize its actual implementation. In response, customers are buying this packaged solution at an accelerated rate—sales are up over $1 million year over year.

North American Regional Solution Provider Partners of the Year

• Central – The Harding Group, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
• Midwest – Denmac Systems, LLC, Deerfield, Illinois
• Southeast – Advanced Logic Industries – Forest, Virginia
• NorthEast – Computer Integrated Services of New York – New York City
• West – Novacoast – Santa Barbara, California
• Canada – Terran Innovations, Ontario

The solution provider channel is the face of Novell for many customers, particularly in the critical mid- and small business market. All these regional partners of the year exhibited strong technical and business skills, a commitment to driving Novell's business forward, and an determination to deliver the best solution to solve a customer's business challenge. They delivered expertise on the full range on Novell's networking, identity services and Linux and open source offerings, giving customers new ways to leverage Novell technologies for business value.

Bakbone Software – Independent Software Vendor Partner of the Year

Bakbone Software, a global leader in storage management solutions, is consistently one of the first vendors to support and certify on Novell operating systems, including SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9, NetWare and the recently launched Novell Open Enterprise Server. A long-time member of Novell's PartnerNet Program, Bakbone grew their SUSE Linux revenues by double-digit percentages in just one year.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers – Independent Hardware Vendor Partner of the Year

Fujitsu Siemens embraced Novell strongly this year, certifying most of their hardware for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. Fujitsu Siemens is one of Novell's top revenue producing technology partners worldwide and expects to expand that revenue significantly in the coming year. The company's new FlexFrame solution - which leverages SUSE Linux – is a major step forward in the enterprise grid computing market.

Training Partners of the Year

• New Horizons Learning Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Computer Education Services, McLean, Virginia

New Horizons Learning Center has consistently demonstrated an exemplary commitment to delivering high quality training programs to Novell's customers – at its training center as well as onsite at customer locations. New Horizons Learning Center has posted some of the highest customer satisfaction scores of any partner worldwide. Computer Educations Services has demonstrated its commitment to quality results by consistently delivering a superior learning experience to Novell customers. Computer Education Services offered more Novell courses and trained more clients than any other training partner in 2004. Computer Education Services has deployed field sales reps that have built long-standing Novell customer relationships, especially in the Government vertical – driving increased visibility and credibility for Novell solutions in the markets they serve.

Softchoice – National Reseller Partner of the Year

Softchoice exceeded its Novell-based revenue targets significantly in 2004, with a growth rate just shy of 100 percent. Softchoice invested in a true partnership with Novell, embracing Linux soon after Novell's SUSE Linux acquisition as a means to reach new customers. Softchoice also developed innovative financing mechanisms for customers to help Novell close deals in a timely fashion, helping grow Novell's business.

Ingram Micro – National Distribution Partner of the Year

Ingram Micro is the leading Novell Authorized Distributor in North America. Ingram Micro delivers a high level of Novell knowledge and expertise through its support personnel, providing significant pre-sales technical support as well as multiple qualified sales opportunities. During the course of 2004, this team of eight Novell-focused engineers fielded approximately 6000 pre-sales Technical Support Calls from resellers, identifying some 800 qualified Novell sales opportunities.