SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ShoreTel® (NASDAQ: SHOR), the leading provider of brilliantly simple unified communications (UC) solutions and phone systems, today announced that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has given ShoreTel a 5-Star rating in its 2016 Partner Program Guide. This is ShoreTel's third consecutive year with a 5-Star rating, and fifth year overall. The 5-Star Partner Program Guide rating recognizes an elite subset of companies that offer solution providers the best partnering elements in their channel programs.

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The annual CRN guide establishes the definitive listing of technology vendors that service solution providers or provide products through the IT channel. To determine the 2016 5-Star ratings, The Channel Company's research team assessed each vendor's application based on investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support and communication.

To coincide with the roll-out of the ShoreTel Connect(TM) solution in 2015, ShoreTel made changes to its channel program to enable partners to meet their commitments through a combination of cloud, onsite and hybrid sales. The revamped Champion Partner Program moved to a points-based reward system with one annual target, enabling partners to earn points based on the value they provide in the marketplace.

"Receiving CRN's 5-Star rating for a fifth time highlights the continuous innovation we bring to our Champion Partner Program," said David Petts, senior vice president of worldwide sales at ShoreTel. "We've worked closely with our partner community to develop resources and programs that enable them to be successful while offering a flexible blend of communication solutions that surpass customers' needs."

"Solution providers have more choices than ever before when it comes to selecting vendor partners. Identifying the right vendor with the right technologies and channel approach can mean the difference between successful technology adoption or business model and an awkward, unnecessarily challenging integration," said Robert Faletra, CEO of The Channel Company. "Our annual Partner Program Guide and 5-Star ratings recognize the best channel programs available in the market today and serve as a valuable resource for solution providers looking for the right fit."

The 2016 Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/ppg2016.

About ShoreTel, Inc.
ShoreTel, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHOR) is a leading provider of brilliantly simple IP phone systems and unified communications solutions powering today's always-on workforce. Its flexible communications solutions for onsite, cloud and hybrid environments eliminate complexity, reduce costs and improve productivity. Recognized for its industry-leading customer experience and support, ShoreTel's innovative business phones, application integration, collaboration tools, mobility, and contact center applications enable users to communicate and collaborate no matter the time, place or device, with minimal demand on IT resources. ShoreTel is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., and has regional offices and partners worldwide. For more information, visit www.shoretel.com.

About the Channel Company
The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com

ShoreTel, ShoreTel Connect, and the ShoreTel logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of ShoreTel, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks, trade names and service marks herein are the property of their respective owners.

CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. The Channel Company logo is a trademark of The Channel Company, LLC (registration pending). All rights reserved.

ShoreTel Media Contact:
Katie Maller
408-962-2786
kmaller@shoretel.com

The Channel Company Contact:
Melanie Turpin
(508) 416-1195
mturpin@thechannelco.com

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SOURCE ShoreTel