A query to Microsoft drew the following comment: "Microsoft can confirm that a Master VAR program is being developed, but at this time we do not have any additional information to share." According to Maurer's communication with other resellers,  "Under this model, a Master VAR would recruit smaller partners, known as affiliates, who would sell Dynamics ERP and CRM fully under the Master VAR's brand, your personal brand would disappear." The concept was batted around at the Inner Circle event at St. Andrews, Scotland, although Microsoft executives do not appear to have released many of the details themselves. This is the latest development in Microsoft's effort to find a home for the smaller VARs, who otherwise might be headed for oblivion in this channel.  Last year, the company initially indicated it might consider a franchise model, but that was quickly scotched, most of us guess after talk with the legal department.  There have been others talking about some kind of aggregation with New Jersey's SBS Group one of the most active in acquiring organizations, S2 has served the Dynamics channel, but sold services and was not a reseller itself. Katalys Group has U.S. offices in Plainview, N.Y., and offices in the United Kingdom. The Katalys web page described how its model works, including a transition from that it called the old model. Currently, VARs purchase an equity stake in Katalys and operate as a division/ true 'member" (the web site uses both terms). This members with one or two customers pay $2,000 per year; those with three or more pay $3,000 as a capital contribution. This information came to me shortly before deadline so I was unable to get an immediate response from Maurer.