Intermedia Combines Private-Label, Advisor Partner Programs

Hosted and cloud service provider Intermedia is streamlining its channel program, combining its Advisor and Private-Label programs into one unified structure. The benefit for Intermedia partners? Once this change goes live March 1, 2012, they can choose between the two on a customer-by-customer basis.

A quick refresher for those unfamiliar with Intermedia’s partner program: The Advisor Program is what some other companies might call an affiliate program — the partner refers the customer to Intermedia, which handles billing and support. On the other hand, the Private-Label program lets partners put their own logos on Intermedia’s services, including hosted Microsoft Exchange, and handle all aspects of the customer relationship.

“Intermedia gives you a choice – that’s something other partner programs don’t offer. I’m able to make the decision between selling under the advisor- or private label-model based on what’s best for my business and my customers,” said Peter Hanna, CEO of Intermedia partner Y Fi, in a prepared statement.

The same press release that brings news of this revamped Intermedia Partner Program also includes some interesting statistics: Revenue from Intermedia Private-Label Partners apparently increased 40 percent year-over-year in 2011, and 3,000 partners have signed up in just the last two years.

The last time we heard from Intermedia, it was boasting that it powered a full one-third of the MSPmentor 100 list of top managed service providers. Knowing that, I’m not at all surprised to hear its channel momentum improved to that degree. And it’s already made a public commitment to building more momentum in 2012. Stay tuned to TalkinCloud for more.