One solution provider who requested anonymity said about 80 3Com partners have mounted an e-mail campaign protesting the changes to Tidd and 3Com President and CEO Bruce Claflin.
But not all solution providers bashed the vendor's efforts.
"I'm hoping that trimming down the number of Gold dealers will allow us to get even more bites of the apple and have more exposure within 3Com," said Glenn Conley, president and CEO of Metropark Communications, a Gold partner in St. Louis that retained its status. Under the old terms, the distinction between Gold and Silver partners was too small, Conley said.
Some partners also lauded the addition of a formal MDF program that partners can use to finance marketing efforts or to purchase 3Com's Express replacement services.
Tidd conceded that 3Com could have more effectively communicated the changes. The vendor tried to notify all Gold and Silver partners both through their channel account managers and via the letter, he said.
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