QLogic Enhances Award-Winning Signature Partner Program; Welcomes Brocade Reseller Partners

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., May 20, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QLogic QLGC today announced updates and enhancements to its award-winning Signature Partner Program, including expanded product offerings, enablement programs and incentives. Recent QLogic^® acquisitions have fortified the company's leadership position in data networking and storage connectivity and resulted in an influx of channel partners supporting QLogic's newly acquired solutions. QLogic is welcoming Brocade channel partners and rewarding all QLogic resellers by simplifying the Signature Partner Program structure, easing partner qualifications and expanding rewards and benefits.

"QLogic is modifying its Signature Partner Program to support the launch of new products and technologies recently acquired from Brocade and Broadcom, as well as the strategic direction the company is taking under new executive leadership," said Chris Lorenz, director, partners and alliances, QLogic. "Our channel partners play a critical role in achieving our business objectives, and changes to the Signature Partner Program make it easier for QLogic partners and our mutual customers to achieve success."

Significant technology and social trends are reshaping the way companies use their IT infrastructures. Cloud computing, mobile devices, virtualization and software defined anything (SDx) present further challenges to technology reseller partners. QLogic offers a comprehensive line of connectivity solutions that enable IT administrators to address changing network requirements. Already recognized by CRN as a 5-Star Partner Program three years running, the Signature Partner Program has been upgraded to help QLogic partners more readily capitalize on these opportunities.

Industry-leading solutions newly added to QLogic's connectivity portfolio are accompanied by education and training program enhancements, giving partners the tools to successfully address immediate revenue opportunities. QLogic is also launching Enhanced Authorizations, a partner designation earned through qualified solutions training, education and sales. Open to all QLogic partners, Enhanced Authorizations enable partners to earn deeper product discounts and access to greater rewards and benefits through sales of qualified products. The first Enhanced Authorization badge is for qualified Advanced Solutions Partners (ASP) and the sale of FabricCache caching SAN adapters. Future badges for additional solutions are currently under development.

"QLogic partner enablement programs give us a competitive advantage when addressing growth opportunities in the marketplace," said Jason Cherveny, president and CEO, Sanity Solutions and a long-time QLogic reseller. "The addition of high-performance, high-quality adapter solutions, streamlined programs and enhanced benefits make it that much easier for us to help our customers overcome their data center challenges."

Signature Partner Program tiers have been streamlined from four to three, beginning with the Preferred program tier, followed by Premier status and topping out with Elite. Program requirements for all tiers have been modified, so partners can more easily advance and earn greater benefits.

"The Signature Partner Program recognizes our continued loyalty to QLogic," said Robert Kelley, CEO Partners Data Systems, and a long-time QLogic reseller. "These latest program enhancements complement the industry's most advanced portfolio of Fibre Channel and 10Gb Ethernet adapter solutions, which we expect will provide us with a number of promising, profitable opportunities."

For more information on exciting new Signature Partner Program opportunities, please visit QLogic Partner Connection, or send inquiries to partnermarketing@qlogic.com.

Why QLogic?

The most advanced networks demand sophisticated capabilities, and for 20 years QLogic has consistently delivered performance, innovation, flexibility, reliability and control for these environments. Breakthrough application performance gives customers faster time-to-data. Innovation delivers new capabilities, greater efficiency and maximum performance. Unprecedented flexibility connects mission-critical applications to any storage network. Reliability is backed by the highest mean-time-between-failure and the industry's only five-year warranties, and robust infrastructure management capabilities put network controls in the hands of customers.

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QLogic – the Ultimate in Performance

QLogic QLGC is a global leader and technology innovator in high performance server and storage networking connectivity products. Leading OEMs and channel partners worldwide rely on QLogic for their server and storage networking solutions. For more information, visit www.qlogic.com.

Disclaimer – Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements relating to future results of the company (including certain beliefs and projections regarding business and market trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements. The company advises readers that these potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: unfavorable economic conditions; potential fluctuations in operating results; gross margins that may vary over time; the stock price of the company may be volatile; the company's dependence on the networking markets served; the ability to maintain and gain market or industry acceptance of the company's products; the company's dependence on a small number of customers; the company's ability to compete effectively with other companies; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; the complexity of the company's products; declining average unit sales prices of comparable products; the company's dependence on sole source and limited source suppliers; the company's dependence on relationships with certain third-party subcontractors and contract manufacturers; sales fluctuations arising from customer transitions to new products; seasonal fluctuations and uneven sales patterns in orders from customers; a reduction in sales efforts by current distributors; changes in the company's tax provisions or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of its income tax returns; international economic, currency, regulatory, political and other risks; facilities of the company and its suppliers and customers are located in areas subject to natural disasters; the ability to protect proprietary rights; the ability to satisfactorily resolve any infringement claims; uncertain benefits from strategic business combinations, acquisitions and divestitures; declines in the market value of the company's marketable securities; changes in and compliance with regulations; difficulties in transitioning to smaller geometry process technologies; the use of "open source" software in the company's products; system security risks, data protection breaches and cyber-attacks; and the company's ability to borrow under its credit agreement is subject to certain covenants.

More detailed information on these and additional factors which could affect the company's operating and financial results are described in the company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and other reports filed, or to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company urges all interested parties to read these reports to gain a better understanding of the business and other risks that the company faces. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and the company does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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