Web Software Developer ClearNova Launches First Channel Program

ClearNova this week will launch its first partner program in hopes of accelerating the market acceptance of its rapid application development (RAD) platform that combines Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX), Java 2.0 Enterprise Edition 2.0 (J2EE) and a number of open-source technologies.

The appropriately named ClearNova RAD AJAX Partner Program is bilevel so as to attract partners that sell to either small or large accounts. Both plans offer sales incentives, access to products and development resources.

"We are looking for partners to build real-world applications using AJAX. We think [AJAX] is helping redefine the way enterprises think about business applications, so we want to find a way to accelerate the knowledge of the technology," says Edwin Stinson, ClearNova's chief operating system officer.

The Consulting Company Partners part of the program is intended for partners specializing in selling to smaller organizations that do systems integration or small development projects, but are not looking to resell ClearNova's products. The Enterprise Partner Program is for those selling to larger corporate accounts that have their own sales force and can offer a range of application and solution development services.

The Consulting Company Partners costs $5,000 to join. In return, partners will receive two copies of ClearNova's Workbench tools and a copy of its ThinkCap Enterprise Server, both of which are not intended for resale, as well as 20 free tech support calls.

Partners can also send two people for technical training and will have a hotline available for all sales and marketing support questions. They will also receive a commission on any business that was referred by them on all software sales.

The Enterprise Partner program costs $10,000 to join. Partners receive all the technical benefits of the Consulting Partners Program, although they receive five copies of the Workbench tools and one copy of the server software, 50 free tech support calls, and a 30 percent discount on software and 10 percent on consulting services.

"If we do this right, cultivate a good partner program and treat them right, we hope to bring between 40 and 50 percent of our revenue through partners," says Steve Benfield, ClearNova's vice president in charge of strategy. "We hope to have between 40 and 50 partners after the first year."

Partners interested in getting more information about the program can go to www.clearnova.com.