Mike Marshall's TS2 Rag

As the next-generation operating system from Microsoft, Windows 7 opens new development, sales, and services opportunities for your business. With Windows 7, you can offer your customers a robust foundation for high-quality experiences across applications, services, PCs, and devices.

We're excited to announce the availability of Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC), a prerelease version of the next-generation operating system from Microsoft. Thanks to everyone who participated in the Beta testing period; your feedback was invaluable in helping the Microsoft engineering team make Windows 7 the best Microsoft operating system to date.

And announced at Computex 2009 in Tapei, Windows 7 will release to manufacturing (RTM) during the last two weeks of July, with general commercial availability on October 22, 2009. So get started and test-drive Windows 7 RC today. Then show your colleagues and customers how Windows 7 can improve management, security, reliability, and performance.

Windows 7 RC is available for partners to download now.

Download Windows 7 RC

What’s New?

Announcing Windows 7 Volume Licensing Availability and Offers

Windows 7 will be available to businesses through Volume Licensing partners on September 1, 2009. To help you make the most of the opportunity to upgrade your customers to Windows 7, starting September 1 you’ll be able to take advantage of a limited time, six-month promotion of 15 percent or more off the price of the Windows 7 Professional upgrade compared to the Windows Vista price. Savings are also available on some Volume License packages. Check back soon for more details.

Desktop Platform Solutions Competency Coming in October 2009
Based on Windows 7 and the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP), the Desktop Platform Solutions Competency enables you to deliver strategic value and grow your services practice. Attaining this competency will better position you to offer cost-effective desktop solutions to your customers who want to increase user productivity, enhance security and control, and streamline PC management.

“The Economic Impact of Microsoft ’s Windows 7, Worldwide" - IDC White Paper
Find out how IDC quantifies the forecasted economic impact that the Windows 7 operating system will have worldwide from launch in October 2009 to the end of 2010.

Windows 7 Resources by Partner Type

Select your partner type and find Windows 7 resources tailored to helping you provide solutions to meet your customers’ needs.

Windows 7 for Independent Software Vendors (ISVs)

Windows 7 for Services Partners

Windows 7 for Value Added Resellers (VARs) and Distributors

Windows 7 for Large Account Resellers (LARs)

Windows 7 for System Builders

Featured Windows 7 Resources

Window 7 Professional Resources for Partners

• Windows 7 Professional At-a-Glance

• Windows 7 Professional FAQ

• Windows 7 Professional Quick Reference Card

• Windows 7 Professional Top 10 Benefits

• Windows 7 Professional Common Objection Handling

• Windows 7 SKU Chooser

Windows XP Mode

Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 makes it easy to install and run many of your Windows XP productivity applications directly from a Windows 7-based PC. It uses virtualization technology such as Windows Virtual PC to provide a Virtual Windows XP environment for Windows 7. Learn more about Windows XP Mode with these helpful resources and by watching the Windows XP Mode video.

Path to Windows 7 RC

If you’re running Windows 7 Beta or the Windows XP operating system, you’ll need to back up data and perform a clean installation of Windows 7 RC. After installing, reinstall applications and restore your files. If you’re running the Windows Vista operating system, you can upgrade to Windows 7 RC. Learn more about installing the Windows 7 operating system.

Shutdown Schedule for Windows 7 Beta and Windows 7 RC

To avoid interruption, it’s recommended that you and your customers rebuild test machines by using a valid Windows operating system before Windows 7 Beta and Windows 7 RC expire. Windows will automatically notify you that the expiration process is about to begin. Two weeks later, your PC will shut down every two hours. For Windows 7 Beta, the bihourly shutdowns will begin July 1, 2009. The software will expire August 1, 2009. For Windows 7 RC, the bihourly shutdowns will begin March 1, 2010. The software will expire June 1, 2010.

Give Feedback: We Want to Hear from You

Tell us about your experience with Windows 7 RC. Complete a brief form that will enable us to better assist you in the future. Or visit the Partner Online Technical Communities to find answers to your Windows 7 RC technical questions.

The Service Level Dashboard is an application built on Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. It is designed to work with an existing Operations Manager 2007 R2 infrastructure configured to monitor business-critical applications. The dashboard evaluates an application or group over a time period that the administrator selects during setup, determines whether it met the defined service level commitment, and displays summarized data about the service levels.

The Service Level Dashboard integrates with the Operations Manager Data Warehouse database and displays service level metrics on the Windows SharePoint Services interface. All the customized and personalized data associated with the Web Parts of the Service Level Dashboard is stored in the Windows SharePoint Services Content database.

The dashboard can summarize the current status and health of all defined SLOs against an application or group of objects. Key measures used to evaluate various aspects of the health of defined SLOs include such information as service level metrics, mean time to repair (MTTR), mean time between failures (MTBF), and service level trends.

New features in Version 2.0 of the Service Level Dashboard include:

• Near real-time data latency. The data latency is now near real-time at two to three minutes, giving IT service managers the visibility they need to make decisions faster.
• Dashboard metrics for service level tracking. New metrics facilitate the tracking of mean time to repair (MTTR), mean time between failures (MTBF), and application service level trends.
• New presentation platform. Version 2.0 uses Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 as its presentation platform, eliminating the need for business users to have the Operations Manager console.
• Authentication. The Service Level Dashboard now uses Windows SharePoint Services groups to authenticate users and sites, making it easy to establish access to specific reports by setting permissions based on the user’s role in the organization.
• Service level objectives (SLOs). Administrators can use the new Service Level Tracking feature in Operations Manager to configure service goals for applications and groups.

Get it here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc540485.aspx

Sign up or renew your subscription so you don’t miss out. Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) is scheduled to include Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate upon release to manufacturing (RTM). Windows 7 Professional is built specifically with the needs of the smaller company in mind, and has powerful networking, mobility, and security capabilities that can be extended and customized to fit your clients’ needs. Increase your revenue and solidify customer relationships through services like data transfer, data backup, and network configuration.

Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) provides Registered Members of the Microsoft Partner Program internal-use, full-version software and sales resources at $299 per year plus tax to help you meet your sales goals, stay competitive, and grow your business.

What’s included in MAPS?

When you sign up for this cost-effective, annual subscription, you will receive one Welcome Kit and three Quarterly Update Kits, including internal-use product licenses to test and demo, as well as in-depth product information.

• MAPS Contents

Learn about Special Edition Kits
In addition to the standard Action Pack, Microsoft offers Special Edition Toolkits up to twice a year for qualifying partners.

• Special Edition Web Solutions Toolkit
• Small Business Specialist Community Special Edition Toolkit.

Academy Live: Windows 7 Professional and Windows XP Mode for Partners

We’ll share the value proposition of Windows 7 Professional for partners and dive a bit deeper into one of its key differentiating features next to domain join: Windows XP Mode. Windows XP Mode greatly improves the already high compatibility of the OS with many productivity applications that SMB customers rely on, removing a key barrier to move to the new Windows. We’ll show you how it works and how partners can play a key role in offering this functionality.

Level:  100 | Target Role:  Exec/Owner, Implementer, Marketing, Sales, Support

Monday, May 18, 2009 | 8:00-9:00am Pacific Time

· Webcast Link:  https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoftevents/join?id=WVC30PAL&role=attend&pw=OIM878

· Passcode:   OIM878

· Telephony:   (877) 208-6695

· Pin:  2706

To help prepare you for the latest version of Microsoft Exchange Server, we’ve got a series of 3-day in-person trainings available for our partners in Atlanta, Irvine, New York City, and Chicago.

If you’re looking to stay ahead of the market by delivering and using a highly reliable unified communications solution, be sure to register for this hands-on training opportunity. This is a 300-level training for architects with Microsoft Exchange Server, Windows Server/Active Directory, and Networking experience.

· Register now and learn more about the official dates, cost information, and full course details.

· Need details about what Exchange 2010 means for you as a partner? Visit our page on the Partner Program site.

· Want to learn more about what’s happening on the Exchange team? Check out their blog!

Join us for the upcoming Solution Accelerators Partner Webcast entitled:  Panel Discussion: Cost-Saving Virtualization Tools for Microsoft Partners

Your customers are looking for ways to drive down IT service and energy costs, while continuing to provide world-class IT services.  Two new technologies from Microsoft that can dramatically reduce IT operational costs and power consumption are server virtualization using Hyper-V, and desktop virtualization with MED-V and application virtualization.

Want to help your customers take advantage of these new technologies?

Register Today!  http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/InviteOnly.aspx?EventID=AE-54-55-8A-EC-4D-25-1A-DD-0D-9E-5F-6C-62-5A-E4&Culture=en-US

Event Entry Code: 320511 

If you haven’t gotten the news yet from any of your sources or the official announcement on the WIN7 blog; WINDOWS 7 RC is going to be available for download by MSDN and TechNet subscribers on April 30th.  General Public Availability will be on:

May 5th

You may be asking what are the changes?  Check out these links from the WIN7 blog about what has changed in RC:

Changes in WIN7 Part 1

Changes in WIN7 Part 2

And for you Partners – Check out the Windows 7 Virtual Partner Readiness event that is May 7th check it out and register at:

http://www.windowspartnerreadinessday.com/

On May 4, 2009 the Microsoft Gear Up Licensing Configurator tool is transitioning to the worldwide version of Microsoft LicenseWise for Volume Licensing. If you are not already familiar with LicenseWise, we encourage you to explore this popular customer quote creation tool.  Start using LicenseWise today!

Want to learn more about LicenseWise? Click here for a demo on how LicenseWise delivers up-to-date product and licensing information to help simplify the creation of customer quotes.

Already a LicenseWise user? Make sure you visit the tool to learn how you need to prepare for the upcoming transition.

LicenseWise is moving to a new Platform May 4th

What to do to get ready for the new LicenseWise? Follow these steps to get ready to access the new LicenseWise tool, follow these easy steps.

Step 1:

• Associate your Windows Live ID with your Organization’s Microsoft Partner Program Membership Create a Windows Live ID
• Go to https://partners.microsoft.com/partnerprogram/welcome.aspx and sign in with your Windows Live ID.
• Select “Associate as an Individual” and follow the instructions.
• Once you have submitted your request to associate and it has been approved, you will receive an e-mail notification and instructions on how to complete your association.

Step 2:

• Attend the LicenseWise Training Demonstration
• The thirty-minute LicenseWise training provides a great overview of and demo of how to use the tool.
• Register for training at: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/partners1/view?id=WH9DZN&role=attend&pw=d33c0a

Step 3:

• Begin Using the LicenseWise Tool May 4th at: https://partner.microsoft.com/global/licensing/licensingchoices/licenseconfigurator

Resources & Assistance

Should you need assistance stepping through the association process;

• Use the Step By Step Association Guide to walk through association scenarios – click here for access
• Microsoft Partner Program issues concerning organizational information, please contact mspp-na@microsoft.com
• LicenseWise access issues and tool related questions, please contact your Microsoft Partner Account Manager or submit questions to: https://support.microsoft.com/contactus/emailcontact.aspx?scid=sw%3ben%3b1216&sd=vap&ws=partner

Priced as low as US$15 per user, per month, BPOS features Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft Office SharePoint Online, Microsoft Office Live Meeting, and Microsoft Office Communications Online. Almost immediately after BPOS became available internationally for trial, GlaxoSmithKline announced that it was migrating 100,000 users from its on-premises IBM Lotus Notes technology to a Microsoft-hosted solution, expecting to reduce IT operational costs by 30 percent.
Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) also took a look, having heard that they could get enterprise-class communications technologies without having to pay for on-premises infrastructure.

Partners describe how Microsoft Online Services helped speed deal closures (left) and enlarge their customer base (right).
The opportunity isn’t small—you earn significant fees from Microsoft when you provide support, planning, migration, administration, customization, or ongoing management services to BPOS customers—as well as fees of up to 12 percent for BPOS sales. Use the specially prepared business practice guide to size your opportunity.
Not enrolled to sell BPOS? Sign up for Quickstart for Microsoft Online Services. You’ll get marketing resources, training, and access to Microsoft lead-generation engines.

• Italian partner Solvi expects BPOS offerings to increase its customer base by 50 percent.
• Dutch partner IT Solutions Partners cost-effectively supplies SMB clients with enterprise-class messaging and collaboration solutions.
• Software-plus-services strategy for ISVs combines on-premises deployments with Web-based software and services—find out more.
• Partner opportunity guide shows how to drive success with a software-plus-services approach.
• Build a Web seminar program designed to reach hundreds of prospects with Office Live Meeting.
• Qualifying academic customers can subscribe to Online Services—including BPOS—through the existing Campus Agreement and School Agreement programs. Other existing agreement programs also support BPOS.
• Explore the new Microsoft Online Subscription Program for customers with five or more users.

And that’s why we’re giving you an improved suite of communication and collaboration tools that help you work even more productively. Instant messaging and presence awareness. More storage. New streamlined, cost-effective solutions. The bottom line? The expanded set of capabilities in the Business Productivity Online Suite provides even greater flexibility and functionality. And that means you can concentrate on what’s important: your core business initiatives. Welcome to your improved suite of communication and collaboration tools.

Instant messaging and presence awareness with Office Communications Online. Get more secure and effective real-time person-to-person communication across an entire organization, plus presence so at a glance you can see if someone is available online to receive an instant message. What you need to know:

• Office Communications (OC) Online is part of the BPOS Suite. If you have previously purchased rights to the BPOS Suite, you are now able to start using OC Online. Just select OC Online in the Service Settings tab in MOAC to enable the service.
• Office Communications Online requires the separate purchase and installation of Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2. As a Limited Time Offer, Office Communications Online customers receive one licensed copy of Office Communicator 2007 R2 at no cost with each trial or paid subscription license to Office Communications Online. The software may only be used with Office Communications Online, and all rights to use the software will terminate upon expiration of the underlying subscription license or release of the next major new version of Office Communications Online, whichever comes first.
• Before enabling Office Communications Online for your users, please visit the Microsoft Online Services Blog for complete details on deployment and availability.
• Streamlined, reduced-cost email and collaboration services with our new Exchange Online and SharePoint Online Deskless Worker options. Tailor-made for employees who don’t require the full host of collaboration features, but do need access to corporate portal information and documents.

Get the most out of your subscription

We’re here to answer your questions and help you maximize your experience with the Business Productivity Online Suite. You can also call us at +1 (866) 363-3866, or email Microsoft Online Sales Support.

Register today for this year’s conference, scheduled for July 13-16 in New Orleans.

This event is a once a year opportunity for partners to interact directly with Microsoft leadership around core product strategy and work toward building their Microsoft sales roadmap for the fiscal year. It is also an opportunity for partners to connect with other partners to explore opportunities and share best practices.

Register today for the 2009 Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) —and get ready to connect with the largest partner network in the world.
This year, WPC will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, July 13 –16, 2009. Last year, the conference hosted more than 8,000 networking meetings and 11,000 attendees from 140 countries. The four-day WPC 2009 experience offers many opportunities to engage with Microsoft and partner executives to define Microsoft vision and strategy, develop new relationships, share best practices, and drive business results.

Grow your business and have fun while doing it!

Solution Selling® is the industry standard for sales execution process and the preferred sales methodology of Microsoft. More than 600,000 individuals have been trained in the methodology. This five-part webinar series presented by Sales Performance International will introduce you to the philosophy and key concepts of the Solution Selling process. As a special bonus, the fifth webinar in the series, Controlling the Elevated Risk of Buyers in this Economy, has been especially created to offer tips as to how to sell to your potential buyers in this difficult economy.

Solutions Selling Series

Get an in-depth understanding of Microsoft’s Virtualization products by tuning into Virtualization 360, a 10 part webcast series for Partners who are interested in selling and deploying Microsoft’s virtualization products. Each week get the straight talk from Microsoft experts who will provide you a thorough understanding of the business value, virtualization scenarios, licensing and solution selling tips that will enable you to help your customers reduce IT costs and become more agile. 72% of businesses plan to deploy virtualization (Yankee Group); position yourself to take advantage this lucrative opportunity by registering today!  Go here and look for these Virtualization 360 webcasts!

· Virtualization 360: Virtualization Made Simple - What will it do for your customer's business (Part 1/10)

· Virtualization 360: Selling Virtualization - How to Discover Virtualization opportunities and make a successful sale (Part 2/10)

· Virtualization 360: Understanding Virtualization - Windows Server 2008 and Hyper-V Server’s Virtualization Capabilities (Part 3/10)

· Virtualization 360: Simplify management of your Virtualization infrastructure with System Center Virtual Machine Manager (Part 4/10)

· Virtualization 360: Virtualization Technologies Deep Dive - Profile, Application and Med-V Virtualization (Part 5/10)

· Virtualization 360: Reduce costs with Virtualization - Server Consolidation & Green IT (Part 6/10)

· Virtualization 360: Virtualization Technologies Deep Dive - Presentation and Desktop Virtualization (including VDI) (Part 7/10)

· Virtualization 360: Reduce costs with Virtualization - High Availability & Data Recovery Solutions (Part 8/10)

· Virtualization 360: Understanding the Competition - Value and capability comparison of Microsoft’s Virtualization solutions (Part 9/10)

· Virtualization 360: Advanced Management Capabilities for Hyper-V with Citrix Essentials (Part 10/10)

· Virtualization 360: Understanding the Competition - Value and capability comparison of Microsoft’s Virtualization solutions (Part 9/10)

· Virtualization 360: Advanced Management Capabilities for Hyper-V with Citrix Essentials (Part 10/10)