We just made a significant announcement on Azure, our cloud computing platform at the so-called PDC event.
Read all about it:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/nov09/11-17pdc1pr.mspx
More on Azure: www.azure.com
http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/325494/review_sharepoint_server_2010_beta_pulls_it_all_together
This article gives some practical summaries of a few of the new features in Sharepoint 2010. I thought quite a nice read for partners wanting to see the headlines on some of the new features..
See the following from Long Zheng – so really nice demos from our research leader (Craig Mundie) on novel prototype user interaction, including eye tracking. I can’t wait for this stuff to become mainsteam !
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20091106/microsoft-college-tour-09/
We’ve just made some important announcements around availability (in new markets) and pricing for BPOS. You can read the detail here on the official press release and more on the official Online Services blog.
Note that given the local alliance with Telstra, Australian partners should wait for specific local information from Telstra on any further developments on the MS Online platform as delivered through T-Suite and not assume the worldwide announcements automatically flow through.
Partners should start with joining the LinkedIn Community that Kathryn Saducas is running.
Now Windows 7 is finally launched to everyone it’s time for partners to think about using this as a compelling event for new discussions with your customers. As you’d expect there is a ton of useful content to help you with positioning.
Start here: https://partner.microsoft.com/40084742?msp_id=Windows7
But the key thing to do immediately is use it internally. Whether you are Action Pack subscribers or Gold/Cert partners you have sufficient rights to give the software a really good run yourself and with your teams.
Then follow the link above and you’ll see some targetted content based on your business model. e.g. services partners go here: https://partner.microsoft.com/40103797
We’ve already done a fair amount of training for partners but also keep an eye on the training and readiness blog for up and coming courses and webcasts.
We launched Window Mobile v6.5 today – now called Windows Phone. Check out the new site for info on available devices in Australia and all the goodness in this important release for our mobile business – which itself will generate business opportunities for our partners.
www.windowsphone.com.au
And the worldwide press info is here: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/windowsphone/default.aspx
Daylight Savings changes in Western Australia – prepare now!
Daylight Savings time changes can have a significant impact on business performance if not dealt with proactively. Effects can range from the incorrect time display on the clock, to calendaring problems, to changes in business critical services that are time dependent. This year, Western Australians rejected by referendum a proposal to extend their trial of daylight savings. As a result there will be no daylight savings in WA this year or for the foreseeable future. The time change was scheduled for 25 October, but will no longer occur.
We need our partners’ help to ensure your customers are reviewing their preparedness for these changes. See the Australia 2009 Daylight Saving Planning Guide.
Thanks !
“In response to customer feedback, the Microsoft Online Services engineering team is developing the Outlook 2003 Connector. This is an Outlook add-in that will enable customers to use Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 to access all the features of Exchange Online. This includes free/busy information when setting up meetings, and the ability to access your organization’s global address list (GAL) from Outlook when you're offline. The add-in is currently in private beta testing with selected MVPs, Partners, and customers, and we’re ready to broaden the audience.”
More here:
http://blogs.technet.com/msonline/archive/2009/09/24/do-you-want-to-use-outlook-2003-with-exchange-online.aspx
From the local Windows Mobile team blog:
“The HTC Snap has been out for a while now through Telstra. The default configuration is set to take advantage of the new flat rate data plans – know as Microsoft Mobile Enterprise Solution (MMES) http://www.telstraenterprise.com/productsservices/mobility/officemobility/Pages/MicrosoftMobileEnterpriseSolution.aspx
We’ve been hearing that some customers are experiencing “difficulty” in setting up e-mail with the SNAP, so here’s the guide to getting Exchange ActiveSync setup if you’re not on the new Telstra plans (MMES).”
Continued here:
http://blogs.msdn.com/wmoz/archive/2009/09/17/htc-snap-activesync-setup-if-not-on-telstra-mmes-plans.aspx
Like the entire blogosphere, I wanted to check out Bing Visual Search for myself this morning. So I clicked on www.bing.com/visual search only to be disappointed with the following:
So I quickly changed the default country to the US ands voila, works fine ! This new Bing feature is just something you have to see ….
1. Click on country – top right hand side
2. Select US
3. From Bing home page just overwrite URL to be www.bing.com/visualsearch
4. And start searching your favourite of the initial categories – make sure you try your mouse scroll wheel…
CRN published the full list here – well done to all winners and finalists !
http://www.crn.com.au/News/154929,didata-four-time-winner-at-microsoft-channel-awards.aspx
Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Virtualisation Partner of the Year
- Winner: Jasco Consulting Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Hostworks Limited
- Finalist: Emantra Pty Ltd
Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Windows Desktop Deployment Partner of the Year
- Winner: Dimension Data
- Finalist: Gen-I Australia Pty Ltd
Business Intelligence Partner of the Year
- Winner: Hands-On Management Pty Ltd
- Finalist: IntelliMax Solutions Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Calumo Labs Pty Ltd
Competitive Partner of the Year
- Winner: Ensyst
- Finalist: Zap
Data Management Solutions Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Wardy IT Solutions Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Dimension Data
- Finalist: Calumo Labs Pty Ltd
Distributor Solution Partner of the Year:
Enterprise Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Dimension Data
- Finalist: Data#3 Limited
- Finalist: OBS
Environmental and Sustainability Solution Partner of the Year
Information Worker Solutions, Portal and Collaboration Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Unique World
- Finalist: Ensyst Pty Ltd
- Finalist: OBS
- Finalist: Avanade
Information Worker Solutions, Search Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Ensyst Pty Ltd
- Finalist: OBS
Information Worker Solutions, Office Deployment Partner of the Year:
ISV / Software Solutions Innovation Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Zap
- Finalist: Mobilise IT Pty Ltd
- Finalist: CDC Software
ISV / Software Solutions Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Brookstone Technologies Pty Limited
- Finalist: MYOB Australia Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Task Retail (NSW) Pty Ltd
Learning Partner of the Year:
- Winner: New Horizons Learning Centres Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Excom Education
- Finalist: Dimension Data Learning Solutions
Licensing Solutions, License Delivery Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Data#3 Limited
- Finalist: Dimension Data
- Finalist: Insight Enterprises Australia Pty Ltd
Licensing Solutions, Software Asset Management Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Dimension Data
- Finalist: Insight Enterprises Australia Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Data#3 Limited
Microsoft Dynamics, CRM Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Jaythom Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Oakton Services Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Professional Advantage Pty Ltd
Microsoft Dynamics, ERP Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Hands-on Systems
- Finalist: Eclipse Computing Australia Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Professional Advantage Pty Ltd
Microsoft Dynamics, Industry/Vertical Solution Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Eclipse Computing Australia Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Sable Systems
- Finalist: Scalable Data Systems Pty Ltd
Mobility Industry Solution Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Mobilise IT Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Retriever Communications Pty Ltd
Mobility Solutions Business Application Partner of the Year:
- Winner: LogicalTech
- Finalist: Mobilise IT Pty Ltd
Networking Infrastructure Solutions Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Solutionware Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Calvert Technologies
- Finalist: Comcity Technology Pty Ltd
Notes Transition Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Emantra Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Quest Software Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Thomas Duryea Consulting Pl
Public Sector Education Industry Solutions Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Ensyst Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Calumo Labs Pty Ltd
- Finalist: OBS
Public Sector Health Industry Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Fred Health Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Eclipse Computing Australia Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Senetas Corporation
Software+Services Hosting Partner of the Year:
- Winner: BlueFire Corporation
- Finalist: Emantra Pty Ltd
- Finalist: WebCentral, a Melbourne IT Company
Security Solution Partner of the Year:
Small Business Solution Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Comcity Technology Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Correct Solutions Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Evolve IT Australia
Unified Communications Partner of the Year:
- Winner: Jasco Consulting Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Gen-I Australia Pty Ltd
- Finalist: Empired Ltd
Community Impact Initiative Partner of the Year:
Deeps and the local TechNet team have scheduled the following virtual conference targetted at IT Professionals, both in customer and partner organisations. Looks like some very useful content for pre-sales and technical people in the partner base.
TechNet Virtual Conference Friday 25 September
10.00am-11.00am IT Manager Session: How Microsoft does IT: Save Time, Save Energy
This session is designed to demonstrate to customers how Microsoft IT uses our technologies internally, as well as other general best practices, to Save Time, Save Energy and Save Money for the company. Key themes such as using Unified Communications to improve employee productivity and reduce T&E expenses and our carbon footprint, using virtualization technology built natively into Windows Server 2008 to better utilize hardware and decrease power consumption in data centers, consolidation of data centers and infrastructure through Microsoft’s enabling technologies and Power Management features of Windows will be explored among other topics.
11.30am-12.30pm Desktop/End User Specialist Session: Windows 7 Manageability Solutions
This session will explore Windows 7 manageability features for increased automation, reducing help desk calls, and flexible administrator control. We will discuss how Windows Powershell V2.0 automates desktop administrative activities to improve productivity and how Group Policy and Group Policy Preferences enhancements and Applocker make it easier and more flexible for IT Professionals to manage desktop systems. Then we will discuss improvements to desktop auditing to monitor system changes and improvements in system restore capabilities. Finally, we will discuss Support tools such as built-in Windows Troubleshooting Packs, Problem Steps Recorder capabilities, Windows Recovery Environment, Startup Repair tool, Resource Monitor that provides detailed resource utilization, and Reliability Monitor that includes more robust capabilities to help identify and solve system issues.
1.00pm-2.00pm Line of Business/Applications Specialist Session: SQL Server Consolidation/Virtualisation
Microsoft SQL Server supports multiple options for server consolidation, providing organizations with the flexibility to choose the consolidation approach that best meets their requirements in order to centralize data services management and reduce hardware and maintenance costs. By providing centralized management, auditing, and monitoring capabilities, SQL Server makes it easy for you to manage multiple databases and data services, significantly reducing administrative overheads in large enterprises. SQL Server can provide you with the reassurance of industry-leading performance and scalability, and unprecedented control over server resource utilization to maximize the performance of your consolidated data services. Join this session to find out more about the various options for server consolidation with SQL Server, and best practices to get the most out of your environment.
2.30pm-3.30pm Infrastructure Specialist Session: Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 Group Policy Changes
This session will explore Group Policy enhancements in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. We will show you how Administrative template improvements make it easier to configure and Group Policy preference improvements to configure defaults for non-Group Policy-aware Windows components. Then we will discuss Starter GPO improvements and scripting Group Policy Objects using Windows Powershell Group Policy cmdlets.
Today we made the announcement that BPOS is now available for customers through Telstra’s T-Suite portal. This is of course an important milestone for partners keen to get old involved in the MS Online space.
Lots of discussion and information will be going on at partner conference on the Gold coast. Remember to join the LinkedIn group as a first step if you are interested in getting involved, as well as signing the MOSPA agreement and the Telstra partner agreement (“TOSA”).
http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media/announcements_article.cfm?ObjectID=45443
As per the Australia Partner blog:
“
Microsoft Action Pack Subscription Price Changes for Australia
On behalf of Microsoft I would like to thank everyone who has given us feedback over the past couple of years around the price of the Microsoft Action Pack for Australian Partners. I am happy to share with you that as of today Microsoft Corporate have reduced the price of the Microsoft Action Pack to
- Digital Distribution only - $396 Australian Dollars after tax
- Physical Media and Digital Distribution - $660 Australian Dollars after tax
”
http://blogs.msdn.com/auspartners/archive/2009/08/24/microsoft-action-pack-subscription-price-changes-for-australia.aspx
I hope that this is well received news – it’s something that has been raised as an issue for years and we are pleased to have got the change approved to ensure pricing is more compatible with that shown for US partners.
Let me know what you think via this blog in comments or mail.
