AMD overhauls global partner program

AMD has fused its four existing channel programs together and will roll out a new partner program called Fusion over the next year.

The chipmaker said the Fusion global partner program would provide partners "with tailored tools and resources to help them gain sales traction based on their unique business models."

Fusion would be phased in "over the next four quarters".

It would offer partners "a number of new benefits, such as online training tools, enhanced incentive programs and new co-marketing programs".

"Additional benefits [were] planned to appear throughout 2010 include an enhanced partner Web portal and new loyalty programs," the company said.

Under the program, AMD will categorise partners into Elite, Premier and Select tiers, with Elite being the first tier and Select the third.

The new system will reward AMD's highest-performing partners based on their sales records for all-AMD solutions, the company said.

Partners will also be placed into one of six business tracks, including channel providers, e-tailers, retailers, commercial solution providers, consumer solution providers and commercial volume resellers.

Different materials would be provided to partners in the various tracks.

"AMD understands the critical importance of our partners in successfully driving customer adoption of our platforms and has launched the AMD Fusion Partner Program to ensure we're providing the right elements to help accelerate our channel partner business," said David Kenyon, vice president of worldwide channel marketing at AMD.

"By supplying the tools and resources the channel needs, we'll be able to better help these channel partners maximise their sales and enable customers around the world to have access to the next-generation solutions powered by AMD.

"At the same time, the new structure allows AMD to more effectively and frequently communicate with partners at every tier."

The Australian version of the Fusion website did not appear to have been completed at the time of the global announcement.