Care Micro Systems Limited

Microsoft has added three new competencies to its partner programme to enable member partners to take advantage of emerging market opportunities and to ensure they have the resources, tools and support to offer customers.

The software giant's partner programme now includes Business Intelligence, Hosting Solutions and Unified Communications competencies.

Partners will be migrated to new competencies if they are part of former specialisations in related areas.

Updates have also been made to two existing competencies. The Business Process and Integration competency has been changed to Service Oriented Architectures and Business Process, and Microsoft Business Solutions has reduced the exam requirements necessary to join.

David Simpson, commercial director of Microsoft Gold Partner Softcat, said, "Adding competencies demonstrates the emergence of these new solutions in the market".

Victor Aberdeen, sales and marketing manager at distributor Blue Solutions, applauded the move.

"Being endorsed through Microsoft's position will help to bring unified communications from the home to the business", he said.

Care Micro will of course be striving to meet these competencies.