The Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 code name “R2” November Community Technology Preview (CTP) is now available on the Download Center.
We invite you to install this pre-release of the next version of Commerce Server 2009 “R2” into a non-production environment to learn how Commerce Server 2009 “R2” provides an improved business management experience, enhanced cross-channel enablement with multi-tier development and deployment support, and a more streamlined deployment experience.
The Commerce Server 2009 code name “R2” readme file and the Installation and Configuration Guide, can also be found on the Download Center.
Note: Given the pre-release nature of this release, not all functionality is currently available. The release is for evaluation purposes only and is not intended to be used in a production environment. The November CTP will not function after June 6, 2010.
The Commerce Server 2009 Evaluation VPC (November 2009 version) is now available for download to partners and customers. This VPC has Commerce Server 2009 and Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007 fully installed and configured (Core Systems, Multi-Channel Commerce Foundation, SharePoint Commerce Services), including the new Default site with the Template Pack running in SharePoint using the 30 new Web Parts.
No technological or content changes have been made to the November evaluation VPC; the trial license period of the evaluation software has simply been extended. This VPC is intended to be used only for evaluation and demonstration purposes. Approximately every 2-3 months the VPC will be updated and reposted to Microsoft Connect. You will need to fill in the survey to accept the license agreement in order to receive each new release of the VPC. Finally, if you are downloading the VPC from Microsoft Connect, please check your downloads folder for a copy of the VPC in 1 - 2 business days.
Download the latest VPC - complete with a demo script, sales collateral, samples and videos from Microsoft Connect.
The Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 code name “R2” October Community Technology Preview (CTP) is now available on the Download Center. This is the fourth pre-release build of the next version of Commerce Server.
We invite you to install this pre-release of the next version of Commerce Server 2009 “R2” into a non-production environment to learn how Commerce Server 2009 “R2” provides an improved business management experience, enhanced cross-channel enablement with multi-tier development and deployment support, and a more streamlined deployment experience.
The October CTP release includes the following:
• Assembly and namespace changes
• Quick Installation Guide
• Name change for the Contemporary Site
• Product version numbering change
The Commerce Server 2009 code name “R2” readme file and the Installation and Configuration Guide, can also be found on the Download Center.
Note: Given the pre-release nature of this release, not all functionality is currently available. The release is for evaluation purposes only and is not intended to be used in a production environment. The October CTP will not function after June 6, 2010.
If you are planning to attend the upcoming TechEd EMEA 2009 in Berlin, November 9-13, 2009 stop by our kiosk in the technical learning center (TLC) and say hello!
We are also holding a session on building custom e-commerce solutions with Commerce Server 2009.
Session: Build Custom E-Commerce Solutions Faster and Easier with Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 (OFS06-IS)
Presenter: Scott Cairney, Commerce Server Product Architect
Date: Tuesday November 10th, 2009
Time: 9:00-10:15 am
Room: Interactive Theatre 6 - Pink
Description: This session is targeted towards developers who want to build customised SharePoint e-commerce solutions faster and easier leveraging the robust functionality in Commerce Server 2009. Register for this session to learn: the new Multi-Channel Commerce Foundation or Common Programming Model; how to create RIAs using Microsoft Silverlight or create Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications for use in other non Web-based channels, like kiosks; how to extend or create custom entities using the Multi-Channel Commerce Foundation; and how to use these custom entities to integrate to third party or legacy systems.
For more information on TechEd EMEA, visit - http://www.msteched.com/europe/Public/default.aspx
We are pleased to announce the Commerce Server Most Valuable Professional (MVP) renewal for Ravi Kanth , Technical Architect at Accenture, India.
In addition to his active participation in the Forums, Ravi continues to share his knowledge and experience with Commerce Server in his blog.
Ravi holds a Masters Degree in Computer Applications from Madras University and has completed various certifications including MCSD, .NET, MCPDEA, MCTS (WSS & MOSS), CSQA and PMP. He also has expertise in a broad range of Microsoft products including BizTalk, Silverlight and Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server.
Congratulations Ravi. Thank you for your contributions to the Commerce Server Community!
The Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Conference October 19-22nd in Las Vegas will be the first and the best conference to get in depth training on SharePoint 2010, from upgrade and migration to the business value of new platform features and functionality.
If you are planning to attend the upcoming SharePoint 2010 Conference, check out our breakout session on "Enabling revenue-generating internet business with MOSS-FIS and Commerce Server" Wednesday October 21st at 2:45pm Breakers Ballroom 3.
The Commerce Server 2009 Evaluation VPC (September 2009 version) is now available for download.
This VPC has Commerce Server 2009 and Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007 (MOSS) fully installed and configured (Core Systems, Multi-Channel Commerce Foundation, SharePoint Commerce Services), including the new Default site with the Template Pack running in SharePoint using the 30 new Web Parts.
No technological or content changes have been made to the September evaluation VPC; the trial license period of the evaluation software has simply been extended. This VPC is intended to be used only for evaluation and demonstration purposes. Approximately every 2-3 months the VPC will be updated and reposted to Microsoft Connect. You will need to fill in the survey to accept the license agreement in order to receive each new release of the VPC. Finally, if you are downloading the VPC from Microsoft Connect, please check your downloads folder for a copy of the VPC in 1 - 2 business days.
Download the latest VPC - complete with a demo script, sales collateral, samples and videos from Microsoft Connect.
SharePoint enthusiast and Microsoft Certified Trainer in the Netherlands, Nick Boumans, has written an article on 'E-Commerce Using Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 and SharePoint' for Dutch .NET Magazine #3 (September 2009). The article discusses merits of using Commerce Server 2009 in building a SharePoint based e-commerce solution.
To download a copy of the article, visit Nick's blog: (English article) / (Dutch article).
For those that are interested, Cactus Commerce has added a second Commerce Server 2009 Developer Training course for partners, customers and Microsoft field November 3 – 5th, 2009 in Ottawa-Gatineau Quebec, Canada.
Endorsed by the Microsoft Commerce Server Product Unit, the 3-day Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 Developer Training course is designed with ASP.Net developers in mind. Students will learn the why, what and how of working with Commerce Server 2009 in a balanced format of ‘presentation, discussion and hands-on labs’. On completion of the course, students will have the knowledge to develop e-commerce solutions using the Commerce Server 2009 platform.
For more information or to register for the upcoming Commerce Server 2009 Developer Training course in Ottawa-Gatineau, Quebec from November 3 – 5th, 2009, visit http://www.cactuscommerce.com/services/Pages/cs09training.aspx
Note: Registrations for the September 29 - October 1, 2009 course is now closed.
Kraft Foods one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies with more than 270 consumer-facing Web sites around the world, wanted to standardize on a solution that would streamline the process of publishing Web content and reduce costs.
They implemented Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Server 2007 as its new strategic standard for Web content management, and is already running its largest Web sites on the new solution. Kraft is also harmonizing its e-commerce sites onto a single platform. Gevalia.com, the company’s first e-commerce site to run on Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Microsoft Commerce Server 2007, went live in July 2009 and is one of the first major Web sites to run both products under a single instance and architecture.
“The combination of Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Commerce Server 2007 gives us the technology footprint we need to expand and grow our e-commerce sites and businesses,” says Eddin Alvarado, Associate Director and lead of Global B2C eCommerce systems.
Understand how moving all of its Web sites to Office SharePoint Server 2007 by the end of 2010, gives Kraft a new global standard that will make its brand groups faster and more agile in their digital marketing efforts while reducing both IT costs and creative agency fees, read the complete case study.
The Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 code name “R2” August Community Technology Preview (CTP) is now available on the Download Center.
We invite you to install this pre-release of the next version of Commerce Server 2009 “R2” into a non-production environment to learn how Commerce Server 2009 “R2” provides an improved business management experience, enhanced cross-channel enablement with 3-tier development and deployment support, and a more streamlined deployment experience.
The August CTP release includes the following new features:
• Multi-tier development support
• Business Administration Ribbon
• Integrated template pack
• Configuration wizard
The Commerce Server 2009 code name “R2” readme file and the Installation and Configuration Guide, can also be found on the Download Center. Note: Given the pre-release nature of this release, not all functionality is currently available. The release is for evaluation purposes only and is not intended to be used in a production environment. The August CTP will not function after March 31, 2010.
Oxfam Great Britain is a leading, non-government agency that works with thousands of partner organizations around the world to help people living in poverty and promote social justice.
To help strengthen its brand and realize new sources of charitable donations, Oxfam Great Britain wanted to expand its e-commerce capabilities. They decided to implement Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 in order to build a scalable, retail portal at www.Oxfam.org.uk/shop.
Find out how Oxfam Great Britain's online store has become an even more vital channel for fundraising, read the complete case study today.
In response to a series of requests, Cactus Commerce has opened their Fall Instructor-led Commerce Server 2009 Developer Training course to customers.
The 3-day Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 Developer Training course is designed with ASP.Net developers in mind. Students will learn the why, what and how of working with Commerce Server 2009 in a balanced format of ‘presentation, discussion and hands-on labs’. On completion of the course, students will have the knowledge to develop e-commerce solutions using the Commerce Server 2009 platform.
For more information or to register for the upcoming Commerce Server 2009 Developer Training course in Gatineau, Quebec from September 29 – October 1st, 2009, visit http://www.cactuscommerce.com/services/Pages/cs09training.aspx
On July 2nd 2009 Europe’s largest brewery, Heineken, released a brand new version of its website www.heineken.nl in partnership full service web agency Virtual Affairs. This new website features integration of product content and catalogs from various business partners. It provides business partners such as Universal Music, the ability to manage orders, logistics, customer service and payments directly from the Heineken website.
Virtual Affairs implemented a fully integrated e-commerce platform based on Microsoft® Commerce Server 2007 and Microsoft SharePoint® Services 3.0. In addition, Windows Communication Foundation, which comes out of the box with the .NET platform, is used to link internal and external processes between Heineken and its partners. A key element to the website’s success is real-time processing. "A customer who orders tickets from the website has to be sure that these tickets are actually available,” says Rutger Beens, architect of the website. SharePoint Services is used as the rich content management system to allow manual content entry, for example, listing events on the music calendar. Rutger continues “Today’s websites provide customers with rich and relevant content, and they require continuous updates, which has a huge impact on the content management processes. With Microsoft Commerce Server and Sharepoint Services, we have found a technical solution that includes our business partners in this process and significantly lowers our operational costs".
While the website currently uses Adobe® Flash, the aim is to switch to Silverlight TM in the near future. “The overall use of Adobe Flash as the standard consumer browser is currently higher. The number of Silverlight users is catching up though.” says Beens. He expects that many website visitors will soon have the Silverlight plug-in installed. "With the World Cup Soccer coming up in 2010, we would like to offer video on our site. Silverlight is the perfect technology for this purpose”.
For more information in Virtual Affairs, visit http://www.virtual-affairs.com/
Based in Montreal, Future Electronics is a leader and innovator in the distribution and marketing of semiconductors, passives components, interconnect, solid state lighting and electromechanical products.
To meet is business growth plans, Future Electronics wanted to update the technology that powers its intranet and e-commerce Web site and attract new customers, increase the size and frequency of orders, and boost the number of unique products in its inventory and raise awareness of its offerings.
Working with Microsoft Gold Certified technology partner Orckestra, Future Electronics implemented Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007 and Microsoft Commerce Server 2007.
See how Future Electronics is using Web technology to help its people complete tasks that used to take weeks in a matter of minutes, and position the company for exciting new business opportunities.
Video case study.
