September 2007 - Posts
Test...Testing 1...2..3.. Having a few issues with the new Live Writer
Technorati Profile
Take advantage of the sales tools and training materials in the Windows Vista Sales Accelerator to help you grow your business through increased sales of PCs with Windows Vista! When you register and complete ANY module in the program, you will earn entries for a chance to win an Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition Console*!
Get all of the detail here: http://oem.microsoft.com/script/contentpage.aspx?pageID=563319&wt_ref=USVisAcc&wt_ref2=newsltr&wa=wsignin1.0
Here is a new promotion announced by the Microsoft adCenter Team for the first 5,000 Microsoft Partners that sign up. You get $150 in search-advertising click credits to start your keyword advertising campaigns plus free, expert campaign support for building your first keyword advertising campaign. In addition, find out how your customers can receive $75 in free advertising through MSN and Windows Live Search. And when you sign up new Microsoft adCenter customers who spend $50 with Microsoft adCenter in 90 days, we’ll pay you $100 per customer.
Learn about both of these offers and how you can participate today HERE.
Ensure that your sales team is ready to help customers with their purchasing decisions, and establish your company as a preferred advisor, by earning the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) credential for the License Delivery specialization of the Licensing Solutions competency. Start by taking advantage of free training resources, including online tutorials, practice tests, and preparation guides. Then pass one of two MCP exams for designing and providing Microsoft Volume Licensing solutions to get certified.
Free Preparation for License Delivery Specialization MCP Exams
When you attain the Licensing Solutions competency License Delivery specialization, the skills you acquire can help you promote your company's licensing expertise and capitalize on additional services opportunities. Get ready to take one of two Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exams for this specialization with our free online tutorials, preparation guides, and practice tests.
To achieve the License Delivery specialization, your company must have two people pass one of the following MCP exams:
Learn more about all of the License Delivery specialization requirements.
Here is the link, just in case: https://partner.microsoft.com/us/40029167
Download the Community Technology Preview to explore SQL Server 2008 before its release. Learn more about this secure, comprehensive data platform from the product data sheet, webcasts, and videos. Use what you learn to prepare for sales calls and to answer customer questions. Through the preview program, you can evaluate the platform to help the SQL Server development team refine and enhance product features.
Here is the link: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/2008/default.mspx
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 provides a trusted, productive, and intelligent data platform that enables you to run your most demanding mission critical applications, reduce time and cost of development and management of applications, and deliver actionable insight to your entire organization.
Trusted
Run your most mission critical applications on a secure, reliable, and scalable platform.
Productive
Reduce the cost of managing your data infrastructure while streamlining development of data applications.
Intelligent
Drive business intelligence throughout your organization.
Watch the video: SQL Server Platform Vision
SQL Server 2008 Solutions
- Business Intelligence
SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence platform provides a scalable infrastructure that enables information technology to drive business intelligence throughout your organization and deliver intelligence where users want it.
Learn more - Data Warehousing
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 provides a comprehensive view of the business, by increasing the freshness of the data, incorporating all your systems, and validating the data while reducing the burden on your IT department.
Learn more - Online Transaction Processing
SQL Server 2008 provides a scalable, high performance database engine for mission-critical applications that require the highest levels of availability and security, while reducing the total cost of ownership through enhanced enterprise-class manageability.
Learn more - Comprehensive Data Programmability
Microsoft's Data Programmability platform provides developers with a comprehensive programming framework, web services and data connectivity technologies to efficiently access and manage disparate data.
Learn more - Server Consolidation
SQL Server 2008 reduces hardware and maintenance costs by providing a flexible server consolidation solution with enterprise-class manageability and performance.
Learn more
A Second Shot! That is right the program is back and it is just a awesome as it was before.
So what is it? It is a FREE second chance to pass a microsoft certification exams you take, it is not for every exam that we offer but a majority of them, check with your testing provider for more info! Think of it as insurance, that I know none you will ever need, and did I mention that it is FREE. There is a great FAQ here: Second Shot FAQ
To learn more about second shot take a look here: Second Shot
So how does it work, as obtained from the second shot site:
Register for the Microsoft Second Shot offer between September 15, 2007, and January 30, 2008, and receive a free Second Shot at passing the exam if you do not pass on your first try.
There is no limit per person: If you register for this offer, you will receive one free retake for each paid exam that you take and fail.
To take advantage of this offer:
-
Step 1: Register for Second Shot on the Microsoft Web site, and receive an exam voucher number.
-
Step 2: Schedule and pay for your initial exam through the Prometric Web site, call center,* or test center. You must have the voucher number available prior to registering.
-
Step 3: Take the exam.
-
Step 4: If you do not pass the exam, you can register for your free retake exam through the Prometric Web site, call center,* or test center. Just use the same voucher number. So that your test results can be entered into the system, please wait one day after the failed exam to register. Then, take your Second Shot!
Which exams qualify for this Second Shot offer?
Any Microsoft Learning IT professional, developer, or Microsoft Dynamics exam.
*A toll-free number may not be available in all countries or regions.
Good luck on your exam and I hope no one has to use this great program!
Microsoft® SilverlightT Makes Its Debut
Microsoft released to the Web (RTW) Microsoft Silverlight 1.0, a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering richer user experiences on the Web. In addition, Microsoft will work with Novell Inc. to deliver Silverlight support for Linux, called Moonlight, and based on the project started on mono-project.com.
Silverlight significantly reduces development and deployment costs and provides enhanced Web audio and video streaming and playback using industry-leading Windows Media® Technologies. Microsoft unveiled new Silverlight customer experiences on "Entertainment Tonight," HSN and World Wrestling Entertainment, and also launched the Silverlight Partner Initiative, a program designed to foster collaboration among solution providers, content delivery networks, tools vendors and design agencies.
We can help you to generate sales and get more from your marketing efforts by supplying the key ingredients to power your efforts. Each Microsoft Ready-to-Go Campaign includes professionally developed and customizable marketing materials so that you spend less time thinking about marketing and more time selling.
Here is the whole story.... https://partner.microsoft.com/us/40035464?msp_id=r...
New Ready-to-Go Campaigns Available
Whatever your business focus, you will find a campaign that fits your needs. Start a campaign now.
Linux Win Back
Help your customers achieve greater business value at a lower total cost of ownership by migrating from Linux-based alternatives to the Windows Platform
Application Platform Infrastructure Optimization
Help Customers build connected and adaptable systems that align IT with business priorities. IDC estimates that business intelligence and scorecarding represent a potential $26 billion service opportunity.
Optimize and Secure Your Core Infrastructure
Leverage your infrastructure optimization expertise with security and infrastructure management solutions. IDC forecasts a $945 million licensing opportunity for Windows based IT infrastructure solutions.
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
Satisfy customer demands for new and improved messaging capabilities with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Midmarket customers spend an average of $41,800 on Exchange Server deployment services.
Unified Communications and Collaboration
Generate demand for solutions that optimize customers’ collaboration capabilities. IDC forecasts $25 billion in service opportunities for unified communications solutions.
Upgrade the Desktop
Accelerate desktop sales and service opportunities with new Windows Vista Business and Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007. According to IDC, in 2007, for every dollar Microsoft makes on Windows Vista, partners will earn $18.
Branch Office Solution
Capitalize on the growing demand for remote office solutions. Over a third of all businesses have branch offices.
Drive Real-World Business Processes
Help your customers increase efficiency, streamline business processes, and improve Business Decision Making.
Coming September 2007
This one is from Eric Ligman's Blog. I definitely thought this was worth sharing...Enjoy and USE it!
In my, “Do my licenses expire after three years with Open Value?” post, I talked about how licenses acquired through Volume Licensing do not expire and how you have the option to renew your Software Assurance coverage for an additional three year of benefits. So, are you talking with your clients about their upcoming agreements that are due for renewal? Do your commercial customers have Open licensing agreements with Microsoft that are due for renewal? Not sure? We can help.
Microsoft, in partnership with our top distributors, has teamed up to provide you with:
- Information about all of YOUR customers that have Open renewals coming up
- Simple, concise training and documentation on how to approach the conversation with your customer, and execute the renewal
The goal? We want to ensure that you, our partners, are armed with the information you need to help your customers make educated, cost-effective decisions around their Microsoft licensing needs.
The process is simple. If you’d like information on your customers, send an email to the following address. Please note, all information is required, and we will respond to your request within 3 business days. If we have any questions on your request, we’ll reach out to you via phone or email, so please ensure you double-check your contact information when submitting.
- Click HERE to submit your request. Be sure to include:
- Subject: Open renewal data request
- Body
- Your name
- Your email address & preferred phone number
- Name of your company (Company Name you process your orders with)
- Previous name of company, if changed in the last 24 months (this helps us track down the right data in our systems)
- City & State of your main office (the one any licensing agreements would process through)
- Within three business days, you will receive an Excel 2007 workbook with all your renewal data back from us.
- You’ll also receive a cheat sheet to the Essential renewal resources and trainings
Drop us a line today!
Thank you and have a wonderful day,
Eric Ligman
Microsoft US Senior Manager
Small Business Community Engagement
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
Get tips to encourage customers to renew their Select License, Enterprise Agreement, and Software Assurance program agreements. Our new sales cards provide guidance about strategy and handling objections. For example, find cross-sell and up-sell opportunities around the Windows Vista operating system.
Turn Customer Objections into Sales Opportunities
Software Assurance customers already have upgrade rights to many of the new software versions. Meanwhile, many customers associate the entire value of their Software Assurance investments with upgrade rights, so they may be reluctant to renew their Software Assurance agreements. And most will express concerns about budgets and time constraints. Get guidance to address customer objections. And facts to leverage the releases of Windows Vista, the 2007 Office system, and Exchange Server 2007 to help you make the case for renewal.
A Cost-Effective Path to a People-Ready Business
You can offer Select License, Enterprise Agreement, and Software Assurance renewals to help customers do more than keep their desktop applications up to date. Promote upgrades and renewals as an easy, cost-effective solution for customers to acquire all the software they need to build a more-secure, manageable, and flexible IT infrastructure. One that’s always ready to support business people working collaboratively to meet business objectives.
Use the Select License Renewal Partner Sales Card or Enterprise Agreement Renewal Partner Sales Card to make the case for a standardized platform. And discuss the role of the 2007 Office system and Windows Vista in a tightly integrated infrastructure to help align the renewal conversation with your customers’ strategic IT initiatives. At the time of renewal, you can discuss various up-sell scenarios depending on your customers’ growth objectives:
-
Component to Platform Enterprise Agreement
-
Platform to Enterprise-Platform Enterprise Agreement
-
Select License to Enterprise Agreement
Here is the link for more info:
https://partner.microsoft.com/us/40029222
NEW VERSION OF MOBILE OS AVAILABLE!
Windows Mobile 6, the latest version of the fastest-growing mobile platform, is now shipping with mobile devices. Deliver PC capability to mobile screens. View our on-demand webcast to explore system features and improve your knowledge of its capabilities. Download the sales demo to help drive sales.
Windows Mobile 6 Demo
Educate your staff and prepare to answer customer questions. This Adobe Flash demo of Windows Mobile 6 focuses on advanced mobile communications, increased mobile productivity, and integrated mobile business performance.
Download Demo
Windows Mobile 6 Webcast
Sharpen your Windows Mobile 6 knowledge to better meet your customers' mobility needs. This one hour webcast gives you an informative overview of the capabilities of the new platform.
Learn More
Windows Mobile 6 Announcement
Read the full details on Windows Mobile 6 from its announcement at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain on Feb. 12, 2007.
Learn More
Windows Mobile 6 Resources for Developers
Test Platform Functionality in Localized Environments
Available in 24 languages, these system-image packs enable emulation of Mobile 6 runtime performance in localized test environments — before deploying to actual devices. As a result, you can help IT and business professionals at your customers' organizations evaluate the platform to ensure proper function and make informed purchase decisions.
What’s New for Developers in Windows Mobile 6? White Paper | Webcast
Discover detailed information to help you get started developing your Windows Mobile 6 applications. This white paper explores an array of topics, from new naming conventions to how the new release simplifies deployment.
Designed for Windows Mobile 6 Guidelines: Standard | Professional
The Designed for Windows Mobile guidelines have changed from those for previous versions of the operating system. Find out what's different — and how to ensure your applications remain logo-certified
Windows Mobile 6 Resources on MSDN
The Windows Mobile Developer Center on MSDN has been updated, providing a wealth of new resources to support Windows Mobile 6 developers. Find SDK documentation, instructional webcasts, virtual labs, community resources, and other tools to help you build robust, innovative solutions.
Additional Windows Mobile 6 Resources
Windows Mobile Copy Conventions and Trademarks
Windows Mobile 5.0 vs. Windows Mobile 6
What’s New Summary
Windows Mobile 6 Standard and Professional: Comparison Presentation
Windows Mobile 6
Here is the link just in Case....
https://partner.microsoft.com/us/40037536