Businesses that want to be named Master VARs by Microsoft must have a minimum of $1 million operating capital and at least $500,000 in gross license revenue in the previous 12 months. Those are some of the terms spelled out last week in a blog post by Jeff Edwards, director of channel strategy for Microsoft Business Solutions.

Sage has concluded that sales through its Simply Accounting Solution Providers are not enough to justify the program's continuation. It is being dropped effective October 1. However, members will continue to get the same product discounts until Sept. 30, 2012. No new VARs will be authorized.