For the program, Google divides its into two categories: service partners and technology partners.

Service partners provide advice and implementation help in using Google cloud services. Companies such as Computer Sciences Corp., WiPro Technologies and LTech have already been officially anointed as official Google service partners.

Technology partners use Google cloud services to power their own offerings, or provide tools to help users better deploy Google services. Jaspersoft, Puppet Labs, Opscode and MapR Technologies are among those certified as partners.

In establishing a partnership program, Google follows in the footsteps of other well-established IT firms. IBM, for example, through third-party integrators and single-domain-focused system vendors.

The IDG News Service