Microsoft VARs: Do you know where your TPAM is?

Microsoft is moving its Telephone Partner Account Managers (TPAMs) into distribution.

The company told several of its VARs at the Worldwide Partner Conference this week that the TPAMs will soon be working out of distributors’ support organizations but performing most of their same tasks.

One VAR who’s been briefed said that makes sense giving the imminent rollout of Windows 7–which will mostly be an OEM sale–bundled with new machines. To put the TPAMs at the distribution point of the PCs themselves makes sense, he said. He said his TPAM will now work out of Ingram Micro’s Buffalo support center.

One caveat to all this happiness: He suspects that this may mean fewer market development funds (MDF) will flow, but he’ll wait and see.