Microsoft Corp. today continued to outline investments in its system builder and distributor partner ecosystem, laying out three broad areas where the company continues to increase benefits to help its partners succeed. The benefits help system builders and distributors become more competitive in the marketplace by providing them with resources and tools based on their needs. The company highlighted successes with new programs such as a campaign to promote PC purchases from local system builders and a co-marketing program to assist system builders in marketing and advertising activities.

�System builders and distributors are under constant pressure from competition in the channel as well as from larger OEMs,� said Kurt Kolb, vice president of Worldwide System Builder Channel and License Compliance at Microsoft. �Over the past several months we�ve been working to create, tailor and extend benefits for system builders to address the unique needs of these companies, which are a critical component of not only our own sales channel, but also the overall health of the PC industry.�

These benefits Microsoft is delivering recognize the value system builders offer customers by providing the broadest range of customized solutions and services.