BakBone Introduces New Channel Advantage Partner Program New Multi-Tiered Channel Partner Program Provides Channel Partners Opportunities for Increased Revenues and Higher Profit Margins SAN DIEGO, July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As part of its continued commitment and investment in the channel, BakBone Software(TM) (TSX: BKB; OTC Bulletin Board: BKBOF), a global provider of data protection software, today introduced its new BakBone Channel Advantage Program, a comprehensive North American channel partner program. With improved margins of 5-10 percent to channel partners, the new program was designed to increase BakBone's resellers and system integrators' revenue base while further strengthening the Company's channel relationships. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031120/SDBAKLOGO) Via http://www.bakbone.com/partners/channel_advantage/, the BakBone Channel Advantage Program combines training, technical, sales and marketing support programs with financial incentives to enable channel partners to more effectively deliver BakBone's data protection technologies. With key strengths in disk-based backup, Linux and NDMP, BakBone offers solutions that are easy to sell and can be uniquely leveraged in the marketplace. The program is a win-win situation for partners and the Company and provides every element to be successful in growing revenues and meeting customer requirements. Channel Advantage partners will receive a host of channel-specific benefits including monthly co-op accrual, an online lead registration program and greater profit margins. BakBone also offers three levels of partner participation based on partner revenue performance and commitment in meeting other qualification requirements such as training and technical certification. The levels are: * BakBone Channel Advantage Distributor * BakBone Channel Advantage Silver Partner * BakBone Channel Advantage Platinum Partner "BakBone's go-to-market strategy with NetVault is entirely channel-centric. BakBone is the only data protection solution provider to sell exclusively through the channel which eliminates any potential for channel conflict," said Scott Petersen, vice president of North American sales for BakBone. "Our award-winning software, NetVault, is ideally suited for the channel because the product is incredibly easy to install and deploy, it's scalable from SMB to enterprise, and partners can sell it as part of an overall data protection solution consisting of hardware and software. With 100 percent of BakBone's business coming through its channel partners, we view the Channel Advantage Program as critical to increasing our partners' revenues and driving our mutual growth and success." With its new partner program, BakBone helps partners maintain healthier profit margins by offering industry-leading discounts. In addition to offering a full product line with NetVault software and a broad range of Application Plugin Modules (APMs), the BakBone Channel Advantage Program provides a framework through which BakBone can more easily respond to and engage with its partners. As a new feature, the Channel Advantage Program also introduces the Channel Advantage Online Lead Registration Program that will closely track leads to help partners win business while providing a competitive pricing advantage. Leading resellers and integrators have welcomed the Channel Advantage Program citing key benefits such as increased revenue, margin and growth opportunities. "NetVault has developed into a prominent and successful product on AMC's line card over the last three years," said Benjamin Woo, director of strategic technology, AMC. "BakBone offers our customers a very competitively priced solution with strong margins, and most importantly, a channel focused approach and good overall corporate support. AMC looks forward to the new Channel Advantage Program to extend an already rewarding and profitable relationship. This move reflects the fact that BakBone has listened to its valued channel partners and the Company has reacted accordingly." "BakBone's new tiered reseller approach combined with a lead registration program is a positive move for the distribution channel whose needs differ from those of a direct reseller channel," said Dale Foster, president of Promark Technologies. "This new program responds to our needs appropriately and brings us healthier profit margins." "As one of the first resellers to sign on with BakBone as a North American channel partner in August 2000, I have enjoyed working with BakBone over the years. NetVault is a great fit for my sales team as it complements many of the other storage products we sell," said John Zammett, president of Horizontek. "Additionally, we can rely on BakBone since the Company provides a superior sales and field engineering support staff that I don't get with a lot of other vendors." "BakBone's reseller focused sales strategy provides its resellers with one less obstacle and that is competition from the vendor itself!" said Jason Gress, executive vice president, Intervision. "With the new lead registration program, BakBone has gone a step further to protect individual leads from conflict with other resellers as well. Being a reseller-centric organization, BakBone can concentrate its efforts on providing resellers with superior marketing and support programs and initiatives that fit the reseller model, as well as the best possible product for the end user." For more information on BakBone's new Channel Advantage Program or to apply online, current and potential partners can go to http://www.bakbone.com/ and click on the icon "Become an Authorized Channel Partner" to complete a registration form. About BakBone Software, Inc. BakBone Software is a leading international data protection solution provider that develops and distributes data backup, restore, and disaster recovery software for network storage and open-systems environments. BakBone delivers scalable solutions that address the complex demands of large enterprise environments, as well as small to medium sized businesses. Founded in 2000, BakBone products are used by Fortune 1000 corporations and domestic and international government entities. Distributed through a select global network of OEM partners, resellers and solution providers, interested companies can learn more information about BakBone's products and services at http://www.bakbone.com/ or email . Safe Harbor This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, which, if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause BakBone's results to differ materially from historical results, or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties may include, but are not limited to, competition in our target markets; potential capital needs; management of future growth and expansion; risk of third-party claims of infringement; protection of proprietary information, customer acceptance of the company's products and fee structures; the success of BakBone's brand development efforts; risks associated with strategic alliances; reliance on distribution channels; product concentration; need to develop new and enhanced products; potential product defects; our ability to hire and retain qualified employees and key management personnel; and risks associated with changes in domestic and international market conditions and the entry into and development of international markets for the company's products. Our forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of these and other risk factors disclosed in our most recent report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be found at http://www.sec.gov/, as well as those risk factors disclosed in the current report filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators, which is available on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com/. All future written and oral forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf are also subject to these factors. BakBone assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it was made. BakBone, BakBone Software, NetVault, Application Plugin Module, APM and the BakBone logo are all trademarks or registered trademarks of BakBone Software, Inc., in the United States and/or in other countries. All other brands, products or service names are or may be trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of, and used to identify, products or services of their respective owners. For further information, please contact Dani Kenison, Manager, Public Relations of BakBone Software, +1-858-795-7584, . http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031120/SDBAKLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: BakBone Software, Inc. CONTACT: Dani Kenison, Manager, Public Relations of BakBone Software, +1-858-795-7584, Web site: http://www.bakbone.com/partners/channel_advantage Web site: http://www.bakbone.com/

Copyright