Steve's TS2 Insider

Q: (from Dave)

Hey Steve, The Vista NFR they gave me at the TS2 event has a bad PIN. When I attempted to get a product key, it said 'expired'. Can you help?

A:

We've received several reports of this issue and are working on a solution. Apparently the disks we distributed have keys that were only valid through Sept 30th. We are working on getting the date extended. Please watch this space for a pending update.

UPDATE - as of earlier today the activation date was extended to the end of the calendar year.

Q: (from Rob)

What’s the difference between Sofware Assurance (SA) and Upgrde Advantage (UA)?  I can’t find any clear statements.  Do we still offer UA?

A:

UA became SA when we switched to Licensing 6.0 in 2001. Upgrade Advantage only implied one benefit – upgrade protection. Now that we have Software Assurance – we can focus on multiple benefits including upgrade protection, home use rights, Vista Enterprise, cold server backup, etc. I often stress that people equate SA with upgrade protection because of it’s history, but it is SOOOO much more. Specifically you can’t sell upgrade protection on a product we recently released like Windows Server, so you should lead with a different SA benefit like cold server or training.

Here is a link to all of the SA benefits for the various licensing programs:

https://partner.microsoft.com/download/global/40029941

Q: (from Cathy)

Hello we were wondering if you had any canned demos you could send us on SharePoint for a demo this Thursday?

A:

If you are a registered partner with the Action Pack, you get the Technical Demonstration Toolkit which has a full SharePoint setup with data and script (I use it all of the time)

If you are a Certified or Gold Certified partner, you have the Demo Solution Showcase (or you might have picked one up at WWPC) it also has a SharePoint demo with data and script.

Both of these can be downloaded from partners.microsoft.com based on your partner level:

1. Start with the Sales and Marketing tab at the top
2. Expand the Sales Demo branch on the left
3. You will see secured links for the Demo Showcase and Product Demos (TDT)

Warning - shameless plug follows:

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Q: (from Rick)

Nov 11, Phila, No TS2? Not listed... Will be there for the morning SB2... Is that another name for TS2 now?

In the drop down box for other cities I seemed to still have a choice.

I had the feeling they were phasing out TS2... (Well, I go back to when they had box lunches in hotels 10-15 years ago... and have seen the peaks and valleys.)

A:

The rumor that TS2 is being phased out is greatly exaggerated. We've had some difficulties getting this year's events scheduled (BTW, we are returning to hotels for most events)

This resulted in a disconnect in our events listed on www.microsoft.com/events and www.microsoftts2.com which is being resolved. You should find that there is now a TS2 event listed for Nov 11 at the same location the System Builder (SB2) event is being hosted.

Q: (from Alan)

Is there any info available on Hosted Exchange yet? Will I be able to try it out before recommending it to clients? I’d like to see an sbs offering with hosted exchange instead of including exchange server. Just from your description of hosted exchange I think it’s a service I could sell.

A:

You can sign up to test the beta of our BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) at:

www.quickstartonlineservices.com

Q: (from Gail)

Wondered if you know of any resources available to a partner looking to grow their managed services businesses.  I was thinking this may have been a topic in a previous TS2 and thought I’d pick your brain on it.  Also, if you know who else I might ask, that would be GREAT!

A:

Matt Makowicz from Ambition Mission (www.ambitionmission.com)

and

Erick Simpson from Managed Service Provider University (www.mspu.us)

They both were involved in the TS2 discussion around managed services last year and are highly respected in the partner community. They each have several books out, online forums, and offer consulting and training.

As a matter-of-fact, both Erick and Matt have recently released new books:

From Erick: The Best I.T. Service Delivery BOOK EVER!  reveals how to deliver Hardware Warranty, Break-Fix, Professional and Managed Services effectively and profitably. No matter which of these service delivery models you practice, you will learn how to maximize processes, efficiencies and customer satisfaction - resulting in higher net profits.

From Matt: A Guide to MARKETING Managed Services  You’ve figured out Managed Services (perhaps because you own A Guide to SELLING Managed Services – faster, easier, & for greater profit). Now you can really grow your business by attracting and bringing on NEW customers that don’t come from referrals!

Q: (from Al)

I used to attend the Connections events in the morning before the TS2 events, is there something I can attend now?

A:

In the morning, you have the choice to attend either the TechNet events (http://www.technetevents.com) or System Builder events (http://ts2blogs.com/blogs/ronaldg/archive/2008/08/29/oem-system-builder-events-in-fall-2009.aspx)

I'm still looking forward to seeing you in the afternoon at the regularly scheduled TS2 events (http://www.microsoftts2.com/liveEvents.aspx)

Q: (from David)

Pls send article re 7 things you need to know that you mentioned at the NYC TS2 event.

Thanks

A:

Following is the information I mentioned along with the URL for the full article

Seven Cloud Computing Risks

• Privileged User Access – Other than you, who?
• Regulatory Compliance – Audit support?
• Data Location – Where is data stored?
• Data Segregation – Is your data isolated?
• Recovery – What is the disaster plan?
• Investigative Support – Discovery requests?
• Long-term Viability – How do you get your data back?

http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/07/02/Gartner_Seven_cloudcomputing_security_risks_1.html

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

Q: (from Joseph)

Great TS2.  You did a great job.

You mention that there was a free tool for copying / syncing Outlook Public Contacts to Personal Contacts.

Can you send me a name of the tool?  And, if you have it, where to find it?

A:

I looked around for the contact sync tool from Microsoft and the only one I found was from 2001:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2D31C7F0-B871-49CE-9F96-712A1695E372&displaylang=EN

which I’ve used as recently as 2003.

Looking beyond Microsoft, I found:

http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/sync-mail.asp

which includes a tool called Add2Excahnge which appears to offer similar functionality. But I have no personal experience.