While analysts have puzzled over seemingly slow adoption of .NET -- and Web services in general -- Microsoft and HP claimed their partnership is designed to meet demand that already exists.
Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard each will spend US$25 million during the next two-and-a-half years in an effort to foster more widespread adoption of the .NET Web services initiative among e-businesses.
The $50 million campaign, announced late Monday by the two tech giants, calls for the training of 5,000 HP sales professionals on the finer points of .NET and the certification of another 3,000 HP service workers on the software.
HP, a longtime partner and reseller of Microsoft's products, said it also will add up to 1,800 new sales professionals worldwide to spread the word about .NET products.
Mike Sinneck, corporate vice president of worldwide services at Microsoft, said better-trained HP sales staff will enable companies that are already implementing .NET to realize more gains from their investment.
As if to underscore the point that .NET is already being implemented and is not a coming attraction, the companies cited the example of food giant General Mills (NYSE: GIS), which is using .NET to communicate directly with 25,000 stores. The Web-based communications have replaced a paper-form system that hampered sales efforts, the companies said.
Sue Simonett, director of information systems at General Mills, said the company's .NET platform will be used to roll out new grocery items to the marketplace and eventually will be expanded to track all products.
News source: NewsFactor
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