Sun Microsystems (News - Alert) has announced new channel resources to enhance its ExecConnect through Sun and the Sun Value Platform to the Sun Partner Advantage Program.

 

These enhancements, according to the company, provide channel partners with access to a new community that fosters collaboration, enables communication with other Sun partners and builds valuable relationships.

 

In addition, Sun officials said that their company will provide a new tool for partners to demonstrate the financial benefits of deploying Sun solutions to their customers.

 

These newest enhancements are part of Sun's ongoing efforts to work “hand-in-hand with partners” to help them streamline the sales process and grow their business, according to officials.

 

Bill Cate, senior director for Global Channel Marketing at Sun Microsystems, said that with these new tools and resources, “we have thoroughly embraced the vision of ‘community,’ and further opened the lines of communication that will help our joint sales efforts continue to thrive.”

 

An online community, ExecConnect by Sun delivers a social networking environment that fosters collaboration for generating “new ideas, discovering opportunities and building alliances.”

 

Officials said that currently available to Executive level channel partners, this enhancement provides an open forum to gather and share industry knowledge and develop relationships. In the future, Sun plans to expand this new online forum to include additional channel partners.

 

A Web-based sales tool, Sun Value Platform helps partners communicate the “financial benefits” of deploying Sun products and solutions to both existing and prospective customers.

 

The tool, according to officials, offers insights around infrastructure, staffing, performance and risk areas, arming partners with proof points to help increase deal size and reduce the sales cycle.

 

“The ExecConnect by Sun online community is going to open up a great deal of collaboration situations for us,” said John Murphy, executive vice president for Advanced Systems Group at Sun channel partner.

 

He also said that Executive Forum section will provide opportunities to share successes and competitive advantages, adding that “This is just another example of how Sun continues to enhance the Sun Partner Advantage Program by giving us needed resources and tools to help grow our business.”

 

Based on progressive membership levels, the Sun Partner Advantage Program is designed for partners seeking to differentiate themselves in the marketplace with solutions based on Sun technology. The program enables Sun and its partners to deliver end-to-end IT solutions to the customers