Validity, Inc., a privately-held biometric sensor company specializing in convenient, secure and reliable fingerprint authentication solutions, today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with competencies in ISV/Software Solutions and OEM Hardware Solutions, recognizing Validity’s expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, Validity has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customers’ needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the channel.
Validity’s fingerprint solutions are currently integrated into many Notebook PC models from several Tier 1 OEMs and have future application in mobile phones and other consumer devices. Validity’s fingerprint sensing area is formed on plastic and is completely decoupled from the silicon drive chip, making the sensors durable, cost-effective, higher performance, smaller form factor, lower power, and with multiple customization options.
“We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program. This allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers,” said Mariel van Tatenhove, VP of Marketing and Business Development at Validity. “The benefits provided through our Gold Certified Partner status will allow us to continue to enhance the offerings that we provide for customers.”
“Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities,” said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. “They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies. Today, Microsoft recognizes Validity as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise providing customer satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology.”
As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, Validity had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry.
The ISV/Software Solutions Competency recognizes the skill and focus partners bring to a particular solution set. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners that have obtained this competency have a successful record of developing and marketing packed software based on Microsoft technologies.
“Solutions competencies are an important way for Microsoft to better enable ISVs to meet customer needs,” said Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president of the Developer & Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft. “They allow ISVs to keep and win customers through their deep knowledge of solutions-based Microsoft platform technologies. Microsoft has a long history of working closely with ISV partners to help them deliver compelling solutions and applications to our mutual customers, and the Microsoft Competencies are an important step in continuing to enhance vital relationships with ISVs worldwide.”
The OEM Hardware Solutions Competency is intended for partners that build and deliver desktop or server hardware systems, and those that design and manufacture hardware devices used as computer parts, peripherals or accessories. Partners that attain the OEM Hardware Solutions Competency are recognized for their expertise in delivering high-quality hardware solutions and are provided with information and tools needed to expand their market opportunities and maintain a competitive advantage in the industry. Specializations within the competency include System Building and Device Manufacturing.
“Partners that acquire the OEM Hardware Solutions Competency have demonstrated expertise and have a track record of building high-quality hardware solutions that are designed and configured with Microsoft technologies according to customer needs and supported to ensure customer satisfaction,” said Kurt Kolb, vice president of Worldwide System Builder Channel and License Compliance at Microsoft. “These partners are able to closely engage with Microsoft and have access to specialized resources to help them meet and even surpass customer expectations.”
The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in October 2003 and represents Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners’ businesses be successful.
Source:http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100929005532/en/Validity-Attains-Gold-Certified-Partner-Status-Microsoft
