Microsoft Alliance Taps NewsGator
For Enterprise Social Computing Capabilities

By Melissa Risteff, May 12, 2009

MSFT NewsGator has joined an exclusive circle of software providers working through Microsoft Technology Centers (MTCs) to develop powerful solutions for business customers. This alliance will expose organizations around the world to the power of NewsGator Social Sites.

Microsoft Technology Centers -- of which there are 18 -- provide customers with experts and resources to envision, plan, build, deploy, operate and optimize secure customized computing solutions based on Microsoft and partner technologies. NewsGator’s membership in the Microsoft Technology Center Alliances, for example, gives new customers hands-on experience with the power of NewsGator’s Social Sites™.

After noticing the enhanced social computing capabilities of Social Sites, program leaders nominated NewsGator for the alliance, conducted a software trial, and, seeing abundant benefits, extended a partnership offer signed by both parties. The alliance makes NewsGator one of just 14 software partners in the program, and the only social computing provider.

As Chuck McCann, Microsoft's Worldwide MTC Alliances Program Director explains, "NewsGator Social Sites is a perfect complement to Office SharePoint Server 2007 for customers who want to reap the benefits of enterprise social computing. Social Sites connects people, content and communities in a business context, cutting costs, improving efficiency and boosting overall performance for organizations.”

And, Dave Keller, NewsGator General Manager says that “the inclusion of Social Sites in the MTCs is a testament to the added value it brings to the already robust social computing feature set provided by Office SharePoint Server 2007.  When people try Social Sites and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, they immediately understand the business value of enterprise social computing and often regret they waited so long to get on board."

We look forward to this new and exciting partnership with Microsoft and the benefits it will bring to potential and current customers.

Melissa Risteff

Melissa Risteff, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Engagment

Melissa Risteff is the SVP of Enterprise Engagement at NewsGator. She’s responsible for the adoption consultancy practice, partner competency and enablement program, and social business solution delivery – each having a major impact on aligning to customer business value and ultimately making social real. Melissa previously served as CMO of a collaborative analytics software firm, VP of Product for an eLearning company, and has held senior level strategy and product management roles at both Sun Microsystems and GE. She is a thought leader in the space – with advanced graduate research following her passion in social technologies and organizational development. Born in NY and raised in VT, Melissa moved to CO in ‘92 and stayed for the weather and lifestyle. She has an affinity for gastronomy, wanderlust, and hiking.

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