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D-Link on Monday confirmed several updates to its channel program as it looks to convince skeptical solution providers that it won’t lose channel momentum following a major shakeup in its North America executive ranks.

Several key architects of D-Link’s current go-to-market strategy left the company starting in the fall of 2011. The exits included Nick Tidd, former D-Link North America president, and two of his top sales executives, Pat Piwowarczyk, former vice president, U.S. enterprise and channel sales, and Rod St. Michel, D-Link’s vice president of consumer sales.

Several more D-Link executives have also departed since then, CRN has learned, including Mark Ciprietti, vice president and general manager, business solutions division, D-Link Canada and also vice president, North American Channel DMR.

Partners have voiced concerns that the loss of so much channel acumen spells doom for D-Link’s program, but Steve Ryan, director of North American channel programs for D-Link, says that isn’t the case.

“We haven’t heard of any partners saying they’ll pull projects or stop selling D-Link product,” Ryan said. “They’ve obviously got one eye raised open watching whether we’re going to do what we’ll say we’ll do. But we maintain our commitment to the channel and we’re not making any changes to the program in a negative way.”

All of the current updates to D-Link’s channel program were developed starting last summer, before the executive departures began, Ryan said. Among the changes are that D-Link’s Value In Partnership (VIP) program has been renamed VIP+.

D-Link has a new partner portal that’s easier to navigate, Ryan said, as well as an easier claim process for D-Link sales rewards thanks in part to a new back-end supplier D-Link hired to manage administration of the program. D-Link is also providing an e-learning program through which partners can earn rewards for completion, and a new campaigns tool for providing D-Link partners access to customizable marketing material.

The program itself remains constitutionally the same. D-Link’s partnership tiers are Gold, Silver and Registered and it provides technology specializations within VIP+ for partners that focus on a particular segment of the D-Link line card: Storage Preferred, IP Surveillance Preferred and Security Preferred.

Partner certification will also remain free, Ryan said. D-Link is offering certification in three categories: D-Link Sales Specialist, for sales professionals; D-Link Certified Specialist, designed for pre-sales technical professionals; and D-Link Certified Professional, designed for network engineers. All of the course materials will still be downloadable on-demand, and the courses themselves self-paced.

“One thing I’ve constantly heard from partners in the past is, why would you charge me for training? Why would you charge me if I’m going to invest the time to learn about your products and solutions?” Ryan said. “Well, at D-Link, we agree with them.”

D-Link is continuing to solicit partner feedback, Ryan said. It will communicate VIP+ changes through VAR resources like its quarterly town hall-style meetings with partners.

“I’m asking them to reach out to me as well as getting the feedback from our channel account managers,” Ryan said. “Pretty much everything is driven by partner feedback and it’ll continue to be that way.

The VIP+ program will also be launching in Europe in February, Ryan said. VIP+ changes will take effect for North America partners on Feb. 7.

Tags: channel, D-Link

The new Amplifi HD Media Router 3000 provides data transfer speeds of up to 900Mbps.

Fountain Valley-based D-link’s Amplifi HD Media Router 3000 was selected as the Consumer Electronic Show’s “Best of CES” winner for networking devices. The router, with its unique SharePort Mobile app, is capable of serving up data transfer speeds of up to 900 Mbps, automatic bandwidth prioritization and D-Link’s trademarked SharePort Cloud technology.

New products introduced at the conference were evaluated by the editors of CNET, an online technology news and business website, and the most innovative were selected as the Best of CES award winners.

D-Link’s high-performance device (model number DIR-857) also features 4Gb ports and USB 3.0, enabling faster streaming content. It also employs the company’s HD Fuel technology to automatically manage traffic flow. The device is designed to accommodate all home networking devices in a single hub, allowing connectivity between all at once while providing high-speed dual-band wireless on two channels of bandwidth operating simultaneously.

“We are honored to once again be recognized by CNET’s team of editors at CES this year, underscoring D-Link’s ongoing efforts to deliver leading home connectivity solutions and to bring a range of cloud services to home networks,” said Daniel Kelley, D-Link’s associate vice president of marketing for North America. CNET editors named D-Link products as finalists in the Best in CES evaluations in 2010 and 2009. “Whether gaming online, streaming HD media or extending your home network to multiple rooms, the new HD Media Router 3000 offers consumers high performance connectivity for a range of applications, as well as the ability to enjoy and share content anywhere, anytime.”

Tags: CNET, D-Link, DIR-857

Networking expert D-Link has announced its first wireless router to feature the company’s patented SmartBeam technology, something it claims can eliminate wireless blackspots in the home.

SmartBeam, the company claims, constantly surveys the signals strength of multiple connected devices in order to provide a stable, seamless and interference-free wireless connection anywhere in the home.

Built into an interesting cylindrical design, the D-Link DIR-645 uses an array of six antennae to locate wireless client devices more accurately, focusing a direct beam on devices which report a poor signal strength.

In addition to theoretically eliminating signal blackspots, the SmartBeam technology should also increase speeds for devices on the periphery of the wireless network by increasing the quality of the signal and helping ward off interference from other wireles networks in the area.

“We love pushing the boundaries of design to ensure the consumer has the best possible experience, and could be more innovative than an intelligent router that identifies where wireless devices are and provides a better signal? Inspired by beamforming technology, the result is that consumers can now benefit from technology which was previously reserved for enterprise-grade applications,” claimed D-Link’s Andrew Mulholland at the launch.

“Furthermore, the D-Link router’s cutting edge design means that users will be happy to have it sitting at the heart of their homes. D-Link is proud to be the first company to bring this technology to market, blending our existing leadership in Wireless N with our networking expertise and understanding of the consumer’s needs in their Digital Home.”

The DIR-645 is available now priced at £80, with more SmartBeam-enabled products expected to follow in the near future.

Tags: D-Link, DIR-645, SmartBeam, Wireless N

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — D-Link today announced the latest products to join its Amplifi(TM) family of high-performance home networking solutions, the HD Media Router 2000 (DIR-827) and the PowerLine AV 500 Gigabit Switch Kit (DHP-541). Designed to optimize a home’s Wi-Fi signal and provide increased and continuous Internet strength, the HD Media Router 2000 offers advanced wireless connectivity and HD Fuel® for automatic bandwidth prioritization, enabling seamless high-quality HD streaming, gaming without lag time and uninterrupted VoIP calling.

The PowerLine AV 500 Gigabit Switch Kit delivers additional bandwidth through existing electrical wiring and outlets, enabling consumers to connect an entertainment system to the network from any room in the house with speeds of up to 500Mbps.

“With the increased usage of wirelessly-connected devices in homes, there is a huge demand for stronger and more reliable network connections,” says Daniel Kelley, associate vice president of consumer marketing, D-Link North America. “D-Link’s new Amplifi products address this demand by providing consumers top-shelf, high-performance products – whether you’re looking for increased signal strength and uninterrupted streaming of your favorite HD videos and music across the home network, or extra bandwidth for secure, fast connectivity to otherwise hard-to-reach places.”

Featuring data transfer rates of up to 600Mbps and HD Fuel®, the HD Media Router 2000 offers simultaneous N600 Dual Band (300Mbps + 300Mbps) for streaming HD videos and surfing the web at the same time. HD Fuel enables the built-in Quality of Service (QoS) engine to automatically prioritize high bandwidth activities for uninterrupted HD video streaming, gaming and VoIP calling. Unlike conventional routers, it is specifically designed to automatically provide extra bandwidth to certain activities, enhancing online entertainment and eliminating glitches or lags. The high-performance HD Media Router 2000 also allows users to stream online media content to multiple devices anywhere in the home, for the ultimate online entertainment experience. In addition, the new home network router features USB SharePort(TM) Plus with a USB 3.0 port for sharing virtually any USB-enabled device, such as a printer or storage device, across the home network at faster transfer rates. It also includes an SD Card slot for sharing media files with anyone on the home network, whether it’s a photo or movie file.

The PowerLine AV 500 Gigabit Switch Kit (DHP-541) features D-Link’s PowerLine AV 500 four-port Gigabit Switch (DHP-540) and one PowerLine AV 500 Adapter (DHP-502AV) for simple, secure, fast connectivity to hard-to-reach places in the home, such as a basement or attic. Using a home’s existing electrical wiring, consumers can easily plug, play and transform any conventional power outlet into a fully-functioning Ethernet port. Ideal for home entertainment systems, PowerLine technology allows consumers to connect to the network from any room in the house with a fast 500Mbps transfer rate. And with the ability to support multiple streams of HD content and prioritize Internet traffic with a built-in QoS engine, these PowerLine HomePlug AV products deliver glitch-free movies, gaming, web surfing, and downloading simultaneously.

For more information and detailed specs on the HD Media Router 2000 (DIR-827), the PowerLine AV 500 Gigabit Switch Kit (DHP-541) or other D-Link Amplifi products, visit amplifi.dlink.com.

Availability and Pricing

The HD Media Router 2000 will be available in late-September with a retail price of $149.99 throughout D-Link’s network of U.S. e-tail and retail outlets, including Fry’s and Micro Center, and at the company’s online store ( www.dlinkshop.com ). The PowerLine AV 500 Gigabit Switch Kit will be available for a retail price of $159.99 in October.

Tags: Amplifi, D-Link, DHP-541, DIR-827, Home Networking, QoS

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 15, 2011 — /PRNewswire/ — D-Link, the end-to-end networking solutions provider for consumers, businesses, and service providers, today announced it is now offering an IP Surveillance Technology Specialization through its Value in Partnership Channel Program. With the new specialization, D-Link provides channel partners with the technical background to develop and implement IP surveillance solutions, as well as resources designed to enrich the D-Link® business experience, making it seamless and rewarding. The IP Surveillance Technology Specialization is now available through D-Link’s Value in Partnership Program online partner portal.

“As a technology solutions vendor, our customers rely on us to be knowledgeable experts, providing feedback and suggestions for implementing new technologies into their business,” said Neil Medwed, president and CEO of Preferred Technology Solutions. “The IP surveillance market is growing quickly with technology advancing at a rapid pace, and D-Link’s new Technology Specialization will help us stay ahead of the curve for our customers.”

Revamped in May 2011, D-Link’s Value in Partnership Program provides its channel partners with tools to differentiate themselves against competitors and position their market value as a D-Link partner. Three levels of partnership are available, and higher levels – Silver and Gold –offer additional partner benefits but require specific training to ensure end users are confident that their D-Link® partner is thoroughly trained on D-Link’s network infrastructure products and solutions. Through its partner program, D-Link also offers a Volume Incentive Rebate (VIR) Program, Deal Registration margin protection with a unique Bounty program if a deal is lost, a Rewards loyalty program, and Technology Specializations for Storage and IP Surveillance.

Technology Specializations

D-Link’s Value in Partnership Program Technology Specializations allow partners to differentiate themselves and demonstrate proficiency within a specific product technology. The newest specialization, IP Surveillance, offers partners the ability to be thoroughly trained and aligned with D-Link on complete surveillance solutions. Benefits include an upfront discount on IP surveillance products, priority access to surveillance sales leads, and D-Link branding as an IP Surveillance Preferred Partner for differentiation in the market.

“The new IP Surveillance Specialization is one of many enhancements D-Link will be offering partners through its Value in Partnership Program,” said Steve Ryan, director of North America Channel Programs for D-Link. “D-Link is committed to providing resources for our channel partners to ensure they are able to deliver best-of-breed solutions in IP surveillance and other technologies to meet customer needs.”

Tags: D-Link, IP Surveillance