Microsoft plans to release the details of its Master VAR program next week. The vendor has confirmed the announcement is being made to the channel on September 27, but has officially released no other information about the plan. The Master VAR plan is aimed at providing a way to shelter smaller resellers that might otherwise be driven from the field by the new Microsoft reseller program that raises requirements and squeezes margins for the smaller fry.  Read more...

Kalibur Solutions has been named as the top reseller of Open Systems software products for the year ended Aug. 31, 2011. The company was recognized this month at the company’s Partners in Profit Conference. Kalibur, based in Brampton, Ontario, is owned by founder Zoltan Szakal. According to Open Systems VP Paul Lundquist, this was the first time a Canadian reseller has won the vendor's top award. Kalibur sells both Traverse and Open Systems Accounting Software.

Sage North America is getting ready to roll out a program that enables ISVs with on-premise or web-based applications to accept integrated payments via Sage Payment Solutions.  “We expect this to be big for ISVs, whether the ISV is a Sage partner, or not,” says Julie Herman, VP of business development for Sage Payment Solutions. "Sage Payment Solutions can offer them a payment platform offering an entire suite of payments solutions, from credit card and check processing, to mobile payments, loyalty and gift cards.” T Read more...

Pronto Software, an Australian ERP developer, has appointed Stephen Duncan as retail and CRM manager. Duncan, who has more than 15 years of experience in retail and IT, is responsible for overseeing the retail product lifecycle of Pronto XI. Pronto has recruited a handful of resellers in the United States and Canada to handle the financial application.