NewsGator named a Microsoft Globally Managed Partner, extending proven social business computing solutions to customers on a worldwide scale

DENVER, July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of Microsoft's successful Worldwide Partner Conference last week in Toronto, NewsGator today announced its alliance with Microsoft took a big leap forward when the company was officially named a Microsoft Globally Managed Partner, the highest designation in the Microsoft business partner network. NewsGator has also earned gold certifications in portals and collaboration as well as in the independent software vendor (ISV) category in the past year.

NewsGator, which develops social computing software for Microsoft platforms, joins an elite group of business partners that work closely with Microsoft on a global scale to deliver productivity- and profitability-enhancing business solutions. Less than 100 companies out of Microsoft's vast network of 650,000 partners have achieved Globally Managed Partner status to date.

The new relationship builds on NewsGator's long proven success as both a Gold Certified and Depth Managed Partner. It will help extend NewsGator's global reach and access to Microsoft industry groups for marketing and business development. NewsGator's work over the last year with Microsoft has been focused on moving up the stack to create higher value social business apps – many of which are specific to the needs of particular vertical markets critical to Microsoft.

"We're honored Microsoft made the strategic decision to go-to-market with NewsGator on a global scale and what a better place to celebrate than at last week's WPC," said Melissa Risteff, SVP Global Marketing & Alliances, NewsGator. "Being Globally Managed deepens the affinity that enterprise customers have for choosing NewsGator as a must-have social tool to stay competitive."

NewsGator's Globally Managed status became effective July 1, 2012 at the start of Microsoft's new fiscal year.

About NewsGator
As a Microsoft Gold Certified Globally Managed Partner, NewsGator is helping over four million paid users in industries across the globe propel the future of productivity. NewsGator Social Sites delivers robust social technology to the enterprise with proven scalability and security to flagship clients like Accenture, Adidas, Deloitte, Ericsson, General Mills, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Kraft Foods, Merck & Co., Unisys Corporation, and the US Army. NewsGator delivers advanced social computing capabilities to Microsoft productivity and collaboration platforms, including SharePoint, Windows 8 tablets, SQL, Azure, Windows Phone 7, Lync, Office 365 and Dynamics and was honored as Microsoft's 2011 U.S. Partner of the Year. Follow us on Twitter @newsgator and at www.newsgator.com