May 2008 - Posts
[Today's post comes to us courtesy of Dean Paron]
After extensive development and private evaluation, I’m pleased to announce that a public preview of Windows Small Business Server 2008 RC0 is now available.
Windows SBS 2008 is the next major release in the Windows Small Business Server product family, and it offers a wave of new features for technology consultants and small business owners. There are too many updates and changes to list in one post, but here are some highlights:
- A new setup and administrative experience that has been re-designed to make initial deployment and day-to-day management significantly easier
- Many new management features such as extensible monitoring reports, and tools to manage internet domain names, data folders, certificates and more
- A revamp of the Premium Edition to include both SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition technologies and a 2nd copy of Windows Server 2008
- A new server backup wizard built on the Windows Server 2008 block-based backup technologies, which allows you to back up your server in minutes rather than hours
- A redesigned Remote Web Workplace with new features such as custom links, logos and user to computer mapping
- Built-in anti-virus and anti-spam support with 120-day trial subscriptions to Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server and Windows Live OneCare for Server
- Integration with Microsoft Office Live Small Business to simplify setup and management of professional Web sites and extranets
- And of course, updates to Microsoft’s newest server technologies: Windows Server 2008, Exchange Server 2007, SQL Server 2008, Windows Server Update Services v3, and Windows SharePoint Services v3
To learn more about the product and to enroll in the public preview program, please visit http://technet.microsoft.com/evalcenter/cc184870.aspx.
We look forward to your feedback.
Regards,
Dean Paron
Group Program Manager
Windows Small Business Server
Visit the Windows Server 2008 Sales Accelerator to get training resources and great sales tools to help you accelerate your server business today. PLUS everyone who participates by June 30th, will be eligible for OEM SalesCenter vouchers** valued at up to $75 and a chance to win an Amax Cube Case Windows Home Server**!
Here's are the details from the press release that went out this morning.
Slated for general availability later this year, Windows Essential Server Solutions are much easier for small and midsize companies to implement and manage than separate products. In response to customer and partner feedback, Windows Essential Server Solutions provide flexible pricing and licensing that offer substantial cost savings over purchasing individual products like those included in the solutions. Examples of licensing improvements over the current Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 product include these:
- Customers will be able to purchase single client access licenses (CALs), so they will pay only for the exact number of employees using the product.
- Customers can cost-effectively purchase a mix of Standard or Premium CALs, as appropriate to the technologies that individual employees are using.
- CALs now apply to other copies of Windows Server, SQL Server or Exchange Server on the network, eliminating the need to purchase additional CALs.
Also, Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition includes additional Windows Server 2008 Standard technologies with SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition for Small Business, making it an ideal platform for critical business applications.
Windows Essential Server Solutions pricing* is as follows:
- Windows Small Business Server 2008 Standard Edition software, including five CALs, $1,089 (U.S.); additional CALs $77 each (U.S.)
- Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, including five CALs, $1,899 (U.S.); additional CALs $189 each (U.S.)
- Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard Edition software, including five CALs, $5,472 (U.S.); additional CALs $81 each (U.S.)
- Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, including five CALs, $7,163 (U.S.); additional CALs $195 each (U.S.)
Microsoft also today announced rebates of up to $200 (U.S.) for solution provider partners configuring Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 for their clients who acquire the software and purchase Software Assurance within a certain time period. With Software Assurance, customers will receive the upgrade to Small Business Server 2008 at no additional cost when it is available, as well as access to support, tools and training. Terms and conditions of the rebates are available at http://www.SBSrebate.com.
More information about the products, pricing and beta customer feedback is available at http://www.microsoft.com/ess. More information for journalists is available at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/serversolutions.
When your customers purchase a PC preinstalled with a qualified version of Windows Vista Ultimate from now through June 30th 2008, they will be eligible to receive a US$50 Rewards Check redeemable exclusively through your business! Learn more and tell your customers about it today!
Get an Extra US$50 in Sales with every PC Preinstalled with a Qualified Version of Windows Vista Ultimate through the Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards Program*
That’s right. When your customers purchase a PC preinstalled with a qualified version of Windows Vista Ultimate between April 7th and June 30th 2008, they will be eligible to receive a US$50 Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards Check redeemable exclusively through your business!
The US$50 Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards Check can be used to purchase any goods or services excluding Microsoft software and hardware, and can be redeemed up to 10 times per customer. So why wait? Tell your customers about the Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards Program today!
It’s important that you understand the offer and are able to articulate the process your customers will need to take to receive the Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards Check. Customers must follow each of the steps below.
Between April 7th and June 30, 2008 customers must acquire a PC preinstalled with a qualified version of Windows Vista Ultimate. Not all versions of Windows Vista Ultimate will qualify so be sure to review the eligible part numbers available from www.localpcbuilder.com/UltimateRewards.
Customers will need to submit a completed Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards coupon available for download at www.localpcbuilder.com/UltimateRewards. NOTE: Partners should print and keep coupons on hand to distribute to purchasing customers at time of PC purchase.
Customers will need to submit the following proof of purchase for each PC purchased preinstalled with a with a qualifying version of Windows Vista Ultimate:
- The original front page of the OEM Windows Vista Ultimate Manual. Examples of what these look like are found at www.localpcbuilder.com/UltimateRewards.
- A copy of the sales receipt or invoice that shows the date, store location, Windows Vista Ultimate purchase, and PC purchase. Download the Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards coupon.
Customers must mail the completed Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards coupon and all required proof of purchase in the same envelope within 30 days of the date of purchase to:
Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards Promotion
PO Box 750643
Promotion number 497-08-503
El Paso, TX 88575-0643
Take advantage of our ready-to-use marketing materials and inform your customers about the Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards Program today.
To Partner Marketing Materials: These materials have been created with resellers in mind. Use them to discuss the value of the Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards program. These materials are:
Through Partner Marketing Materials: These materials have been created with your customers in mind. Use them to communicate directly with your customers the value of the Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards program. These materials are:
Two new flyers are also available on the OEM Customizer under Windows Vista SP1. Use these flyers to advertise directly to your home and small business customers the Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards program!
Don’t wait. Tell your customers about the Windows Vista Ultimate Rewards program today.
View the official terms and conditions.
WPC: 2008 SMALL & MIDSIZE BUSINESS PARTNER FORUM AND SMB TRACK
Register for the third annual Microsoft Small and Midsize Business Partner Forum (formerly known as the Small Business Symposium). This year, for the first time ever, the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference will include an end-to-end experience for partners focused on the small- and midsize-business market segment. We’ll feature a one-day interactive event on July 7, as well as a new small- and midsize-business track throughout the entire Worldwide Partner Conference, taking place July 7-10 in Houston.
SBSC partners can take advantage of special discount WPC pricing of USD$1395 (full conference fee is USD$1795) – details, special registration code and link to the registration tool can be found online. Partners using the special registration code will be automatically registered for the SMB Partner Forum on July 7th.
The Small and Midsize Business Partner Forum, held on the first day of the conference, is a networking and learning event for Microsoft Small Business Specialists and other SMB-focused technology providers who want to strengthen their small-business practices. During the interactive one-day Small and Midsize Business Partner Forum—and through the first-ever small- and midsize-partner track held throughout the Worldwide Partner Conference--you’ll have the chance to gain insight on how to balance customer needs with your own growth objectives.
When you attend the Worldwide Partner Conference and the Small and Midsize Business Partner Forum, you can:
- Learn strategies from industry experts to help you effectively focus your time, increase your business value, and grow your business.
- Hear from Microsoft executives about the company’s direction in the small- and midsize-business marketplace.
- Interact with your peers and learn successful best practices that you can implement in your business.
- Prepare for the upcoming launch of Windows Small Business Server 2008.
- Build core skills and strategies that align with the small- and midsize-business segment.
Virtualization is one of the hottest technologies on today's IT landscape. It is estimated that more than 75 percent of Microsoft customers are currently using or evaluating virtualization in their IT infrastructure.
Microsoft offers a rich set of technologies to enable virtualization solutions across server workloads and desktop applications, and enables IT to manage virtual and physical servers in a familiar, common environment that reduces system complexity and improves operating efficiency. The sessions in this series provide partners with an overview of the Microsoft’s virtualization server, desktop, and management offerings which partners can leverage to help customers control costs, improve availability, and drive agility.
Here is the link https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search_adv.aspx?ssid=65ce4c19-7416-49c9-bd30-0cb05203a176&isMetaTagRefreshed=true and short descriptions of the Web Casts! Check these out!
Building New Revenue Streams with Windows Server 2008 - Terminal Services
- 1 Hour
- Building New Revenue Streams with Windows Server 2008 - Terminal Services Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services can help you to better serve your small and medium sized custmers by enabling them to better connect to key applications from anywhere, while helping them protect critical data by removing it from laptop hard drives. This session will cover in detail and with demonstrations the new features of Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services (TS Gateway, TS RemoteApp(TM), TS Web Access
Essential Tools to Win Virtualization Projects – Microsoft Virtualization Solution Accelerators
- 1 Hour
- Essential Tools to Win Virtualization Projects – Microsoft Virtualization Solution Accelerators Are your customers ready for Virtualization? Use the newly released Microsoft Virtualization Solution Accelerators, a collection of free automated tools and technical guidance, to help you win more virtualization projects during pre-sales and complete them in less time. Presenter: Baldwin NG - Senior Product Manager Baldwin Ng is the Senior Product Manager for the Microsoft Solution
Managing Virtual Infrastructures with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007
- 1 Hour
- Managing Virtual Infrastructures with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 Microsoft has several new virtualization technologies that are launching in the coming months. Want to learn more technical details about these technologies? This webcast will provide a technical overview of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, System Center Virtual Machine Manager, and SoftGrid Application Virtualization. Topics will include an architectural overview of all products, specific feature
Virtualization (Formerly SoftGrid) Overview
- 1 Hour
- Microsoft® Application Virtualization improves end user productivity and reduces the associated risks Presenter: Jameel Khalfan
Microsoft the Complete Virtualization Story
- 1 Hour
- Employing Virtualization technologies across the IT infrastructure is a major step towards a creating Dynamic IT environment. From reducing the utility expense in the data center to avoiding extensive application compatibility testing for desktop deployments, virtualization significantly improves the efficiency of IT operations. From streamlining backup to rapid disaster recovery, virtualization is a cornerstone of a robust business continuity strategy. And from rapid
Windows Server 2008 Virtualization and Licensing Update
- 1 Hour
- Windows Server 2008 Virtualization and Licensing Update Understand what is new with Windows Server licensing and pricing for 2008. Learn general licensing rules and requirements, virtualization rights, and new product updates for Windows Server 2008. Get up to speed with Windows Server licensing in order to understand how best to sell Windows Server 2008 to customers. Presenter: John Cullen - Product Manager
https://partner.microsoft.com/40058151
Keep up with the latest 2008 Worldwide Partner Conference information. And stay abreast of opportunities to network with thousands of other Microsoft partners and expand your business opportunities. Subscribe to the Worldwide Partner Conference RSS feed to receive updates and announcements—delivered instantly to your RSS reader.
What Is RSS?
What is RSS? Really Simple Syndication (RSS) technology enables you to automatically receive content from different websites in one place, so you don’t have to scour a range of resources to find pertinent information. When you subscribe to an RSS feed, you can save time because multiple news feeds are delivered to a single page through your RSS reader or aggregator, along with any other feeds to which you’ve subscribed. Learn more.
Putting Together (more) Choice, Value, and Simplicity
With up to $10 million partner subsidy dollars available to Microsoft Partner Program members, this one offer covers most of the core products and solutions you sell to your small- and medium-sized customers. It also gives you the opportunity to reach new and existing customers with a cost-effective way to acquire the latest Microsoft technology. Now, you can get higher payouts for the Windows Server and Small Business Server product group; Open License and Software Assurance coverage for SQL Server, Windows Server and Small Business Server product groups, and more Microsoft Project now that Open License for Project is now included.
* Applies to all qualifying purchases between Feb. 1, 2008 and June 27, 2008.
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Take advantage of this great offer and maximize savings!
The Big Easy Offer is the Microsoft Partner Subsidy program that covers most core products and solutions, delivering great value and flexibility for your business needs in one simple offer. With this offer, earn partner subsidy funds from Microsoft for qualifying purchases*. Then use your subsidy dollars to purchase additional products or services through the Microsoft partner of your choice and enrich your solution.
- This program scales to your business, offering incremental subsidies for qualifying purchases between February 1 and June 27, 2008. Service benefits could be deployment, training, assessments, or solutions to meet your line of business needs. Additional products may include software and/or hardware. Work with the qualified partner of your choice to determine the best solution for your business and get additional value through subsidized services and products.
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Choice
No two businesses need the exact same solution. The Big Easy offer helps you make the right choices for your business. Select the products you need to enhance your business and increase efficiencies, then apply subsidy dollars you earn towards additional services and products through the partner of your choice.
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Value
The Big Easy Offer provides a cost -effective way to purchase the latest Microsoft technology and delivers more value by helping you earn subsidy dollars on each of your qualifying purchases. You and your qualified Partner can use the Big Easy Calculator on this page to estimate your subsidy amount, make an informed purchase decision, and realize the value.
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Are you a Microsoft Partner?
Visit the Big Easy Partner Portal page for marketing resources, best practices and ready to go solutions to grow your business.
When customers face business challenges, they turn to technology for the solution. By installing the 2007 Microsoft Office system and the Windows Vista operating system on customers' desktops, you can help address many of their business challenges. These platforms help simplify how people work together, protect and manage content, enable efficient access to information, improve business insights, and help reduce IT costs. With these solutions in place, the employee is empowered to drive the success of their business.
Targeted to small through midsize-business customers, this initiative is a complete marketing campaign that you can leverage to jointly promote the value of Office Professional Plus 2007 and Windows Vista Business on customers' desktops. Get started below!
Check out these additional resources to help engage enterprise and midsize business decision makers (BDMs) and technical decision makers (TDMs) who are evaluating Windows Vista deployment through upgrades or new PC purchases. With 88 million Windows Vista licenses already in market, it's clear that global adoption is well underway. However, the opportunity to provide upgrade and deployment services is just beginning. Now is the perfect time to engage customers and introduce them to the benefits of Windows Vista.
Want to Upgrade and Save? Office 2007 Enterprise & Windows Vista SP1 Enterprise
Want to upgrade customers to the next level? Check out resources designed to increase awareness of Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007, Windows Vista Enterprise with Service Pack 1, Software Assurance Benefits, and the ability to purchase the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance through the Open Value Program.
Start from the beginning with customers that are reluctant to make software upgrades a priority. Help them understand the competitive risks of holding on to aging IT investments by promoting the new and improved application suites, business tools, server platforms, and services included in The 2007 Microsoft Office system. Use these resources to help you build a convincing argument for deploying the 2007 Microsoft Office system.