June 2008 - Posts
Windows Vista, your next operating system.
As we prepare to end retail sales of the Windows XP operating system this is a good opportunity for a quick update on the Windows Vista operating system. First Windows Vista is ready to go to work today supporting nearly all of the leading business applications. Plus Windows Vista offers faster searching, better security, easier management, and uses less power than Windows XP.
Need more information?
Top questions about Windows XP >
Windows Vista Team Blog >
Mark the date: June 30, 2008
This is the last day when Windows XP will be generally available. If you’re in the process of assessing your migration to Windows Vista but still need to purchase new PCs with Windows XP, you may be eligible to downgrade to Windows XP after the End-of-Sales date. It all depends on the type of license you buy. Take a minute to answer the five questions on this page to better understand your options.
How to embed this questionnaire.
Do you have customers or partners that might be interested in more information about the Windows XP End-of-Sales timeline? Give them direct access to this questionnaire by simply embedding the code string below into your Web site or blog.
What if you came to a TS2 event and got solutions to sell to your current customers and for new potential customers? Would you come to one of our events? Or do you come for 100 level technical content that is already on line and available to you? Let's say you got information on the competition and what sets Microsoft apart from them, how to handle common objections that are out there, business value to your customers. Would that be the TS2 event you need Partners? Why do I ask you say? Well I want to be able to help you grow you Partner practice. I am not sure giving you product overviews and product feature sets helps you drive growth in your business or your capacity to sell Microsoft products and make real money on the services that come with them. What would be the perfect four hours with us at one of our events? My job is to help you grow, I am not sure I am doing that to the best of my ability and want your thoughts. Please feel free to comment on this blog or mail me directly at mmars@microsoft.com with your thoughts! Thanks TS2ers!
Partners - Learn new ways to drive your business at June TS2 events!
Attend an upcoming TS2 event to learn more about Windows Server 2008, Small Business Server 2008, and the Partner opportunities in Software + Services. We’re also presenting a special IW Practice Builder event in select cities to help you learn about the IWS competency, and how it can help drive your business and additional revenue. Register at www.MicrosoftTS2.com and be sure to meet the TS2 team while you are at the site, view webcasts, and for more in-depth event information!
Partners,
If you are looking for a tool that will help you determine the right Microsoft Technology for your customers, this is it! Download this beta and check this out! This WILL help you win the deal and get the services revenue your are looking for!
The BETA is now available!
https://connect.microsoft.com/InvitationUse.aspx?ProgramID=2307&InvitationID=MP31-GT76-X98X&SiteID=297
The Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit is an integrated platform with tools and guidance that make it easier for you to assess your current IT infrastructure and determine the right Microsoft technologies for your IT needs. It offers easy inventory, powerful assessment and actionable recommendations for Windows Server 2008, Windows Server Hyper-V, Virtual Server 2005 R2, Microsoft Application Virtualization (formerly SoftGrid), System Center Virtual Machine Manager, Windows Vista, 2007 Microsoft Office, and SQL Server. The popular Windows Vista Hardware Assessment readiness tool has now been replaced by the MAP toolkit platform.
This automation tool helps IT professionals and consultants like you establish a clearer understanding of your infrastructure, desktop and virtualization needs through network-wide assessment of your assets including desktops, laptops, servers, applications and network devices. Actionable recommendations are provided through the auto-generated migration proposal reports and documents.
In addition, the new MAP user interface also offers a "resource center" where users can download other relevant tools and useful resources such as white papers and technical guidance from Microsoft and other sources from the IT community.
Target Audience
- Customers: IT Architects, Infrastructure Specialists and Desktop/Application Administrators.
- Partners: System Integrators, Value-Added Partners and IT Consultants in the Enterprise and Midmarket
Key Benefits
- Quick Assessment of Your Existing infrastructure and assets
- Adaptive Guidance and Actionable Proposals that provide specific recommendations that will help simplify your planning and deployment of Microsoft technologies
- One-Stop Shop for All Your Planning (or Pre-Sales) Needs
New Features
- Hyper-V virtualization assessment
- Discovery of SQL servers
- Desktop security assessment using the Security Center technology
- 64-bit installation support (i.e. you can now install MAP on an inventory machine that has a 64-bit OS)
This newly launched site hosts many stories from real small businesses who are benefiting from running Windows Vista on their PC’s. This interactive site also includes the option of submitting your own story - with the possibility that your story (partner or business) may be filmed for future use on the site.
Check it out at www.windowsvistaexperience.com
Proven Solutions. Empower their people to work more efficiently, minimize costs, and create a competitive edge.
Money Saving Offers & Rebates. Increase your margin via the Open Value VAR Rebate and earn partner subsidy funds on qualifying purchases made by June 27, 2008 with The Big Easy.
Competitive Financing Options. Get paid upfront from Microsoft Financing and help your customers delay cash outlays, spread out payments and manage their budgets.
Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Write off 50% of depreciable business purchases, including software and hardware purchases.2
1. Download the Scenario.
Visit the Big Easy Partner Site to download the scenario marketing materials. Customize the materials with your logo and send to prospects and customers.
2. Sell Software Purchases.
Make follow-up phone calls and arrange meetings to sell software purchases of qualifying products along with your products and services.
3. Redeem the Big Easy Offer.
Be sure that you or your customer redeem the Big Easy Offer by July 31, 2008 at www.microsoftincentives.com/bigeasy. Microsoft will then send the customer a subsidy check made out to the partner of their choice, which they can spend on additional services and products. Checks must be used within 90 days of the issue date.
See how Microsoft Financing makes good sense for as little as $50 a month3!
1 ) Offer open to qualifying U.S. commercial and government organizations purchasing through eligible Microsoft licensing programs. For this information and minimum/maximum purchase requirements and other restrictions see full terms & conditions of the Big Easy Offer.
2 ) The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 provides incentives for businesses. For more information on the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, visit: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179227,00.html. Your specific situation may be different. Contact your financial accountant or tax advisor for more specific details.
3 ) Microsoft Financing SmartPay promotion, full program details http://www.microsoftincentives.com/#162.
4 ) These examples are provided solely for informational purposes. The actual partner subsidy dollars earned through the purchase of Microsoft software under The Big Easy Offer may vary from the amounts estimated in the examples. Prices based on Estimated Retail Prices (ERP). Reseller pricing may vary. Customers and partners should refer to the terms and conditions of the Big Easy Offer for a full understanding of the Partner Subsidy dollar amount paid out under different purchasing situations and to validate the amounts indicated in the examples. To calculate your savings visit: http://www.microsoftincentives.com/bigeasy/Calculator/default.aspx. If you buy one of these products along with another eligible product group in this offer, you could get even more in subsidy dollars.
5 ) Example is for customer purchasing 10 Microsoft Office Professional 2007 via the Microsoft Open Value Subscription licensing program with the Up-to-Date Discount with ERP pricing for first year of $900 and The Big Easy partner subsidy promotion savings of $850. To calculate your savings visit: http://www.microsoftincentives.com/bigeasy/Calculator/default.aspx. For information on Microsoft Open Value Subscription and the Up-to-Date discount can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/buy/software/open-value-subscription/more-for-less.aspx.
6 ) Example is for company purchasing Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Premium Edition for 25 employees via standard pricing of the Microsoft Open Value Subscription licensing program of $1170 first year payment. The Big Easy partner subsidy promotion savings of $600. To calculate your savings visit: http://www.microsoftincentives.com/bigeasy/Calculator/default.aspx.
7 ) Example is for company purchasing two Microsoft Windows 2008 Standard Edition with Hyper-V virtualization technology with 100 Client Access Licenses (CALs) and a one Microsoft SQL Server Standard 2005 processor license via standard pricing of the Microsoft Open Value licensing program of $5710 first year payment. The estimated Big Easy partner subsidy dollar amount earned through this purchase is approximately $2,228. To calculate your savings visit: http://www.microsoftincentives.com/bigeasy/Calculator/default.aspx.
Set and Manage Your Communication Preferences
Get the partner-related information you want from Microsoft
1) Sign in to the Microsoft Partner Program portal with the Windows Live ID (Passport) used to enroll in the program;
2) Select "View Your Membership Account" and "Membership Center";
3) From "Your Individual Account Page," choose "Edit Profile"*;
4) Scroll down to "Your Communication Options", and select your contact preferences for the areas listed;
5) To save your preferences, click the checkbox and then select the "Update" button at the bottom of the page.
* Individuals who are the Global or Local Administrator for their organization will have a slightly different experience. In the grey bar near the top of the page, select "Administration", then "Manage Your Individual Profile", then follow steps 4 and 5.
Trouble accessing the Microsoft Partner Program portal link?
You may be signed in with a Windows Live ID (Passport) account not associated with your Microsoft Partner Program membership. Sign out of any other Live ID-enabled sites, and then sign in with the credentials used to enroll in the Microsoft Partner Program. If you still can not open the link, please contact our support team. You will receive a response within 24 hours (Monday-Friday, Pacific Time).
This one comes from our good friend Eric Ligman who drives the www.mssmallbiz.com site! Thanks for Sharing Eric!
"In my Microsoft expands its Small Business sponsorship in NASCAR post on May 23rd, not only did we announce the NASCAR Sprint Cup Team #00 Microsoft sponsorship as well as the Partner sponsorship opportunity where Partners can join in this sponsorship with us, we also announced the new tuningITup.com site on the Microsoft Small Business Center. On this new page, we have several resources included for Small Business customers as well as Microsoft Small Business Partners in order help both “tune up” their businesses to reach top performance just like the tools used to tune up a high-performance car’s engine.
Another addition to this site to help drive interest and traffic to the page (thus driving people to see more about Small Business Specialist Partners and solutions), we are providing an Xbox 360 Elite System + NASCAR 08 game bundle giveaway on the site. By going to the tuningITup.com site, not only will they be able to access all of the tools provided, they will also be able to enter into the Xbox drawing by clicking on the Xbox 360 giveaway icon located there.
And speaking of “Tuning IT Up,” below are a couple pictures from Dover this morning of the Microsoft SBSC #00 car coming in after its first practice run for a little “tuning up” of its own before Sunday's debut race at Dover International Speedway:
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