Microsoft Honors Public Sector Partners of the Year at Worldwide Partner Conference 2010

WASHINGTON, July 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced its 2010 U.S. Public Sector Partners of the Year, recognizing companies that have used Microsoft technology to deliver innovative solutions in support of public sector communities. Microsoft honored 21 government, education and healthcare industry partners during its Worldwide Partner Conference 2010, which is being held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center July 11–15. Award winners and finalists were selected from nominations received from Microsoft's U.S. Public Sector team working throughout the nation.

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"Our incredible partner community helps to support, implement and customize Microsoft innovations that meet the unique needs of the public sector markets we collectively serve," said Vince Menzione, general manager of U.S. Public Sector Partner Strategy at Microsoft. "Not only are Microsoft partners helping public sector organizations realize the enormous benefits of cloud computing, their success is driving economic growth and creating jobs in communities around the country."

The majority of Microsoft's U.S. partners are locally owned small businesses that earn $8.70 for every dollar that Microsoft earns. Their success and commitment to delivering technology innovation is increasing the number of highly skilled job opportunities available in communities around the nation. Microsoft's 150,000 U.S. partners are driving economic growth and productivity through solutions that help organizations increase efficiencies and cut costs in a down economy.

The Microsoft Partner Program is designed for all partners who develop and market solutions based on Microsoft platforms, provide consulting or technical services on Microsoft systems, or recommend Microsoft technology purchases. Microsoft partners include consulting services providers, independent software vendors (ISVs), independent hardware vendors, large account resellers (LARs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), support providers, system integrators, system builders, training providers, value-added resellers and value-added providers.

Microsoft's 2010 U.S. Public Sector Partners of the Year were awarded across 21 different categories:

• Partner of the Year, Federal — Synteractive
• Partner of the Year, Federal Innovation — Raytheon Co.
• Partner of the Year, Federal SharePoint Deployment — InfoReliance Corp.
• Partner of the Year, Federal Windows Deployment — Planet Technologies
• Partner of the Year, Federal SQL Server Deployment — Open Water
• Partner of the Year, Federal Microsoft Dynamics Deployment — Aspect Software Inc.
• Partner of the Year, State & Local Government Solutions — InfoStrat
• Partner of the Year, State & Local Government Innovation — Advantage Factory Inc.
• Partner of the Year, State & Local Government East Region — Planet Technologies
• Partner of the Year, State & Local Government Central Region — KnowledgeLake Inc.
• Partner of the Year, State & Local Government West Region — Adventos LLC
• Partner of the Year, Health — Allscripts
• Partner of the Year, Health Provider — Perficient Inc.
• Partner of the Year, Health Plan/Payer — VUE Software
• Partner of the Year, Life Sciences — NextDocs
• Partner of the Year, Health & Human Services — ACS
• Partner of the Year, Services (Microsoft Consulting Services) — Idea Integration Corp.
• Partner of the Year, Microsoft Dynamics — Permuta Technologies
• Partner of the Year, Education — Computer Generated Solutions Inc.
• Partner of the Year, Education K–12 — Mariner
• Partner of the Year, Higher Education — Nuventive LLC

About Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference

Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference provides Microsoft's partner community with access to key marketing and business strategies, leadership, and information regarding specific customer solutions designed to help partners succeed in the marketplace. Along with informative learning opportunities covering sales, marketing, services and technology, the Worldwide Partner Conference is an ideal setting for partners to garner valuable knowledge from their peers and from Microsoft. More information can be found at http://www.digitalwpc.com and on the Partner Network home page at http://microsoftpartnernetwork.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.