ORLANDO, Fla., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Further delivering on its commitment to provide new opportunities for co-innovation across the ecosystem and advance the integration of Business Objects, SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) today announced new benefits for its diverse partner communities -- including Business Objects partners -- and has launched the first certification program for partners that are developing solutions that integrate with Business Objects solutions. Available immediately, the award-winning SAP(R) PartnerEdge(TM) program, previously available only to SAP channel partners, is now being rolled out to all SAP software solution partners and service partners, including technology and service partners from Business Objects. In addition, partners of Business Objects can benefit from a new program that certifies solutions from Business Objects technology partners have been tested and optimally integrate with Business Objects solutions. This certification is based on a proven SAP methodology and will provide an added level of assurance to customers that tested, third-party solutions and Business Objects work together. The announcement was made at the co-located events SAPPHIRE(R) 2008 Orlando, SAP's international customer conference, and the ASUG (America's SAP Users' Group) Annual Conference, both being held in Orlando, Florida, May 4-7.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050310/SFTH009LOGO-a)

Benefits of SAP PartnerEdge Program Delivered to Partners Across Combined SAP and Business Objects Ecosystem

SAP PartnerEdge, introduced to SAP channel partners in May 2005, now includes additional programs designed to provide services partners and software solution partners with a more structured framework for their engagement with SAP, along with a robust set of offerings and resources focused on accelerating both their business and customer deployments. The integration of SAP and Business Objects continues at a rapid pace and today's announcement newly extends these opportunities to Business Objects partners. Continuing to bring Business Objects partners into the SAP ecosystem, now Business Objects service partners (such as systems integrators and consultants) and Business Objects technology partners (defined as software and hardware companies with complementary technology to Business Objects) are invited to join SAP PartnerEdge.

Partners that participated in the SAP PartnerEdge pilot have reported excellent initial results. Paymetric Inc., an award-winning SAP partner and provider of innovative solutions that manage, protect and integrate payment card transactions in SAP systems, is a certified SAP developer and took part in the recent pilot program.

"The expanded SAP PartnerEdge program has already had a meaningful impact on our business," said George Grenrood, director of Strategic Alliances, Paymetric. "Greater access and visibility into SAP resources has yielded several new opportunities to collaborate with SAP to serve our mutual customers and support our go-to-market initiatives."

Latin America-based services partner Polics-Politec has also experienced immediate business benefits as a participant in the SAP PartnerEdge pilot.

"SAP PartnerEdge is extremely efficient," said Alexander Schmitz-Kohlitz, managing director, Polics-Politec Consulting Services. "By making this program available for service partners, SAP is reaffirming its commitment to transparency and business agility."

First Certification Program for Business Objects Partner Solutions Now Available

Building on the proven SAP certification methodology, SAP now offers a program to certify that solutions developed by Business Objects partners integrate seamlessly with Business Objects solutions. APOS Systems Inc. participated in the pilot and successfully completed certification. One of Business Objects' top-performing technology partners, APOS was named "Business Objects Technology Partner of the Year" in January 2008. APOS has created 15 add-on solutions that extend the capabilities of BusinessObjects(TM) XI, the leading business intelligence platform, of which one has now been tested and certified.

"APOS has supported the Business Objects platform for more than 12 years and receiving the 'SAP Certified - Integration with Business Objects' logo is important to us," said Dan Clements, President, APOS. "We foresee many benefits to participating in the SAP PartnerEdge program for software solution partners. For example, the expanded program will help us gain entry into new, untapped markets, better connect with customers and provide the right solutions for their business-integration challenges. This is a great step forward."

"Extending SAP PartnerEdge and introducing a Business Objects certification program are important milestones as we continue to invest in further enabling our partners for success," said Zia Yusuf, executive vice president, Global Ecosystem and Partner Group, SAP AG. "SAP is forging one of the industry's strongest and most vibrant ecosystems, and today's announcement underscores our commitment to drive co-innovation and deliver solutions - together with our partners -- which ultimately help customers optimize business performance."

SAPPHIRE(R) 2008 Orlando and SAPPHIRE(R) 2008 Berlin

More than 15,000 customers, partners and technical experts are convening at SAPPHIRE 2008 to discover how SAP and its thriving partner ecosystem are delivering IT solutions that create value beyond the four walls of the enterprise, to create "business beyond boundaries." SAP's premier educational and networking event, SAPPHIRE is the one occasion where senior executives, business managers, and decision-makers can come together every year to explore how innovative business solutions foster long-term, profitable growth. SAPPHIRE(R) 2008 is being held in Orlando, Florida, May 4-7, and in Berlin, Germany, May 19-21, 2008. For more information, please visit http://www.sap.com/sapphire.

Based on the success of last year's events, SAP and the Americas' SAP Users' Group (ASUG) are co-locating their premier events in Orlando, where the 2008 ASUG Annual Conference takes place May 4-7.

Note to Editors: Webcasts, announcements, media roundtables, keynote presentations and podcasts from SAPPHIRE 2008 will be available in the event's virtual newsroom at http://www.sapsapphire.com/usa2008/newsroom/index.htm. To view video stories on diverse topics, visit http://www.sap-tv.com. From this newly launched site, you also can embed videos into your own Web pages, share video via email links and subscribe to RSS feeds from SAP TV. No registration is required. To preview and request broadcast-standard video digitally or by tape, log on to http://www.thenewsmarket.com/sap, where registration and video is free to the media.

About SAP(R) PartnerEdge(TM)

Launched in 2005, the SAP PartnerEdge program is a flexible partner management framework that empowers SAP partners and supports their business to provide solutions and services that customers need to become best-run businesses. SAP PartnerEdge makes it easy for partners of various types and sizes to do profitable business with SAP, delivering world-class benefits and resources that enable partners to provide superior value and expertise to customers. SAP PartnerEdge provides an innovative and holistic way for partners to be recognized and rewarded for their business, technical and sales skills as well as performance in selling SAP solutions. The program provides a set of benefits designed to help drive partners' business including education, business enablement, technology, development and support, marketing and selling, and events and ongoing communications and enablement tools. (Additional information at http://www.partnerwithsap.com)

About SAP

SAP is the world's leading provider of business software(*), offering applications and services that enable companies of all sizes and in more than 25 industries to become best-run businesses. With more than 47,800 customers (excludes customers from the acquisition of Business Objects) in over 120 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE, under the symbol "SAP." (For more information, visit http://www.sap.com)

(*) SAP defines business software as comprising enterprise resource planning and related applications.

Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.

Copyright (C) 2008 SAP AG. All rights reserved.

SAP, R/3, mySAP, mySAP.com, xApps, xApp, SAP NetWeaver and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries all over the world. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. Data contained in this document serve informational purposes only. National product specifications may vary.

     For customers interested in learning more about SAP products:
     Global Customer Center: +49 180 534-34-24
     United States Only: 1 (800) 872-1SAP (1-800-872-1727)

     For more information, press only:
     Iris Eidling, +49 (160) 889-6607, iris.eidling@sap.com, PDT
     SAP Press Office, +49 (6227) 7-46315, CET; +1 (610) 661-3200, EST;
      press@sap.com
     Maria Cubeta, Burson-Marsteller, +1 (917) 216-4910, maria.cubeta@bm.com,
      PDT

During SAPPHIRE (from May 4 to 7), to speak with press contacts on site, please dial the SAP press room at +1 (610) 661-0469.

SOURCE SAP AG