CommPartners Connect Wholesale Partner Program Overview

At CommPartners Connect, our wholesale reseller Partners are essential to our business mission and our ability to serve SMB/E customers. All CommPartners Connect hosted IP communications products and services are sold through our channel partners.

In order to achieve our mission of becoming the leading wholesale provider of hosted IP communications to the SMB/E market, we have put together a comprehensive program designed to enable our reseller Partners to be as productive and successful as possible. We believe that building long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships are a key ingredient to customer satisfaction, increased sales and profitability.

As a reflection of our commitment, CommPartners Connect offers a wholesale Partner reseller program that delivers the tools and programs necessary to lead in this market, and enhance our partners’ abilities to better serve their customer base and grow their business.

I. Wholesale Partnership Categories

• Authorized Partner
• Select Partner
• Premier Partner

CommPartners Connect Authorized Partners:

Entry level CommPartners Connect Wholesale Authorized Partners combine their product and technical knowledge, and marketing, sales and customer focus with CommPartners nationwide IP network coverage and hosted applications to deliver quality solutions to the SMB/E market. They have business capabilities that have met CommPartners Connect qualification standards essential to the successful deployment of hosted IP PBX, IP Trunking and related services.

CommPartners Connect Select Partners

Select Partners have demonstrated their commitment to their hosted services business and have proven their ability to sell, provision and support hosted IP PBX, IPTrunking and related services to their customers. Select Partner authorization is at the discretion of CommPartners Connect, with a determined minimum monthly recurring revenue level for hosted services per month.

CommPartners Connect Premier Partners

CommPartners Connect Premier Partners are appointed by CommPartners based on a number of requirements and commitments. Our Premier Partners have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to expand and grow their hosted services business. They have also demonstrated their capability to successfully sell and support all hosted services products, including hosted IP PBX, IPTrunking, hosted Contact Center products, and other related services and have a determined minimum monthly recurring revenue level for hosted services per month.

 II. Partner Requirements

We require from all levels of partnership certain skills, experience and demonstrated performance commensurate with their level of partnership. These include:

• Expertise in selling and supporting hosted IP communications, data/IT services, telephony services and related equipment to the SMB/E market
• Focus on selling and/or consulting with SMB/E organizations for the sale of IP communications solutions
• Certain minimal sales, support and technical resources

III. CommPartners Connect Partner Benefits

Partners invest a substantial amount of their resources to sales, marketing and support of their hosted IP communications business provided by CommPartners Connect. To support those efforts, CommPartners Connect offers a number of resources to help their partners provide solutions to their customers in as efficient and profitable way as possible.

Authorized Partners:

The following resources are available to our Authorized Partners:

•  Private Label/White Label Platform - the CommPartners Connect Wholesale Partner program enables our Partners to become next generation IP communications service providers Our Partners own the relationship with the end user customer, set margins, bill and collect revenue under their own brand, and build equity in their IP communications business.
• Hosted IP PBX, IPTrunking and Related Products - Authorized Partners are able to resell a robust suite of hosted IP communications solutions for the SMB/E market including hosted IP PBX, IPTrunking, Access Products, Toll Free, International Long Distance, and a full range of ala carte services.
• Billing/OSS - The CommPartners Connect Management Services (CMS) operational support system and billing platform has over 10 years of use in telephony operations. The event oriented database enables customizable partner billing and reporting capabilities with both wholesale and retail billing modules. CMS supports billing and settlement for hosted IP communications services, interconnect services and domestic and international long distance calling.
• Training – All Partners are required to have representatives participate in product, sales, and technical training related to CommPartners Connect hosted IP communications solutions and CommPartners Connect Management Services (CMS). Additional training is offered as new products and updates are released from time to time. All training material is available through CommPartners Connect Partner Resource Center website.
• Network Control Center (NCC) 24 x 7 Support Services - The CommPartners Connect NCC provides 24 x 7 Tier 2 and Tier 3 technical support to all of our wholesale partners related to CommPartners Connect network services and hosted applications.
• Sales and Marketing Support - CommPartners Connect offers Partners the ability to co-brand and obtain collateral, advertisements and online marketing campaigns that support their sales and marketing efforts. Standard literature and marketing pieces are freely available for all Partner levels on the web in PDF and Word document formats. While our Partners "own" the relationship with their end user customers, CommPartners Connect focuses on a "team selling approach" whenever appropriate. This is based on the assumption that "solution sales", multi-site, and national account opportunities may require a level of sales and technical support expertise that would require involvement from the CommPartners Connect sales and sales engineering team and, when necessary, Executive team. CommPartners Connect assists in customer presentations and pilot installations and works with Select and Premier Level Partners on strategic projects with special pricing requirements.
• Marketing Support/Sales Leads - CommPartners Connect wholesale Partners are eligible to receive sales leads generated by CommPartners Connect marketing efforts and strategic relationships. All wholesale Partners have access to product catalogs, sales and marketing tools and a marketing portal where customizable/brandable sales and marketing materials are available.
• Secure Partners' Website for Online Ordering - CommPartners Connect Partners have access to our Partner Resource Center (PRC), our secure web portal for order entry, customized marketing tools, training, technical support information, knowledge base and other resources.
• Demo Equipment - CommPartners Connect enables all Partners to utilize CommPartners Connect IP communications solutions for demonstration to their current and prospective customers. Pre-configured IP PBX kitted solutions, which include network services, IP PBX applications software and CPE are available.
• Partner Notifications - CommPartners Connect Partners receive targeted Partner Notifications to support sales and support efforts to help increase sales and profitability. Regular emails, Webinars and online teleconferences provide a timely and appropriate mechanism to inform Partners about product releases, equipment certifications, special promotions, sales support, marketing programs and technology updates.
• Logo Usage - Using the CommPartners Connect logo brings CommPartners Connect Partners a powerful branding to use in advertising and promotional material. CommPartners Connect Partners are able to differentiate themselves by advertising in conjunction with the IP solutions network company certified as a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier in every state in the continental US and Hawaii. Use of the CommPartners Connect logo is at the option of the wholesale partner.
• Public Relations Support - Effective joint Public Relations (PR) can help differentiate Partners in a way that provides true competitive advantage. The CommPartners Connect team works with Partners to develop and distribute joint press releases to national, trade, business, channel and vertical publications or other media outlets as appropriate. We also work with Partners in the creation of case studies, testimonials, whitepapers and other projects that help communicate the benefits of CommPartners Connect IP solutions in the SMB/E market. When required, CommPartners Connect will provide speakers for training, seminars and other marketing events.

Select Partner Enhanced Benefits

In addition to the resources made available to our Authorized Partners, CommPartners Connect makes the following incremental benefits and resources available to our Select Partners:

• 5% Discount Off Wholesale Price List - Select Partners receive a 5% discount off their monthly wholesale invoice on eligible IP PBX, IPTrunking, access products, ala carte services, MAC’s, NRC's and Professional Service Fees.
• Pre-Sales Engineering Support - Select Partners benefit from periodic site visits and joint customer presentations with CommPartners Connect SE resources who provide pre-sales consultation and assistance. SE staff is available to team with Partners on pre-sales joint customer presentations, solution selling and strategic presentations.
• Select Partner Priority in Sales Leads - Our Select partners are given priority in assigning sales leads for hosted communications services received by CommPartners Connect.
• Specialized Pricing on Multi-site and National Account - Select Partners and CommPartners Connect consult on specialized pricing models for multi-site, national account, and other strategic opportunities for the sale of hosted services.
• Special Promotional Offerings - Special Promotions, incentives and recognitions only available to Partners at the Select level or higher are offered from time-to-time by CommPartners Connect.

Premier Partner Enhanced Benefits

In addition to the resources made available to our Authorized and Select Partners, CommPartners Connect makes the following resources available to our Premier Partners:

• 10% Discount Off Wholesale Price List - Premier Partners are receive a 10% discount off their monthly wholesale invoice on eligible IP PBX, IPTrunking, Hosted Contact Center, access products, ala carte services, MAC’s, NRC’s and Professional Service fees.
• Access to Expanded Product offering - CommPartners Connect Premier partners have access to resell the full range of wholesale hosted IP communications solutions to their end user customers including IP PBX, IPTrunking, Hosted Contact Center, new product releases and can participate in product and applications sales prior to general availability.
• Expanded Network Control Center (NCC) Support Services - While CommPartners Connect provides 24 x 7 Tier 2 and Tier 3 technical support to all of our wholesale partners, our Premier Partners are provided a dedicated toll free number into our NCC.
• Expanded Pre-Sales Engineering (SE) Support Including Dedicated Resources - CommPartners Connect provides Premier Partners assigned and dedicated SE resources to provide pre-sales assistance. SE staff is available to team with Partners on pre-sales joint customer presentations, solution selling and strategic presentations.
• Premier Partner Priority in Sales Leads - Our Premier partners are given the highest priority in assigning sales leads for hosted communications services received by CommPartners Connect.
• Premier Partner Presence Opportunities on Corporate Website - CommPartners Connect will develop opportunities for Premier Partners to be featured on the company’s corporate website with the intent to help build the brand and awareness of our most productive partners and generate additional sales leads targeted to those Premier Partners.
• Specialized Pricing on Multi-site, National Accounts and Specials -Premier Partners and CommPartners Connect consult on specialized pricing models for multi-site, national account, and other strategic opportunities for the sale of hosted services.
• Comfort Letters - "Comfort Letters" signed by the President or CEO of CommPartners Connect will be available to Premier Partners upon their request for their business purposes.
• Network Peering - CommPartners Connect will facilitate peering arrangements whenever appropriate with Premier Partners who have their own network.
• Special Promotional Offerings for Premier Level Partners - Special Promotions, incentives and recognitions only available to Premier Partners are offered from time-to-time by CommPartners Connect.
• Market Development Fund - CommPartners Connect has established a MDF program for its hosted IP communications solutions. Premier level Partners can use these co-op funds in proportion to monthly recurring revenue to finance certain pre-approved marketing activities such as seminars, exhibitions, advertising, telemarketing, online campaigns, etc.

IV. Partner Registration Process

Becoming a CommPartners Connect Wholesale Partner is straightforward:

1. Complete a Partner Profile Application. CommPartners Connect will review the application for suitability including market segment coverage, technical capabilities and sales skills of the organization. CommPartners Connect will conduct an interview to establish the partner’s market position and capabilities and review the partner’s business plan for their hosted IP communications business. If qualified, CommPartners Connect will provide a Wholesale Partner Agreement (WPA), Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), and conduct a credit check. Once approved, CommPartners Connect will provide CMS and Partner Resource Center registration information.
2. Attend the CommPartners Connect University Training Class. Required for wholesale partners selling IP PBX and IPTrunking products, this three-day class provides an introduction to CommPartners Connect products and services, ordering, provisioning and support processes, and sales training.
3. Enjoy the benefits of the CommPartners Connect wholesale Partner Program!

V. CommPartners Connect Wholesale Partner Program Summary

To become a CommPartners Connect wholesale Partner at the different Partner levels, a company must meet the following minimum requirements:

This table shows the benefits you are eligible to receive based on the partnership level you have established with CommPartners Connect.

Note: In the tables above, symbols correspond as follows:

• = indicates a requirement or benefit
•• and ••• = indicate higher levels of requirement or benefit

*Eligible products available for discount include IP PBX, IPTrunking, hosted Contact Center and related ala carte services, Non-Recurring Charges (NRC’s), Moves Adds and Changes (MAC's), and.Professional Services Fees. Products not included are toll free, international long distance, Operator Assistance, Directory Assistance, E-911surcharge, and any applicable taxes and regulatory fees. Partners must be current on account and maintain minimum MRR level for Partner level in order to maintain discount. Revenue levels are reviewed each quarter with one quarter corrections if required. New Partner classification assignment will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on size of existing revenue base, organizational readiness, CPE certifications and other factors.