Web Hosting Firm Interland Awarded Microsoft’s Gold Certified Status

Interland (www.interland.com), a provider of Web hosting and online services for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced it has attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program with competencies in Advanced Infrastructure Solutions and in Network Infrastructure Solutions, recognizing Interland's expertise and total impact in the technology marketplace.

"We view our relationship with Microsoft as an advantage for our company and our customers," said Glenn Hofmann, vice president of products and technology for Interland. "As a Gold Certified partner, we're proud to be working so closely with Microsoft to deliver business-class hosting and online services to small and medium-sized business."

As a Gold Certified partner, Interland has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven its ability to meet customers' needs. Microsoft Gold Certified partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

"Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities. They need to trust in someone that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans.

Microsoft Gold Certified partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies," said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp.

"Today, Microsoft recognizes Interland as a new Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction with Microsoft products and technology."

As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Status, Interland had to declare at least one Microsoft Competency.

Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner's capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution.

The Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Competency is designed for partners with proven expertise in designing and/or implementing complex infrastructure solutions such as Active Directory-based and Microsoft Integration Server design and deployment solutions, or Microsoft Exchange Server migration or deployment solutions.

"Our industry partners allow us to deliver high-quality solutions and applications to our customers. And we're always looking at ways to improve our relationships," said Paul Flessner, senior vice president of the Server Platform Division at Microsoft.

The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in December 2003 and represents Microsoft's ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide.

The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners' businesses be successful.