Here are selection criteria for Business Partners who acquire products from an IBM Distributor. To be eligible for a Solution Provider, Reseller or Service Provider relationship, or to apply for additional product approval, you must meet the criteria in the table. The footnotes modify or explain the table.
Contact your IBM Distributor if you have questions about your eligibility or the approval process. Business Partners who acquire products directly from IBM should contact their IBM Client Representative or their IBM Business Partner Operations contact.
Selection Criteria
Product Family
Total # Employees
Prior 12 month gross sales
Value Added Enhancement (VAE) *
Product Certifications
References Required - 2 per Product or VAE
IBM Power with IBM i – all models
Min 10
$500,000
Required
Required
Required
IBM Power with AIX – all models
Min 10
$500,000
Required
Required
Required
IBM Power with IBM i - Low end *
Min 3
Not Applicable
Required
Required
Required
IBM Power with AIX - Low end *
Min 3
Not Applicable
Required
Required
Required
IBM System x
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Point of Sale
Min 3
Not Applicable
Required (excluding Kiosk)
Not Applicable
Required
Software
Min 3
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Required
System Storage
Min 3
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Required*
Required
Internet Security Systems (ISS)
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Required
Not Applicable
DataPower/ CloudBurst
Min 2
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Required
Not Applicable
IBM Global Services
Min 3
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Required
Required
Footnotes
When totaling number of employees, only full-time W-2 (U.S)/T4 (Canada) employees qualify. Full-time means that the employee works a minimum of 32 hours per week for the Business Partner firm. Contractors, agents, or consultants cannot be used to meet employee minimum requirements.
IBM Certification or education requirements must be met by full-time W2 (U.S.)/T4 (Canada) employees within six months of Contract Start Date unless otherwise stated in an announcement letter. Full-time means that the employee works a minimum of 32 hours per week for the Business Partner firm. Contractors, agents, or consultants cannot be used to meet employee minimum requirements.
Currently approved low-end only Business Partners requesting new low/mid/high-end products or VAEs must meet low/mid/high-end Selection Criteria.
System i - Low End models include 9406-520 Value Edition, 9407-515 and 9407-M15 Express Editions and 9405-520 Express Edition.
System p - Low End machine types include p5-185, p5-505, p5-510, p5-520, IS Power 285, IS Power 275, JS21, p6-E4A.
Power server - Low End machine types include JS12, JS22.
Business Partners are approved to market the IBM Power servers based on their System i and/or System p hardware and associated operating system approval.
A VAE is not required for the following products: p5-505, p5-510, all BladeCenter.
Storage categories S2, S3, S4 and S7 require IBM Certification.
