Official Microsoft Partner Network Blog

Brisbane – No cost, SMB Exam Cram: Office 365 and Windows Server 2012 + complementary exam voucher

2013-05-16T23:38:12Z

Here’s a great opportunity for SMB partners in Brisbane!

Microsoft is providing a no-cost*, in-person, two day exam cram. Delivered by Mark O’Shea; Windows Expert - IT Pro MVP and Robert Crane; Microsoft Office 365 MVP, this course is designed to prepare attendees to sit and pass exams; 70-410: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 (Day 1) and 74-324: Administering Office 365 for Small Business (Day 2).

All attendees will receive a complementary exam voucher to sit Exam 74-324.

Session details:

Microsoft Brisbane, Level 28, 400 George Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

Day 1 - Monday, 27th May (70-410: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012)
Day 2 - Tuesday, 28th May (74-324: Administering Office 365 for Small Business)

Duration: 9am – 5pm each day. Registration will begin at 8.30am.

Wi-Fi, drinks, sandwiches and snacks will be provided.

Want to stay up to date with this and other upcoming SMB training? Join the MS-SMB-Partners Yammer group!

The Australia Partner Conference Early Bird Ticket Pricing Ends TODAY (17th May 2013)

2013-05-16T22:23:51Z

The Australia Partner Conference (APC) is Australia’s biggest annual gathering and celebration of Microsoft Partners. Now in its 21st year, the event delivers Microsoft Partners with the roadmap and inspiration to activate and drive joint business over the coming year.

It is the best forum to meet with Microsoft experts. There are countless opportunities to strengthen existing relationships, foster new alliances and form meaningful connections with Microsoft staff and like-minded Partners.

This year the APC will be in Cairns, QLD from 20th to 22nd August 2013. Early bird pricing ends TODAY – 17th May 2013 – if you haven’t registered already visit the website for more info and registration.

DEVICES AND DEPLOYMENT – May Readiness Update

2013-05-16T21:04:00Z

New Practice Accelerator offering!
Practice Accelerator for Flexible Workstyle, designed to help you build a practice around deploying Windows 8, is now available.

Win a Lumia 920 with Microsoft Action Pack!

2013-05-15T23:10:55Z

Enrol or Renew in a Microsoft Action Pack subscription (MAPs) during May in 2013 for your chance to win one of five Nokia Lumia 920's!

Microsoft Action Pack subscriptions allow your business to stay current with the latest versions of key Microsoft technologies, such as; Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2013, Windows 8 Pro and Windows Server 2012, for a low annual fee.

Choose the subscription that best meets your business needs, both come with up to ten internal use licenses for key Microsoft software:

MAPs Solution Provider ($340*)

Action Pack Solution Provider is for partners who build, install, and service solutions on the Microsoft platform.

Explore benefits (Includes TechNet)
Order now

MAPs Development & Design ($440*)

Action Pack Development and Design is for partners who test, design, and develop innovative applications and web solutions.

Explore benefits (Includes 3x MSDN with Visual Studio 2012)
Order now

How to win
To be in the running to win one of six Nokia Lumia 920 handsets; enrol or renew in a MAPs Solution Provider or Development & Design subscription during the month of May, 2013. Answer the following question in 100 words or less:

“What would you like to see Microsoft Australia do to better serve it's Partners?”

Please send entries to mapsAU@microsoft.com, making sure to include your name, email address and phone number, plus your organisation’s name and MPN ID. Entries close 11:59pm (AEST), 31 May, 2013. Terms & Conditions.

*Prices correct as of 01/05/2013

DATA PLATFORM – May Readiness Update

2013-05-14T21:03:00Z

No-cost Exam Preps for SQL Server 2012!

Do you know about the 90 Days to MCSA program? It’s a plan of action with a focus on Windows Server and SQL Server that includes free Exam Preps, a clear roadmap, tools, and community support. Make a commitment to yourself and get started today. Includes training for Exams 70-461, 70-462, and 70-463.

Receive up to $1,500 FastCash with Office 365

2013-05-13T03:51:44Z

Here's an excellent opportunity for Australian Office 365 partners –

Introducing FastCash 365

For a limited time** only, you could enjoy the benefits of Office 365 and receive up to $1,500 FastCash when you sign-up to a new Office 365 plans.

PLANS		FASTCASH 365 AMOUNT
PLANS		RRP*	0-4 seats	5-15 seats	16-30 seats	31+ seats
	Small Business Premium	$13.50	$0	$250	$0	n/a
	Enterprise E1	$12.70	$0	$250	$750	$1,500
	Midsize Business	$16.50	$0	$250	$750	$1,500
	Enterprise E3	$33.30	$0	$250	$750	$1,500

View full terms and conditions and full details about this offer, please click here.

* RRP is per user per month
** Offer valid from April 29^th to May 31^st, 2013

CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT – May Readiness Update

2013-05-12T21:01:00Z

You could close Microsoft Dynamics CRM sales faster Whether you are a sales or a presales technical consultant, you can leverage online
training courses and assessments to help improve your Microsoft Dynamics CRM expertise. The Sales Specialist accreditations also count toward your company’s Microsoft Partner Network competency. Learn about the Microsoft solution selling process, tips on how to sell Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, the Sure Step customer engagement methodology, and competing effectively against Salesforce – choose
from the sales or presales links above.

COMMUNICATIONS – May Readiness Update

2013-05-09T20:59:00Z

New Lync 2013 sales course and learning paths
A new seven-module sales training is now available on-demand. The training covers the following topics:

Understanding the Microsoft opportunity
Accelerating your sales cycle with an effective demo
How Microsoft programs can help
Understanding Lync licensing
Working with Microsoft to sell Lync solutions
Engaging the partner ecosystem
Winning against the competition

You can access the on-demand recordings and downloadable presentation materials decks through the Lync 2013 sales and presales technical learning paths.

These training modules will also be used as the basis for new Lync 2013 assessments for the Communications competency, to be available in June. The 2013 assessments will replace the 2010 assessments and become mandatory beginning in October.

Windows Azure Partner Training Webinars

2013-05-08T12:36:14Z

Please join us for this series of Partner webinars delivered by our Global Partner Services Team. You will learn about the many new features available in Windows Azure as well as the opportunities for Microsoft Partners.
You may either register for the series or for an individual session.

<updated the list with registration links>

Session Title	Objective	Date & Time	Registration link
WINDOWS AZURE OVERVIEW	You will receive a high level understanding about all of the services that are part of the Windows Azure platform.	16 May, 2pm-4pm	Register now >
INTRODUCTION TO INFRASTRUCTURE AS A SERVICE	You will learn about The Cloud Landscape • Types of Cloud offerings • Introduction to Windows Azure VMs • Understanding regions and Affinity groups • Creating Virtual Machines • The Virtual Machine Costing structure • Demo: Host a load balanced ASP.NET application	23 May, 2pm-4pm	Register now >
AZURE STORAGE	You will learn about Windows Azure Storage Concepts • Using Tables • Using Blobs • Using Queues • Monitoring storage from Management	30 May, 2pm-4pm	Register now >
MIGRATING WORKLOADS TO AZURE VIRTUAL MACHINES	How to deploy apps to VMs to Windows Azure	6 June, 2pm-4pm	Register now >
BUILDING HYBRID APPS	You will learn the various scenarios our customers face and what tools and techniques are available.	13 June, 2pm-4pm	Register now >
SITE TO SITE VIRTUAL NETWORKS	You will learn about how to setup and configure a Vnet,build hybrid solutions using VPNs to connect to data on premises. A way to reduce your storage and archive costs with a cloud solution that can save you 60 - 80% compared to your current costs? · A more effective, cost efficient way to manage BIG file archives and repositories (SharePoint)? · A more effective, cost efficient way to manage the massive amount of content in BIG file shares? · A way to replace tape as a means of offsite data protection - backup and restore?	20 June, 2pm-4pm	Register now >

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE – May Readiness Update

2013-05-07T20:56:00Z

No-cost Exam Preps for SQL Server 2012!