May 2008 - Posts

SBS Public Preview Available Now
Friday, May 30, 2008 11:52 AM

Check it out
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/cc184870.aspx

by snoor | with no comments

Response Point is available at CostCo
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 6:49 AM

I was surprised to find this solution available online today.  If you are looking for a great VOIP entry point solution that is simple to setup, here it is...

by snoor | with no comments

FREE: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Partner Training
Sunday, May 25, 2008 4:12 PM

Microsoft® System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Partner Training Series  

June 5/6, 2008, Irvine, CA

“Increase Revenue through System Center training ”                          

The new wave of System Center product releases creates exciting new opportunities to increase profitability for partners. This 2 day training will help you get trained on new System Center products and will be held at the Microsoft Technology Center at 3 Park Plaza, Suite 1600, Irvine, CA 92614.

At the completion of this 2 day training, you will leave with knowledge, tools, and hands on experience to deploy and configure System Center products such as Configuration Manager 2007 confidently and predictably, and gain the ability to win more opportunities.

Event Details

The content covered in the training is technical and has been designed to provide you with knowledge required to deliver successful proof of concepts (POCs) to your customers. Delivered by a Microsoft Systems Management Server (MVP), Steve Bobosky, owner and lead consultant of System Center Tools Inc.  

Audience

Certified Microsoft Partners that have a focus on systems management for the enterprise. Attendees should have at least one year experience with Systems Management Server 2003, be familiar with Windows administration and have a high-level understanding of Configuration Manager 2007 features, such as deploying and managing OS’s and application software, as well as performing basic management tasks.

This training initiative will mostly concentrate on the new Configuration Manager 2007 product and in addition, also provide an overview of the other System Center products including Operations Manager, Data Protection Manager, and Virtual Machine Manager.

Register now to save your seat!

As there are a limited amount of seats, please email the address below to register

v-pahuer@microsoft.com,

If you have any questions please direct them to: artp@microsoft.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

Event Details:

Who should attend: 

Technical consultants that will deliver Microsoft-based management solutions.

Cost:

Day 1 & 2: no charge

Schedule:

Day 1:

· Introduction to System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM)

· Deploying a Configuration Manager Server

· Configuring an SCCM Infrastructure

· Managing Resources

Day 2:

· Distributing Applications

· Operating System Deployment 

· Managing and Maintaining an SCCM Infrastructure 

by snoor | with no comments

Pricing: SBS 2008 and WEBS 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:53 PM

Here's the details from the press release that is going 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.

by snoor | with no comments

The "Bigger" Big Easy Offer
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 5:21 AM

I'm hoping all of you are now familiar with the Big Easy offer, here's some new updates to the offer.  For those that may not be familiar, Big Easy is a "subsidy" that puts money in the partners' pocket.  There's links below (at bottom) if you need more info...

The Big Easy Offer just got bigger and better than ever. What that means for your customers is bigger choice and bigger value. What that means for you is a bigger sales opportunity.

In addition to the products and licenses that were already available, check out what's new:

Higher Subsidies*
For Windows Server® operating System and Small Business Server products

Open License and Software Assurance (L&SA) Coverage*
For the SQL Server®, Windows Server, and Small Business Server product groups

More Microsoft® Office Project*
The Project Open License is also now included.

*Applies to all qualifying purchases between February 1, 2008 through June 27, 2008.

Get the word out to your customers using the latest materials in the Big Easy Offer Ready-to-Go Campaign and other sales resources currently available.
To make your life easier, we have also built a new Excel calculator that will help you work out how much money your customers can save.

Ready to Go Campaigns

Big Easy Calculator

For additional information on The Bigger Big Easy Offer, visit
https://partner.microsoft.com/us/bigeasyoffer

*Offer open to qualifying U.S. commercial and government organizations participating in eligible licensing programs. Partner subsidy dollars will be awarded for qualified purchases between Feb. 1, 2008 and June 27, 2008. Purchases must be registered by July 31, 2008 and subsidy dollars expire 90 days after issue date.  Subsidy dollar amounts depend on many factors. For this information and minimum/maximum purchase requirements and other restrictions, see full terms & conditions at http://www.microsoftincentives.com/bigeasy/terms.aspx.

by snoor | with no comments

WPC Discounts for SBSCs
Wednesday, May 07, 2008 3:56 PM

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 7^th.

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.

by snoor | with no comments