For Mark McKeever, principal at Tempe, Ariz.-based solution provider MicroAge, the new moves help ensure that Dell EMC's program will be competitive. "I love the way Dell handled their channel, but they have competitors, so are they going to be easier to do business with? More competitive? More compatible?"

As Byrne's team draws closer to officially launching the unified Dell EMC partner program, they're slowly providing details around what partners can expect.

On Monday's webcast, Byrne said the overall message is to sell across the entire Dell Technologies portfolio and to win new business.

"Do you sell storage? Add server," Byrne said. "Do you sell server? Add PCs, add storage. Get trained. Take advantage of opportunities to get smart fast. Attack the market together. Sell new business, bring in new logos, sell new lines of business. You will be rewarded handsomely."