Steve's TS2 Insider

Q: (from Stephen)

I’m looking at the TS2seminars.com site.  It’s not listing any live events.  I’m guessing these have been scaled until the new fiscal year. Is this accurate?

A:

First off, thank you for looking at TS2Seminars.com for upcoming TS2 events - you've made our marketing people very happy!

Second, the URL TS2Seminars.com is being retired in favor of the more accurate MicrosoftTS2.com URL. They both go to the same location right now.

Third, TS2, like most of Microsoft, does not host any formal events during the month of June, but our event tour resumes mid-August.

Fourth, although our events may not be listed on MicrosoftTS2.com yet, they are available at www.microsoft.com/events and search for the keyword TS2. Here is information regarding our upcoming schedule:

Join us at the next TS2 event in your area, where we will focus on exciting Microsoft technologies that will broaden your portfolio of customer offerings and boost your ongoing revenues.

Our TS2 team will offer sales tips to help you promote the following products:

• Small Business Server 2008 & Essential Business Server 2008
• Response Point VoIP Phone System
• Software + Services

Q: (from Paul)

A friend wanted a free domain name and we signed up on Microsoft Live Small Business but I can't find out how to get a free domain name.  Is this still available?

A:

Although the location and brand seem to change every quarter, we still offer a free domain name along with a website and email boxes. Details can be found at:

http://www.microsoft.com/officelive

The domain name is defined at the "Get a Web address" link:

Q: (from Charles)

I have a client that wants to allow people to logon to a kiosk pc, but only for an hour. I don't know what apps yet, only know internet is one.
Heard of any shell apps that could do the trick ?
I'm thinking virt pc with a timer job running in background.

A:

Try out Windows Steady State (originally called the Shared Computer Toolkit) I believe one of its features is a session timer. More importantly, for kiosks, it keeps the user from making any permanent changes. PERIOD.

Cool stuff and is now available for Windows Vista as well as Windows XP.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/sharedaccess/default.mspx

See my previous discussion of Steady State:

Windows XP Lock Down

Q: (from Robert)

I am interested in becoming a Microsoft Partner and Small Business Specialist.  I have been doing some IT consulting on the side and am looking to transition into providing Microsoft solutions for small businesses which I feel is a larger market that the restaurant industry.

What is your opinion of the market in this area?  In my experience working with small business owners, many seem reluctant to embrace new technology and the benefits it can provide.  In dealing with restaurants, there seemed to be more that don't use a POS system than do.  To me, it just feels like my local community is kind of backwoods and lagging behind in the adoption of technology to improve business processes.  I just don't want to make another investment into a business whose product is too difficult of a sell for the local market.

Can I successfully start out as a 1 or 2 person operation?

Do you know how many partners in my region are Small Business Specialists?

I attended the ts2 event that was held in Memphis a few weeks ago, so I have the steps to become a Small Business Specialist.  I am wondering if there are any good books or classes for the certification tests.  Also, which of the four tests would be the best one to pursue first?  Are there any current discounts or promotions on the Action Pack and Technet subscriptions?

So, I go through these steps to become a Small Business Specialist.  Then what, I just go out and start selling?  Does Microsoft provide any assistance on helping me to generate leads, creating presentations and demonstrations?

A:

1 or 2 person success – absolutely – we have plenty of successful partners in that space

Go to www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness to find the other SBSC’s in your area.

The frequently recommended book is the “Microsoft - Small Business Specialist Primer” available from www.smbnation.com. And there is a 25% discount through Sept 30^th using code “SBSCCert0708”

Any of the exam’s are fine; they are just the qualifier; what is his focus? Where is his passion? Infrastructure (70-282), System Building (74-134), or SharePoint (70-631)

Currently there are no other promotions that I’m aware of

Microsoft provides many self service resources for businesses to generate and close business. All of those resources are posted on our partner portal: https://partner.microsoft.com. Some of the enumerated resources include:

Increase My Opportunities

• Ready-to-Go Campaigns
• Partner Event Services (ClicktoAttend, content, marketing, logistic resources)
• Microsoft Across America Mobile Event Experience (MEE) truck availability
• New Day & Heroes Happen Here Launches
• Software Plus Services

Close More Sales

• Microsoft Business and Technology Assessment Toolkit
• Demo Readiness Toolkit, Demo Showcase, & Technology Demonstration Toolkit
• Volume Licensing Comparison
• Open Value overview
• Software Assurance overview
• MicrosoftIncentives.com
• Microsoft Financing
• MS GearUp Sales Tool Kit & Licensing Configurator
• Competitive Sales Assistance

All of these resources plus more are called out in a two hour web seminar that I recorded called MS101 for Small and Medium Business Partners (https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/details.aspx?publisher=12&delivery=241240&site=US&lang=EN)

Q: (from Jim through Shirley)

I’m in the throes  of planning my own server virtualization project and would love to (I think, maybe, perhaps) use Microsoft technologies to do it. 

Of course none of my current salesmen/technical advisors know anything about it so they are backing away at high rates of speed. 

Does Microsoft have any programs to assist small companies to adopt virtualization?  If not, do they want to pilot such a program with my network?

A:

We have a few support resources for you:

Virtualization Solution Accelerator (best practices for rolling out virtualization)

https://partner.microsoft.com/solutionaccelerators

Competitive virtualization support (Microsoft vs. VM Ware)

https://partner.microsoft.com/US/salesmarketing/40016218

(800) 426-9400 x88827