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December 2006 - Posts

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
I'd like to take this chance to wish all our partners happy christmas and a humming new year in terms of business ! For us the excitement continues with the General Availability launch (GA) in January - watch this space for info about how partners can Read More...
KN to be released as a Tech Preview
http://blogs.msdn.com/kn/ "We are announcing a change to the distribution and support model for KN. Our new plan is to release KN as a Technical Preview rather than as a supported product feature of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. As a Technical Read More...
Learn about the new Microsoft.com website
http://www.microsoft.com/about/mspreview/en/us/abouthomepage.mspx Shows off the scalability of MOSS plus of course the creative freedom you get versus Content Management Server. And of course, please do check out the new website: Read More...
Microsoft Expands Scope and Partner Benefits of Security Software Advisor Program
We've just announced enhancements to the benefits associated with the Security Software Advisor (SSA) program. My team will be leading the building of this initiative with our partners in Australia over the next few months, so watch this space for more Read More...
Small Business Specialists - some forthcoming news
If you are a Small Business Specialist you'll no doubt know that Bill Vlandis, who did such a great job building the community and delivering value to the program, left us recently to join the corporate HQ. Well I am pleased to say we have finalised on Read More...
Infrastructure Optimzation Learning Path
This came in from the US today - a great summary of training resources for partners to learn the next level of details on IO. Note resources such as MSPTR.com are only for Gold partners, but the online training is available to all. Remember to always Read More...
New announcements this week - HP Alliance and Robotics Studio
Amongst others, two very interesting and unconnected announcements were made this week: 1. Introducing HP & Microsoft Solutions for the People-Ready Business " REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 13, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”) and HP (NYSE “HPQ,” Nasdaq Read More...
OSYCI website - driving customers to partners
This went live a few weeks ago - it's the customer-facing campaign website for optimising infrastructure, and as with almost all of our customer-facing marketing, there is a 'find a partner' call to action (see the right hand side): http://www.microsoft.com/australia/business/coreinfra/default.msp Read More...
Mark the dates for PDC 2007
Via Mary Jo: "Microsoft developers, start your engines. The 2007 Professional Developers Conference is now booked for October 2 through 5 in Los Angeles. Expect Longhorn Server and Visual Studio "Orcas" to be the stars of the show, this time around. You Read More...
Virtual Earth Updates
There are some amazing things continually happening on the VE platform, typically surfacing in local.live.com of course. Keep an eye on the VE blog for the latest. How about this shot of the Leaning Tower of Pisa for example, delivered via the Birds Eye Read More...
US Vista TV ad for partners
Read More...
Performance Point getting closer - another new opportunity for partners
A few days old this, but still worth highlighting: " REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 5, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the release of the first community technology preview (CTP) for its integrated performance management application Microsoft ® Office PerformancePoint™ Read More...
New EVO site for partners
If you attended any of the partner roadshows recently then you will have heard of the newly launched EVO site : the one stop hub for all things for partners to do with Vista, Office and Exchange. Training links, beta downloads, resources to help you sell Read More...
Get an Early Start with the forthcoming specialisations
There are some interesting new specialisations slated for launch within the partner program, and for some of them we have launched initiatives to help you get ready in advance of their launch. For fast moving partners this will give you competitive advantage Read More...
Reminder - get 40% off MS Press books
An email went round today and it prompted me to remind everyone - all Gold and Certified partners can get 40% off MS Press books. Just contact Woodslane, our distributor, and they will tell you how. Read More...
Windows Vista Screencast on Search
Via Angus : Jeff Alexander has posted a great item on showing you how the new search folders feature works on Vista - it's just awesome by the way. Already I couldn't live without it :-) http://blogs.technet.com/jeffa36/archive/2006/12/11/windows-vista-screencast-search.asp Read More...
More live MOSS 2007 sites
Via Mark: LloydsTSB - www.shareview.co.uk - built by Conchango Corgi - www.trustcorgi.com - built by ArtemisCorp Great to see real life examples going live.... Read More...
New features in the latest WLW build
As readers will know, I use Windows Live Writer (WLW) to post entries to my blog, as do many people. On the WLW team blog they have just announced a new build with some nice new features: "This update to Windows Live Writer 1.0 (Beta) features: Tagging Read More...
Blogging using WSS3.0
Most of the technical people know this already but for sales and marketing partner representatives I think it's useful to reinforce the fact that Windows Sharepoint Services 3.0 provides a new blogging platform built in. Some example sites: · http://www.wssdemo.com/blog Read More...
New Goodies on MSPTR.com
I'll say it again, MSPTR.com is an amazing and yet underutilised resource. Here is the latest update of content on there for Gold partners (it is an exclusive benefit for Gold partners and not available to certified or registered). " The Early Sessions Read More...
MOSS 2007 - Free Online Training Course
Via Mark Harrison: "Currently free ... Clinic 5046: Inside Look at Building and Developing Solutions with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 " Read More...
Introducing Partner Skills Plus - a huge investment in helping partners build competency and capacity
We recently announced this new initiative at the partner roadshows (whihc finish with Canberra this Thursday). A US$30m worldwide investment in helping partners raise their levels of staff certification and associated capaiblity: "Partner Skills Plus Read More...
Bank of the future - concept video...
I like this, from James Senior http://blogs.technet.com/james/archive/2006/12/01/if-microsoft-was-a-bank.aspx Read More...
Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats
As we see the uptake of Office 2007 grow now the products have RTM'd it's possible some people will send files in the new file formats to those who don't have the 2007 versions installed. Never fear - we have a cunning plan. You can install the "Microsoft Read More...
Knowledge Network Update
This new solution (add on to MOSS 2007) for finding people in an organisation truly fascinates me, so today I finally installed the beta clilent (unfortunately not publically available yet as far as I can tell - more info on this topic on the KN Blog) Read More...
Friday good news - ECMA approve Open XML as a standard
(Originally posted on my old blog on a friday :-) ) I love good news on a Friday - always has a greater impact ! So here is today's particularly good news for us and our partners: " REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 7, 2006 — Today Ecma International approved Office Read More...
3D virtual earth video..
For those that haven't quite got round to installing the 3D additions for local.live.com you can see what you are missing here - shows the opera house and Stadium Australia. http://www.soulsolutions.com.au/Blog/tabid/73/EntryID/72/Default.aspx Read More...
Microsoft Introduces Expression Studio, Enhances Family of Professional Design Tools
" REDMOND, Wash. — Dec 4, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. today announced significant product line enhancements along with pricing and availability of the Microsoft ® Expression ® Studio for creative professionals. The quality of user experience is emerging as Read More...
For ISVs and Developers: Microsoft Launches Connected Services Sandbox
" HONG KONG — Dec. 4, 2006 — Today at ITU Telecom World 2006, Microsoft Corp. launched the Connected Services Sandbox, a new program designed to unite independent software vendors (ISVs), developers, systems integrators (SIs), network equipment providers Read More...
OSCI Security Opportunities Live Meeting - Sign Up Today
Following up from the last Live Meeting, we heard a lot of feedback that you would like a dedicated session about security, how to position, and the offerings available for you. Security is a key component to the OSCI campaign and you are invited to this Read More...
New training and readiness schedule announced for new products
http://www.microsoft.com/australia/partner/training/readiness_2.aspx Includes course for search deep dive on MOSS, BizTalk, and security products (and much more !). Read More...
SteveV to move to Seattle
Mixed feelings for many of us as Steve has been a great leader for the MS Australia business, but as I said repeatedly on the partner roadshow, there is an area of our business which is 'hot hot hot' and Steve has taken an awesome opportunity to drive Read More...
New initiative from IAMCP - softwarebizexchange.com
IAMCP=International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners "Hello! Thanks for stopping by SoftwareBizExchange, an exciting new community brought to you by the IAMCP. This is the place for software business decision-makers to network and collaborate Read More...
Adding Live Search to your customers' websites
No need to use the old Google free search for your customers' websites, why not look into Live.com search ? http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnlive/html/BuildSearch.asp http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=206F8CC4-2183-4B2C-8248-18FB1AF34F23&displaylang=e Read More...
New home for my blog
Hi All After a very successful first phase of blogging with my Microsoft-partner-aimed blog, I wanted to move it over to the MSDN blogging platform. I love the Live Spaces environment but there are some killer advantages for my particular blog of leveraging Read More...
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