HUNTSVILLE, Ala., March 26, 2012Digium®, Inc., the Asterisk® Company, announced it has been named to CRN’s 2012 Partner Programs Guide and has also been awarded a 5-Star Partner rating. The 2012 CRN Partner Programs Guide and CRN 5-Star Rating is the definitive listing of manufacturers and software publishers that service solution providers or provide products to the IT Channel. CRN’s Partner Programs Guide recognizes those vendors who have channel programs and derive a portion of their sales through an indirect IT channel.

In building the list, UBM Channel Research developed a methodology in which vendors are assessed on information provided in their completed applications. The objective criterion takes into account each vendor’s investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication.

Digium’s Partner Program provides opportunities for resellers to seize the growing opportunities in the VoIP and Unified Communications market for small and medium businesses who often seek an alternative to proprietary phone system vendors who don’t offer the value and flexibility of Digium’s program. Partners can sell the full line of Digium’s award-winning Switchvox® Unified Communications systems, and build custom communications solutions with Asterisk, the world’s most popular open source telephony software.

In addition, Digium has expanded its product portfolio to include IP phones, gateways, redundancy appliances, and telephony cards to complement Asterisk-based solutions. With more than two million downloads of Asterisk annually, partners have a tremendous opportunity to supply users with Digium phones, network connectivity products and their own unique service offerings. Partners who want to capture the growing market for Unified Communications (UC) have a unique opportunity to win more business with Switchvox, the UC solution that has been recognized as a Best Value by Frost & Sullivan and a Tech Innovator award winner by CRN.

“The combination of our innovative solutions and structured partner program has attracted some of the market’s best and brightest to partner with us,” said Steve Harvey, vice president of worldwide sales for Digium and CRN Channel Chief. “We offer our partners a competitive advantage with our product set, and we constantly focus on ways to continually improve our program. We’ve added innovative solutions, such as content syndication, and have invested in our channel team so that we provide great reseller support. Digium’s partners have access to a full suite of communications solutions to meet the needs of SMB customers who want it all — a flexible, full-featured communications system at an affordable price. We encourage resellers to evaluate our partner program if they are considering a UC or business phone vendor.”

Digium’s Partner Program features an innovative product set, as well as marketing support that includes qualified lead distribution – not just contacts. Partners have access to technical online training and certification, content syndication, and quarterly promotions to drive new business.

The program provides three tiers — Select, Registered, and Affiliate. Each tier offers incentives, benefits, marketing support, training, and promotions designed to help authorized Digium partners have a competitive advantage in today’s growing VoIP and business phone systems market. Partners can specialize in Switchvox or Asterisk, and all online training and certification is provided at no charge, across all levels of the program. Affiliate partners are able to join the program with no revenue requirement and often quickly advance to the next level with ongoing sales.

More information is available at www.digium.com/ucpartner. Online demos are scheduled every Thursday at 2 p.m. CDT for those interested in learning more about the program.

“The companies listed in CRN’s 2012 Partner Programs Guide represent a comprehensive list of the best channel programs in the market today,” said Kelley Damore, VP and Editorial Director, for UBM Channel’s CRN. “The 5-star award is reserved for vendors that understand that a successful partnership does not rely solely on the technology. By offering their partners tools, education and regular updates, vendors on this list go above and beyond traditional support to ensure a mutually beneficial partnership.” The 2012 Partner Programs Guide and 5-Star Partners listing will be featured on CRN.com and in the March 2012 issue of CRN.

About UBM Channel

UBM Channel is the premier provider of IT channel-focused events, media, research, consulting, and sales and marketing services. With over 30 years of experience and engagement, UBM Channel has the unmatched channel expertise to execute integrated solutions for technology executives managing partner recruitment, enablement and go-to-market strategy in order to accelerate technology sales. UBM Channel is a UBM company. To learn more about UBM Channel, visit us at www.ubmchannel.com.

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