Free Newsletters for the Channel
Register for Your Free Newsletter Now
Rewind to June 16. That's when Channel Chief Judson Althoff promised Oracle would get serious about social networks for partners. Now fast forward to July 7, when Althoff and Oracle President Charles Phillips will attempt to prove the social media point -- during the Oracle Virtual Partner Kickoff event. Here's the scoop.
The VAR Guy
June 25, 2009
2 Min Read
Rewind to June 16. That’s when Channel Chief Judson Althoff promised Oracle would get serious about social networks for partners. Now fast forward to July 7, when Althoff and Oracle President Charles Phillips will attempt to prove the social media point — during the Oracle Virtual Partner Kickoff event. Here’s the scoop.
Actually, The VAR Guy doesn’t have all the details. And our resident blogger needs to run to a flight…
… But Ted Bereswill, senior VP, North American Alliances and Channels, is leaking some tidbits about the event. According to Bereswill:
This year, for the first time ever, our partner community will have access to information shared at Oracle’s FY10 Global Kickoff.
In response to the current economic climate and based on our success with virtual events, we’ve redesigned our annual sales kickoff in an online format. Our sales teams will access strategic messages, training, and new resources on demand. And to leverage this valuable material for all of you, we’re launching our first online Partner Kickoff on July 7th. You’ll have desktop access to keynotes from Oracle executives, product updates, and targeted information from our Alliances & Channels and Sales leaders around the globe.
Hmmm. Is this merely grandstanding by Oracle? Or is a consistent social media theme emerging here for Oracle partners?
In a prepared statement, Althoff is quick to note that partner business accounts generate more than 40 percent of Oracle’s revenue. Not too shabby. And the Oracle Virtual Partner Kickoff event seems like an ideal opportunity to further engage Oracle’s global channel of roughly 21,000 partners.
Oh, and one other key point: Oracle CEO Larry Ellison finally seems ready to drink (and serve) the SaaS Kool Aid. And for Oracle to succeed in SaaS and cloud computing, the company is going to need plenty of next-generation channel partners that specialize in managed services.
Similar Goals, Different Company
To be sure, virtual channel partner events can succeed. A case in point: Cisco Systems’ Virtual Partner Summit (running through the end of June 2009), has so far attracted more than 9,000 partners. Oh, and not by coincidence: Oracle’s social media channel team spent some time at Cisco’s face-to-face Partner Summit in Boston. (Not that The VAR Guy was watching their every move…)
Looking ahead, all registered Oracle partners are allowed to attend the July 7 virtual event. And the content will be available on the Oracle PartnerNetwork portal for several quarters, according to the company. (You’ll find more details here.)
Follow The VAR Guy via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; Twitter; and via his Newsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center.
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like
Sep 16 - Sep 19, 2024
Sep 16 - Sep 19, 2024
Join us for MSP Summit, September 16-19, 2024 in Atlanta, GA. You don't want to miss the industry’s most innovative and inspiring gathering of business leaders focused on growing their managed services businesses. This year’s MSP Summit will help attendees stay ahead of exponentially increasing security threats, expanding their range of services through a merger or acquisition and embrace a wide range of innovative new technologies. Get notified when registration opens.
Sign Up For Special Deal