DataDirect With New XPath Partner Program

DataDirect Networks, Inc. announced the XPath Partner Program, a new global channel program that enables resellers to capitalize on the increasing customer demand for high-bandwidth, scalable storage solutions optimized for unstructured data. The program launches with the general availability to the channel of DataDirect Networks’ new S2A6620 entry-level storage appliance, which delivers enterprise-level data services at a midrange price point, representing a new paradigm of economic bandwidth, scalability and density for this market segment.

"With the introduction of the XPath Partner Program, DataDirect Networks is taking the steps required to diversify its sales portfolio and continue driving growth," said Janet Waxman, Vice President of Hardware Channels & Alliances, IDC. "The partner program compliments DDN’s established OEM and direct sales channels, and enables a wide ecosystem of solution partners, which will allow the company to expand its addressable market. By providing channel partners worldwide with access to the company’s high-bandwidth solutions and professional services, partners are provided new business opportunities in the unstructured data and content depot markets, both of which are growing rapidly."

"Today all types and sizes of organizations face the unceasing onslaught of digital content, which is exactly the challenge our storage solutions has been proven to solve," said David Zimmer, Vice President, Worldwide Channels, DataDirect Networks. "The XPath Partner Program will enable DataDirect Networks to extend its geographic presence in worldwide markets and reach deeper into key vertical markets facing these challenges. The program, combined with the S2A6620, enables channel partners to provide customers with extreme storage functionality, once the domain of large enterprise clients. Now smaller organizations can benefit from the same extreme technologies powering the most demanding, most content-intensive IT environments in the world."

XPath Partner Program Benefits
The new program is focused on providing partner profitability and enabling partners to deliver affordable, cost-effective and highly differentiated, industry-leading high-bandwidth storage solutions to customers — all with the ease-of-doing-business with DataDirect Networks.

Participation in the XPath Partner Program provides channel partners with a comprehensive program for demand generation and the opportunity to become a select ‘go-to’ partner for DataDirect Networks in key vertical markets. Partners will benefit from increased revenue opportunities with the ability to market professional services, obtain discounts on products and demonstration units, have full access to technical training, support, sales and marketing resources, and a dedicated partner Web portal.

"The XPath Partner Program was designed to enable partners to be profitable and protect their investments with features like automated deal registration," said Cindra Stolk, President, Federal Edge, a leading government integrator. "One thing that is important when building a successful channel program is to keep it simple and create incentives to reward your partners, and DataDirect Networks has designed its program to achieve both. We look forward to collaborating with the company in addressing market segments with a pressing need for high-bandwidth storage solutions."

S2A6620 Shipping to the Channel
In conjunction with the XPath Partner Program launch, DataDirect Networks announced that its S2A6620, introduced earlier this year, is shipping through the channel. The entry-level storage appliance delivers enterprise-level data services at a midrange price point and leverages the company’s eighth generation Silicon Storage Architecture (S2A), which is currently used by the world’s largest online gaming and music sites, social entertainment applications developers, photo and video sharing services, more than 400 broadcast and post-production facilities, and 48 of the Top 100 high performance computing facilities.

The channel-optimized S2A6620 is ideal for a multitude of applications, including rapid animation rendering, media asset management, broadcast and film editing and archiving in the same system, digital surveillance, e-mail and online transaction processing.

"The need to store massive amounts of digital content impacts companies of all sizes, not just the enterprise," said Bruce Lyon, President and CEO of Integrated Media Technologies, Inc. "With the S2A6620, we are now able to provide a reliable and scalable storage solution, with enterprise-rich features that small and medium-sized media and entertainment companies can afford. This enables us to address new segments of the M&E market. We look forward to growing our business and building a stronger relationship with DataDirect Networks."

"DataDirect Networks is already a player in the Web 2.0 world, and ESG expects that the launch of the company’s first channel partner program will enable the company to further extend its position in this space," said Paul Myerson, Senior Channel Analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. "By making its storage solutions available to channel partners worldwide, DDN, together with its partners, are in position to take advantage of the expansive data being generated in the Internet computing era."

"The most effective way for an enabling vendor to reach the midrange market in general and certain vertical markets in particular is to have a robust reseller channel program," said Roger Cox, Research Vice President, Storage Markets, Gartner. "Resellers are seeking enabling vendors whose products are differentiating from competitive alternatives; that permit a reseller to make a reasonable product and services profit margin; protect the reseller’s investment in pursuing a specific opportunity; and, are responsive to requests for support."

Channel partners can sign up quickly to begin generating revenue opportunities with DataDirect Networks by taking advantage of the XPath Partner Fast Start Kit — a comprehensive set of tools and resources bundled to ramp partners up quickly on the company, its technology portfolio, and its full suite of high performance, high-density data infrastructure solutions.