(NOTE: This story was originally posted to CRN.com April 3.)

Searching For New Programs?

Looking to broaden your networking offerings? Five vendors unveiled new partner programs in March for their channel communities.

With recurring revenue and application development skills becoming more crucial for solution providers, networking vendors such as ShoreTel, PacketLight Networks and LiveAction launched new programs aimed at increasing profitability for partners. Sales incentives and training for managed service providers and application developers were top of mind for networking vendors hoping to successfully transition their channel partners into the cloud age while the Internet of Things market gets ready to explode.

Here are details on the five vendors' programs and what partners need to know.