May 3, 2006 - DiscountASP.NET, an innovative leader in ASP.NET and SQL Hosting, today announced it has attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in both Networking Infrastructure Solutions and Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, recognizing DiscountASP.NET's expertise and total impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified partner, DiscountASP.NET 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 marketplace.
DiscountASP.NET provides advanced Microsoft Windows-based shared web hosting, specializing in ASP.NET hosting and Microsoft SQL database hosting. As an innovator in .NET hosting, DiscountASP.NET was one of the first hosts to launch ASP.NET 2.0 hosting and SQL 2005 hosting. DiscountASP.NET custom-built their hosting automation system and control panel using ASP.NET technology, including a real-time .NET Framework chooser tool.
"As a hosting provider that focuses 100% on Windows-based shared web hosting, we are extremely proud to join the expert group of hosts that have recently attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program." said Takeshi Eto VP Marketing for DiscountASP.NET. "The Gold Certified status provides benefits that will allow us to continue to enhance our product and demonstrates our commitment to Microsoft ASP.NET technology and innovation"
"Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities. They need to trust in someone 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," said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. "Today, Microsoft recognizes DiscountASP.NET as a new Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction with Microsoft products and technology."
As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Status, DiscountASP.NET 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 Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Competency is designed for partners with proven expertise in designing and/or implementing complex infrastructure solutions such as Active Directory®-based and Microsoft Integration Server design and deployment solutions, or Microsoft Exchange Server migration or deployment solutions. Because customers are increasingly asking to do more with less, partners with the Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Competency can identify their unique skill in helping customers access management solutions, improving operational efficiency and reducing security risks.
"Our industry partners allow us to deliver high-quality solutions and applications to our customers. And we're always looking at ways to improve our relationships," said Paul Flessner, senior vice president of the Server Platform Division at Microsoft. "Solutions Competencies enable Microsoft to provide resources and training to partners seeking to meet, and even surpass, customer needs. The competencies also provide industry partners with a way to showcase their expertise to customers who depend on them for services, such as building their critical infrastructure needs such as storage and hosting solutions."
The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in December 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.
About DiscountASP.NET:
DiscountASP.NET (www.DiscountASP.NET) is an award-winning, innovative leader in Microsoft Windows-based shared hosting, focused on providing the best value in ASP.NET and SQL database hosting. DiscountASP.NET was voted 2005 Product of the Year in asp.netPRO Magazine Readers' Choice Award, and was named Best ASP.NET Hosting Service in 2005 Readers' Choice polls conducted by asp.netPRO Magazine, Visual Studio Magazine, and .NET Developer's Journal, three leading ASP.NET technology publications. Through strong word-of-mouth and their commitment to ASP.NET technology and innovation, DiscountASP.NET has become the choice for affordable and feature-rich ASP.NET web hosting.