HMS SOFTWARE ACHEIVES MICROSOFT’S NETWORKING INFRASTRUCTURE COMPETENCY

HMS Software, a leading provider of project management and enterprise timesheet solutions, has received confirmation that it has achieved Microsoft’s Networking Infrastructure Competency. This is HMS Software’s third achievement in the Microsoft Partner competency series and adds to the Information Worker and Independent Software Vendor (ISV) competencies already completed by HMS. This latest move helps ensure HMS’s status as a Microsoft Gold Certified partner for another year.

The Networking competency is awarded by Microsoft to partners who have proven expertise in design, deployment and customization of Networking Infrastructure solutions using Microsoft technology. Partners must show that they have certified experts on staff and must identify references which Microsoft contacts to ensure that they have adequately performed work in this category.

“Achieving the Networking Infrastructure competency was a natural for us,” explains Chris Vandersluis, president of HMS Software. “As a Microsoft Gold Certified partner who often works in the enterprise project management (EPM) arena, our consultants are constantly asked to assist with the design and deployment of servers and other network components. Our EPM deployments of Microsoft Project Server often involve connecting with multiple servers and Microsoft technologies such as Windows SharePoint Services, Windows 2003 Server, SQL Server, and Internet Information Services.”


HMS references submitted to Microsoft included work done at Transcontinental Printing, Ericsson Canada, McGill University and the Ontario Ministry of Health.

“We’re appreciative of all the support we’ve had from our clients in achieving this competency,” says Vandersluis. “Our clients were very helpful in reviewing our reference applications and then identifying to Microsoft what Networking work was accomplished and with what technology.”

With this third competency now complete, HMS has further solidified its position as a significant partner for Microsoft. “Our Microsoft relationship continues to grow,” says Julie Benard, HMS Software’s Microsoft Liaison. “We are already well known in the enterprise project management field in Canada and in the US. HMS has been listed as a Global ISV partner by Microsoft’s US Sales office thanks to our TimeControl timesheet system which links to Microsoft Project. Having the new Networking Infrastructure competency means that Microsoft field personnel and other partners will feel more comfortable engaging with us on more complex projects.”

While HMS has no immediate plans for a new Microsoft Partner competency, its certification efforts are not over. “We’re now working on a brand new certification at Microsoft called the EPM Specialization,” says Vandersluis. Given how new it is, there are very few partners at our level who have this specialization and we hope to complete the outstanding work to achieve that specialization in the coming weeks.”

About HMS Software
Based in Montreal, Canada with offices in Toronto, HMS Software has been a leading provider of project management and enterprise timesheet systems and services since 1984. HMS Software's first customized timesheet application was written in 1984. With the launch of TimeControl as a commercial application in 1994, HMS Software began servicing clients worldwide. HMS Software's client list reads like a who's who of business. It includes Alcan, EDS, Ericsson, L3 Communications (formerly Bombardier Defense Systems), General Motors, Kelly Services, Volvo Novabus, Dofasco Steel, Motorola, Stolt Offshore, Weyerhaeuser and hundreds of others.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device. Microsoft and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

About TimeControl
TimeControl was originally released in 1994. It was immediately successful in the project management sector and today is recognized not only as a project management solution, but also as an enterprise timesheet solution in use by companies worldwide. TimeControl is designed to serve the needs of both Finance and Project Management simultaneously. It includes features such as flexible user structures to allow for multiple levels of timesheet authorization and an open data architecture, which makes the product ideally suited for integration with existing data systems in any organization. TimeControl’s flexibility allows it to be deployed for use as a time and attendance, time and billing, project time and flex-time system. TimeControl has both a Web and Windows interface.

HMS has representatives or distributors in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, the UK, and the U.S.

For further information, please visit the HMS Software Website at www.hmssoftware.ca.

###