Blue Coat Invests $1 Million in Channel Incentives to Fuel WAN Optimization Competitive Evaluations
Release Date:
03/24/2009 - 5:00am
summary:
Blue Coat Channel Advantage Programs Enable Partners to Become Trusted Advisors to Their Customers
SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 24, 2009– Blue Coat Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: BCSI), the technology leader in Application Delivery Networking, today announced that it is investing U.S. $1 million in a global channel rewards program that incentivizes Authorized, Premier and Elite resellers to engage customers in evaluations of Blue Coat®ProxySG®appliances and demonstrate the benefits of accelerating internal, external and real-time applications. The program also offers incremental incentives to these channel partners for product evaluations that result in the sale of the Blue Coat WAN optimization solution.
Yesterday, Blue Coat introduced a software upgrade for its ProxySG WAN optimization solution that simplifies deployment and enables partners to demonstrate immediate customer benefits through improved application performance. The upgrade features an intelligent configuration wizard and auto-detection of network parameters that reduce configuration times to as little as one minute. Simple and fast installation enables Blue Coat channel partners to focus on helping their customers get the most from their existing network investments rather than making additional expenditures on their packet-delivery network infrastructure.
“The Blue Coat WAN optimization solution provides customers with true value by simplifying deployments to immediately improve application performance,” said Kirsten McCrabb, vice president of worldwide channel and field marketing. “The $1 million incentive program enables our partners to demonstrate this immediate time-to-value and fosters the consultative relationships required to help customers align their network investments with business requirements.”
In addition to the rewards program, the Blue Coat Channel Advantage program provides partners with the tools they need to become trusted advisors to their customers. For example, the BlueBox Equipment Program offers channel partners the opportunity to purchase customer evaluation equipment at discounted prices. The Blue Coat Online Learning Lab and BlueSource partner portal provide the training and technical and marketing resources that enable channel partners to successfully sell the Blue Coat Application Delivery Network infrastructure. Additionally, the BlueTouch™ Support Partner program provides a value-added service that enables Blue Coat channel partners to work closely with customers on level 1 and level 2 support issues.
Collectively, these programs enable Blue Coat channel partners to compete more effectively and to act as trusted advisors to their customers. To learn more about becoming a Blue Coat Channel Advantage Program Partner, please visit http://www.bluecoat.com/partners/channelpartnerprogram.
Boiler Plate:
About Blue Coat Systems
Blue Coat Systems is the technology leader in Application Delivery Networking. Blue Coat offers an Application Delivery Network Infrastructure that provides the visibility, acceleration and security required to optimize and secure the flow of information to any user, on any network, anywhere. This application intelligence enables enterprises to tightly align network investments with business requirements, speed decision making and secure business applications for long-term competitive advantage. For additional information, please visit www.bluecoat.com.
Fowarding Statement:
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Blue Coat Systems’ expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, and including statements regarding the capabilities and expected performance of Blue Coat Systems’ products. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available to Blue Coat Systems as of the date hereof, and Blue Coat Systems assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These and other risks relating to Blue Coat Systems’ business are set forth in Blue Coat Systems’ Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2009 and Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
