Citrix has made significant changes to its partner program, resulting in backlash from partners who were reportedly shocked and angered by the new deals. One major change includes doubling the price of products unless partners pay upfront for a year. The new package, called “Citrix Universal for CSP,” will include all capabilities of Citrix and NetScaler, resembling the “Citrix Platform” License for end-user customers.
Partners have expressed frustration at the increased cost, with one partner describing the license as “all-inclusive, including all the bits you don’t need.” Citrix claims the price increase is justified to provide partners with cost and pricing predictability through annual licenses, rather than facing potential cost fluctuations throughout the year. The changes are set to take effect from September 1, 2024.
Reports of the new package have circulated on Reddit, with a letter to Citrix partners detailing the changes. Despite attempts to confirm the authenticity of the letter, Citrix and its parent company Cloud Software Group have not responded to inquiries. Alongside the cost increase, there has been a reduction in rebates paid to channel partners, leading to increased licensing costs as a source of revenue.
Not all partners were informed of the changes simultaneously, causing some partners to consider abandoning Citrix in favor of Microsoft’s Windows 365 Cloud PCs. The letter mentions Citrix’s two million active subscribers who may not immediately switch to alternative platforms. However, with the changes being made by Citrix and Broadcom’s spinoff of VMware from its end-user computing products, virtual desktop users are encouraged to explore alternative options.
Overall, the changes introduced by Citrix to its partner program have sparked backlash and concerns among partners, with the cost increase and reduction in rebates impacting their businesses. Partners are evaluating their options and considering alternative desktop-as-a-service platforms in light of the recent developments from Citrix and other industry players.
Article Source
https://www.theregister.com/AMP/2024/03/15/citrix_channel_changes/