Advance Micro Devices (AMD) started implementation of its new marketing program this month. Implementation is expected to be carried out in phases over the next four quarters. The new program, dubbed the Fusion Partner Program, is a consolidation of the existing four partner programs into a single interface.  Under the new program, AMD divides the channel into three—Elite, Premier and Select. The best selling partners of all-AMD solutions (CPU, GPU and chipset) will be placed in the Elite category, the second best in the Premier category and the balance in the Select category. Each category is further split according to the business model followed by partners—e-tailer, retailer, commercial solution provider, consumer solution provider or commercial volume reseller.  This categorization of the partners’ businesses would enable AMD to gauge the performance of the partners as well as the nature of demand at end-customers served by them. This, ...