D-Link Named To CRN's 2013 5-Star Partner Program Guide

5-Star Designation in Annual Guide Identifies IT Channel’s Most Elite Vendor Partner Programs

D-Link Systems Inc., the end-to-end networking solutions provider for consumers, businesses and service providers, recently announced it has been named to CRN’s 2013 Partner Program Guide and awarded a 5-Star Partner rating. The CRN Partner Program Guide is the definitive listing of manufacturers and software publishers that service solution providers or provide products to the IT Channel. The guide recognizes those vendors who have channel programs and derive a portion of their sales through the indirect IT Channel. The 5-Star Partner Program rating recognizes an elite subset of Partner Program Guide vendors who give solution providers the best partnering elements in their channel programs.

“The companies listed in CRN’s 2013 Partner Program Guide represent a comprehensive list of the best channel programs in the market today,” said Kelley Damore, senior vice president and editorial director, UBM Tech Channel’s CRN. “The 5-Star award is reserved for vendors that understand that a successful partnership does not rely solely on the technology. By offering their partners tools, education and regular updates, vendors on this list go above and beyond traditional support to ensure a mutually beneficial partnership.”

D-Link is committed to providing resellers with resources to rapidly grow their businesses, including marketing support, lead generation and training, as well as a dedicated campaign and lead management system. In the last year, D-Link launched a new partner portal with several core functions and sales tools to help resellers, including an online, on-demand, no-charge partner Certification program, a Campaign Center and a Product Selector Pro tool available to VIP+ partners for easy product comparisons.

D-Link’s Value In Partnership+ Program offers unique financial incentives to increase profitability for its partners by creating additional revenue streams and allowing them to expand into new markets. A newly added Gold level tier enables Gold partners to deliver complex D-Link solutions and earn its highest quarterly VIR rebates. Also, an enhanced Rewards Program delivers over 30,000 individual rewards, margin protection via a Deal Registration program and a unique Bounty Program that pays partners even when a Registered Deal is lost to a competitor.

“We are honored to receive CRN’s 5-Star Partner Program, which reflects the investment and commitment D-Link has made to support the channel and its partners,” said Mark Prowten, vice president enterprise and channel sales, D-Link Systems, Inc. “D-Link understands the importance of coordination and collaboration with all of our supply chain partners, and we place an emphasis on delivering our partners the products, education and resources needed for success.”

The CRN list methodology is based on objective criteria that takes into account each vendor’s investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication. The 2013 Partner Program Guide will be featured on CRN.com and the 5-Star Partners listing will be highlighted in the March 2013 issue of CRN. For more information, visit www.crn.com.

About UBM Tech Channel
UBM Tech Channel, a UBM company, is the premier provider of IT channel-focused events, media, research, consulting, and sales and marketing services. With over 30 years of experience and engagement, UBM Tech Channel has the unmatched channel expertise to execute integrated solutions for technology executives managing partner recruitment, enablement and go-to-market strategy in order to accelerate technology sales. For more information, visit www.ubmchannel.com.

About UBM llc
UBM llc is a leading global business media company. We inform markets and bring the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provide them with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional commercial communities, from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. Our 6,000 staff in more than 30 countries is organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, visit www.ubm.com.

About D-Link
D-Link is the global leader in connectivity for home, small business, mid- to large-sized enterprise environments, and service providers. An award-winning designer, developer, and manufacturer, D-Link implements and supports unified network solutions that integrate capabilities in switching, wireless, broadband, storage, IP Surveillance, and cloud-based network management. For more information visit www.dlink.com.