Microsoft is pumping £1 million into the UK channel to promote sales to small businesses. From today, the software giant is offering a free phone support service called Direct Access Business Critical Support. Resellers can speak to Microsoft engineers about problems their customers are experiencing. Microsoft said this investment was the first of a series of services it would be offering its 40,000 UK resellers. Kate Batson, Microsoft channel development and small business manager, said small businesses were often without the resources to deal with IT problems, which heaped pressure on resellers to offer support. "Business Critical Phone Support will further strengthen our relationship by providing resellers with a valuable resource to address small businesses critical issues quickly and cost-effectively," said Batson.®