Cloud Communications

Cloud Communications Feature

July 05, 2011

8x8 Announces Cloud-Centric Business Partner Program

By Rajani Baburajan, TMCnet Contributor

8x8 (News - Alert), a provider of cloud communications and computing solutions, announced the launch of a channel program designed to offer agents, resellers and traditional hardware VARs a unique and compelling opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for cloud-based solutions.

The 8x8  Business Partner Program enables partners to engage with 8x8 as a single source provider of four key cloud-based offerings — cloud VoIP, cloud video, cloud contact center and cloud hosting. It creates an effective model for VARs to generate incremental, long-term revenue by selling 8x8 SaaS (News - Alert) offerings.

“8x8 is excited to introduce the channel to what we believe is the most attractive and lucrative model for selling cloud-based services to the SME market,” said Don Trimble (News - Alert), vice president of channel sales at 8x8, in a statement. “Traditional data VARs and system integrators have yet to embrace the SaaS model which, until now, has offered limited revenue potential.”

Through this program, the company provides partners with the incentives, products, resources and support necessary for them to experience immediate and long term success in the SaaS market, Trimble added.

Partners, including the VARs and system integrators, can earn incremental revenue in three ways: one-time bounties on initial orders, monthly residual payments and commission on equipment accompanying the sale. This model, according to company officials, represents a new compensation model for traditional hardware resellers not accustomed to receiving monthly residual payments from the sale of services.

Axcelerate Networks, one of the partners, finds the partner program is crucial for them since it enables them to provide secure and reliable IT solutions that reduce IT expenditures, optimize productivity, and arm their clients with a competitive edge.

8x8's Business Partner Program also enables independent agents to partner with master agents/resellers like WTG, Walsh-Vision and Vodaplex and referral partners to benefit from reselling or recommending 8x8 services. Partners are given access to a Web portal for deal registration, quoting and order placement, while 8x8 assumes responsibility for order fulfillment, service provisioning, customer billing and support.

Recently 8x8 announced it acquired Zerigo, a Littleton, Colo.-based company providing virtual private servers, managed DNS services, and monitoring tools for cloud-based server operations. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.


Rajani Baburajan is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Rajani's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Carrie Schmelkin
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