Hewlett Packard and Onforce joined with software giant Microsoft this month to create a partnership to offer training and certification to over 10,000 OnForce Service Providers. The program, officially launched today, will provide a one-stop resource for Microsoft certifications at half the normal cost to Providers. According to a recent Microsoft press release, the goal is to encourage certifications in specific tracks to help OnForce and its Providers enhance their level of services to Buyers on the platform. Two of these certifications, Microsoft Windows Vista and Small Business Specialist, will be heavily promoted.
The three-way partnership is a big step for OnForce, according to Lauren Macleod, writing in the OnForce blog. "With the launch of Microsoft Vista, the impending Longhorn introduction, and buyers’ increasing focus on their small business customers, we wanted to be able to help providers get smart on those technologies fast", Macleod wrote. "And at a price that they could get nowhere else."
The online training will be provided by HP and accessible from their web site.