-Cisco Clear Advantage Rewards Channel Partners for Developing Cisco Storage - Networking Practice -

Dubai, UAE, February 23rd, 2005 - As part of its continuing effort to help accelerate channel partner growth, Cisco Systems today announced the Cisco Clear Advantage Program, the first Cisco program that rewards channel partners for achieving incremental growth targets when selling Cisco storage area network (SAN) solutions and Multilayer Datacenter Switching (MDS) products.

Clear Advantage is a rebate program designed to reward Cisco channel partners with expertise in storage technology and to grow the base of Cisco SAN specialized partners.  Channel partners are required to begin work on achieving the Cisco Storage Networking Specialization, by the end of the second quarter of participation in the program.  Launched last June, the Cisco Storage Networking Specialization helps ensure that channel partners have a proven expertise to plan, design, implement and support Cisco-based intelligent SAN solutions.

"We want to reward partners for investing in building a Cisco storage networking practice," said Tarek Ghoul, Cisco Systems Regional Channel Manager for the Middle East and Pakistan. "By providing a rebate through the Clear Advantage program, Cisco is helping our OSM channel partners increase their profitability and cover costs associated with becoming specialized in MDS storage networking technology."  

The Clear Advantage program complements the unique Cisco OSM (Original Storage Manufacturer) Active Go-To-Market Strategy by enabling solution providers to strengthen their relationship with its OSM partners, the primary distributors for the Cisco MDS 9000.  Cisco will continue to require channel partners have a resale relationship with at least one of its OSM partners.

Clear Advantage Program Requirements 

In order to qualify for Cisco's Clear Advantage Program, Channel Partners must be a Cisco Registered Partner.   The rebate is paid based on the Partner meeting the criteria and goals during the entire period in which they participate in the Clear Advantage program.   In order to participate in the program's first two quarters, partners must apply by March 18, 2005.  The Clear Advantage Program is currently available in the US and EMEA theatres. For more information about Cisco's Clear Advantage program in EMEA go to http://www.cisco.com/go/clearadvantage/emea.

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Cisco, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any of its resellers.

For further information, please contact:
Yousef Khalili                                                               Noura Gwanny
Cisco Systems                                                             MS&L
Tel: +9714 390 7777                                                    Tel: +9714 3676152         
Fax: +9714 390 7771                                                    Fax: +9714 3672615
ykhalili@cisco.com                                                        noura.gwanny@dubai.mslpr.com

© Press Release 2005