Jeremy's World of Random Stuff

Partner Library

jpalmer — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:44:42 GMT

In the months ahead, the Partner Library will feature a series of articles which are designed not to be fluffy exercises in marketing rhetoric, but an honest and analytical approach to the challenges and opportunities faced by our partners; the positive impact of partnership; the new technologies that offer new sales opportunities; and also a look at areas where we are focusing our efforts to improve partner experience.

The first three articles include a piece by-lined by Gordon Frazer discussing how we’re evolving to improve partner experiences of working with Microsoft. This content is available to Microsoft Certified and Gold Certified Partners.

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server - Monthly Partner Live Meeting

jpalmer — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:37:22 GMT

We're trailing a monthly event to update our partner channel on what's new in the world of Microsoft Office Enterprise Project Management. To attend you must be a Microsoft Certified or Gold Certified Partner holding the Information Worker competency. To register, visit the Partner Learning Centre.

I look forward to seeing you online soon!

Install Windows SharePoint Services on Windows Vista

jpalmer — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:15:39 GMT

There have been a few gumbles over the years about the fact that you're unable to run Windows SharePoint Services on Windows Vista. Personally, it doesn't present too much of an issue for me, I just run any server applications that I need to run on my laptop in Microsoft Virtual PC.

If you're a SharePoint Developer perhaps, and you want to have a go at installing Windows SharePoint Services on Windows Vista, you can find a setup helper and full instructions over at Bamboo Solutions.

Please note that this isn't supported by Microsoft. Enjoy at your own peril!

Microsoft Office Enterprise Project Management - Monthly Partner Live Meeting

jpalmer — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:41:36 GMT

I look forward to seeing you online soon!

The New Microsoft Sales Toolkit Is Here!

jpalmer — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:54:58 GMT

The new edition of the Microsoft Sales Toolkit has now arrived. This edition runs from June to December ‘08 and has been updated to include the new 2008 products. This edition has been automatically sent to partners who have subscribed online. Additional copies can be ordered from www.microsoft.com/uk/gearup - there is also an electronic version available for download.

What is the Sales Toolkit?

The Microsoft Sales Toolkit is your partners’ source for driving sales. It is the licensing and sales 'product handbook' that helps partners generate up-sell and cross-sell opportunities, giving you and your Partners information on the full portfolio of Microsoft products and services. You can find information on what the product is, how to sell it, relevant SKU numbers and FAQs.

Developers Guide to Web Content Management Training

jpalmer — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:52:38 GMT

The Partner Readiness Team is pleased to announce the release of the “The Developers Guide to Web Content Management” course. This five day training course is designed to provide SharePoint developers with the basic and intermediate information and skills they need to extend, customize, and deploy a Web content management (WCM) publishing site implementation. The primary audience for this course is SharePoint developers who are responsible for the successful implementation of a WCM site.

Deliveries will take place on the 16^th June and the 30^th June, at Combined Knowledge in Leicestershire.

For more information or to enrol, please use this link: https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search_adv.aspx?ssid=6d49d9f3-a95c-4f4d-8a30-da2c3299bec0&site=UK&lang=en-uk

If you have any problems enrolling, please contact our helpdesk on 0870 8509442, or by email on ukplcsup@microsoft.com.

Partner Bot – download and you could win £1,000 in Capital Bonds vouchers

jpalmer — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:08:36 GMT

Partner Bot is an Instant Messenger 'data digger', which quickly retrieves partner-related information and shows you where you can find the answers you need. Add Partner Bot as a buddy in your Windows Live Messenger contacts and it will always be available whenever you're logged in. Simply type in your question and Partner Bot will bring back an instant response. Whether you're looking for support options, searching for competitive information or want to learn more about competencies, ask Partner Bot and it will point you in the right direction.

Currently, if you add Partner Bot to your contacts and then type this question in the conversation window: 'I want to ask Partner Bot the £1,000 question', you could be in with a chance to win £1,000 in Capital Bonds vouchers. Follow the link and submit your question.

Or simply enter here: http://www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/botchallenge. The closing date of this promotion is April 28 2008.

Microsoft Partner Programme Kick Start Course

jpalmer — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:44:17 GMT

The KickStart courses have been so popular with partners, we’ve scheduled even more dates to meet the demand. Make sure you forward this email to your partners and ensure they book on. Feedback from previous courses showed 100% of the attendees were satisfied:

“I could have done with this course 12-18 months ago when we first became a gold partner!” Alliance Systems, MBS Gold Partner.

“A very informative and worthwhile training event...I found it extremely useful, making over 5 pages of notes” MidlandHR, Certified Partner

The course covers the following:
Using the Partner Portal
Navigating the Partner Membership Centre
Managing Your Competency Information
Making the most of your Programme Benefits
How to find Information more Easily
Ask the Expert

Register using the Partner Learning Centre – course code 44WK018

www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/plc (to find the training course, keyword search for 44WK018)

Note: You must first signin to the Partner Learning Centre using your Windows Live ID.

Intended Audience:

Key partner dedicated administrators within the business. Any other personnel who would like to be trained up on the tools and resources we offer on our partner portal. Open to all partners, but some sections will be specific to Certified and Gold partner tasks.

Training Dates for 2008:

~~10^th April @ TVP~~ Fully Booked

16^th April @ Manchester

17^th April @ Liverpool

29^th April @ TVP NEW DATE!

~~13^th May @ TVP~~ Fully Booked

12^th June @ TVP

New EPM Partner VPC Available

jpalmer — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:19:45 GMT

If you’re a Microsoft Certified or Gold Certified Partner selling Microsoft Enterprise Project Management solutions, you might be interested in getting hold of the latest EPM Virtual PC.

Partners can get a copy using their existing account and the Jetstream application; new partners can register on our partner site to request access:

https://partner.microsoft.com/US/program/competencies/iwsolutions/40029164

VPC size is now 18GB unzipped and 7GB zipped (13 files of 585MB).

Based on your feedback we have made the following improvements to the demo VPC:

Improved the Project Server meta data (moved the data forward to 2008 onward, added timesheet data for the first six months, cleanup extra data…)
Created performance dashboards using Excel Services and SQL Server Reporting Services:
Corporate level dashboard
Departmental level dashboard
Resource Manager dashboards
Capacity Planning Views
Timesheet Scorecard
Project level Storyboard
Created a new demo that walks the audience through the Create, Select, Plan and Manage governance phases highlighting the capabilities of the EPM Solution (both Project Server 2007 and Project Portfolio Server 2007). The main improvement is that we are focusing on telling a PPM story vs. demoing functionality in isolation
Highlight MOSS Integration
Dashboards (Excel Services)
Document Workflow
Indexed Project Server data using Business Data Catalog and Enterprise Search
PerformancePoint Server/ProClarity Analytics Server Integration
In this release we have installed and the necessary Business Intelligence applications to build extensive dashboards. We’ll be working with the PPS/ProClarity team to build an updated version of the VPC that will demonstrate the full capabilities of these products.

We have created a new demo script (72 pages included in the image on the desktop) that will allow you to successfully navigate through the demo image.

We will schedule two webcast for the 9th of April 2008 (Wednesday at 8am and 5pm PST) where we will demo some of the new capabilities and answer any of your questions (invites will go out tomorrow).

We hope that the improvements in the demo will better support your sales engagements!

Next steps

During next two months we will be releasing additional VPCs for:

Innovation Management
Capital Planning and Investment Control solutions
All Up BI VPC with EPM 2007

Please do not hesitate in contacting me if you have any questions.

2009 MCT Renewals – Enrolment Now Live!

jpalmer — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:05:41 GMT

If, like me, you’re a Microsoft Certified Trainer, the 2009 programme enrolment is now open for business! Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) are the premier technical and instructional experts in Microsoft products, technologies, and solutions. To ensure a superior learning experience for our customers, MCTs are the only individuals that Microsoft authorises to deliver training that is based on Official Microsoft Learning Products or Microsoft Dynamics Learning Products for the MCT program.

Microsoft SharePoint is Taking Business By Storm

jpalmer — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:43:05 GMT

There’s a really interesting article published over at Network World about how Microsoft Office SharePoint Server is becoming the IT industry’s must have technology.

Windows Server 2008 Certification Live Meetings

jpalmer — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:32:22 GMT

Windows Server 2008 Certification: From the Beginning

After all of the exams are available, we’ll help you put all the pieces together, create an exam roadmap for Windows Server 2008 certification, and answer your questions about your particular situation. Register for:

23rd April 2008 15:30 GMT

Microsoft Learning Live Meetings

jpalmer — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:31:03 GMT

If you’re wondering what Microsoft Certifications are all about and how to get started, why not attend the Certification 101 Live Meeting titled Getting Started with Microsoft Certification.

Audience: IT Professionals, developers who think they might like to get certified, but aren't sure it's right for them and/or aren't sure where to start. People who have never taken a Microsoft exam and work with Microsoft products, or people who will be working with Microsoft in the very near future.

Registration: Join the Microsoft Certified Professional team to learn about the benefits and process of getting certified: choosing a certification path, preparing for your first exam, taking an exam, and what to expect after that. Click to register for:

9th April 2008 15:30 GMT

Marathon Training – Week 13 Update

jpalmer — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:42:16 GMT

Sorry for the lack of updates over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been suffering from Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS). Luckily after a few trips to the physiotherapist and 2 new pairs of custom built foot orthotics, I’m back running again. Yesterday, Eddie, Sophie, Nicky and I ran 22 miles, up to Greenwich, through the Greenwich Foot Tunnel crossing the River Thames and along the North Bank, across Tower Bridge and back to South London. So the longest training run is now out of the way.

I’m still collecting sponsorship for Help the Hospices, so if you’re able to sponsor me, you can do so via Just Giving.

It’s an Ideal World!

jpalmer — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:33:55 GMT

I’ve always had a hidden desire to appear on a home shopping channel, and I got my chance this weekend. I appeared 4 times on Ideal World with MESH computers to demonstrate Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 as part of the “Pick of the Day" this weekend.

I got to work with Janice, Ideal World’s guest technology presenter who did a great job of showing off the wonders of Windows Vista Home Premium in all of its glory. Here are a few photos from my 2 days spent in snowy Peterborough!