Reaching Out to Microsoft Partners in Australia : Marketing

BPOS Worldwide Announcements

nickmayhew — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:09:27 GMT

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.

Meet the new Windows Phone

nickmayhew — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:09:16 GMT

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

Microsoft Online Store Goes Live in Australia

nickmayhew — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:09:55 GMT

http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/321112/microsoft_sells_software_direct_via_internet?fp=16&fpid=1

See : www.microsoftstore.com.au

What do you think about this as a partner ? Send me a mail – I am keen to know your views…

Bing Visual Search – how to make it work in Australia

nickmayhew — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:43:06 GMT

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…

Congrats to all partner conference award winners

nickmayhew — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:02:00 GMT

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:

Express Data Holdings

Enterprise Partner of the Year:

Winner: Dimension Data
Finalist: Data#3 Limited
Finalist: OBS

Environmental and Sustainability Solution Partner of the Year

Dataract

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:

Winner: Dimension Data

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:

Winner: Data#3 Limited

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:

Winner: OBS

Australian Partner Award Finalists Announced

nickmayhew — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:13:03 GMT

Sarah Arnold has just announced the finalists in our local partner awards. Congratulations to everyone recognised and good luck for the final announcements:

http://blogs.msdn.com/auspartners/archive/2009/08/11/australia-partner-awards-finalist-announced.aspx

Licensing 101 Breakfast Events for partners

nickmayhew — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:22:45 GMT

Learn about Microsoft Licensing over breakfast, and help your business grow. It's back by popular demand: Licensing 101. Due to the positive feedback we received after our last licensing training session, we're running a repeat session - to help you drive licensing revenue in the SMB space.

This practical Licensing 101 session will help you:

Identify the key Microsoft technologies driving revenue growth.
Get an overview of Microsoft's licensing programs, and understand how you can effectively sell Microsoft licensing to your customers.
Improve customer satisfaction and drive your revenue, by identifying the right licensing solution for your customers.

Who is this session created for?
Any Microsoft Partner who is new to licensing - especially OEM and FPP resellers looking to drive revenue by selling basic volume licensing.

Don't miss this great opportunity to drive revenue for your business.

Event details
Melbourne
Tuesday 18 August 8:30am – 10am, Microsoft Office, Exhibition Room
Sydney
Wednesday 19 August 8:30am – 10am, Microsoft Office, Theatres 2 and 3
Brisbane
Friday 21 August, 8:30am – 10am, Microsoft Office, Theatre 1

Note: Registration and breakfast for all events starts at 8am.
All other states
There will be a complimentary webcast on Tuesday 25 August.

New Telstra Mobile Plan – for your customers

nickmayhew — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:44:15 GMT

This is one of the latest (and first) tangible deliverables from the Telstra-Microsoft alliance, but with much more coming in the next few weeks and months !

Here is the customer-facing announcement:

“Better manage your mobility costs with Telstra.

If you're looking to extend mobile access to your employees while leveraging your existing investment in Microsoft Exchange 2003 (or higher), the Microsoft Mobile Enterprise Solution from Telstra brings it all together. Suitable for businesses with compatible Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphones, it features a choice of two plans both with a predictable, fixed monthly fee - making it easier to budget.

For more details visit http://www.telstrabusiness.com/business/portal/online/site/productsservices/microsoftmobileenterprisesolution.196001

“

Now you have the opportunity to provide value to your Exchange-based customers, by introducing them to this offer, and create a business opportunity for yourselves by a potential roll out of Windows Mobile (thus opening up the pipeline for custom business applications built and delivered by partners) on the Telstra network.

Bing & Google via ZDNET :-)

nickmayhew — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:28:08 GMT

A bit of fun here via the ZDNet Ratbags team:

WPC Highlights

nickmayhew — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:07:06 GMT

Don’t forget to check out Digital WPC for all the goodies from last week’s WPC. I’ve been watching the keynotes in the past few days for example. There is lots of content up on the site including all the other sessions and importantly you can find out more on the details of the Microsoft Partner Network announcements.

New website for the “services-ready” program is live

nickmayhew — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:10:57 GMT

New website for the “services-ready” program is live here: www.microsoft.com/servicesready

This is a program we’ve been running for a while now, offering access to packaged IP for partners, for you to deliver solutions to customers in a lower risk and more profitable business model.

Congratulations Computercorp! Winners of the “I’m Open” initiative

nickmayhew — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:47:50 GMT

As part of the recent Microsoft “I’m Open” campaign for Resellers, Microsoft ran a promotion where each new Open Value customer agreement signed between February and April 2009 earned a reseller an entry into a draw to win AUS$20,000! We are pleased to announce that Computercorp was the winning reseller! Congratulations Computercorp! We look forward to working with you to offer the great benefits of Open Value licensing to more customers in the future.

Well done and please do investigate reselling Open Value if you don’t already. Find out more here.

Australian Partner Conference Awards – get your entry in !

nickmayhew — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:53:57 GMT

Hurry! You have just two weeks left to enter your submission in the Microsoft Australia Partner of the Year Awards. Entries close 24th June 2009, and award finalists will be announced on 10th August 2009, so make sure you submit your solution as soon as possible.

This year there are 30 award categories.

Don’t miss this chance to:

Receive your award in front of the Microsoft Partner community - at the popular Partner of the Year Gala dinner.
Gain press coverage in a Microsoft press release about the awards, and the October issue of Qantas Magazine.
Feature on the Find A Partner homepage.
Gain use of a web part and email signature promoting your business as an award winner.
Provide a testimonial about the award, and feature on Partner TV.

Submit today

Voices for Innovation – have your say

nickmayhew — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:44:32 GMT

Education, healthcare, innovation, the environment, the digital economy are all key policy issues at the heart of the political agenda for governments - local, state and federal. This means that the Australian technology industry will be affected by decisions made by government in areas such a procurement, privacy, technology standards, infrastructure, interoperability, intellectual property and accessibility to name a few. Given their role as both policy maker and the largest purchasers of ICT in the country, it is essential for government to remain informed and advised on the progress of technology and its contribution to business development, job creation, education, and government services.

Microsoft Australia regularly engages with governments, academics, thought leaders and regulators on policy development and would welcome the input of our partners. We want to have a complete picture of how regulation and legislation will affect our industry, but importantly how the technology industry can assist government in promoting choice, innovation and economic development.

Voices for Innovation (VFI) is one way for you to get engaged, keep informed and to connect with other members of the industry on issues of shared interest. With the support of Microsoft, VFI members educate thought leaders and elected officials about new technologies and the positive impact they have on global economies and jobs. By participating in VFI, members raise the profile of their company, learn from tech leaders and help win policies that are beneficial for our industry. Our members include Microsoft Partners, software developers, consumers, vendors, suppliers, shareholders, user groups, academics and others.

Xbox announcements - Project Natal

nickmayhew — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:27:29 GMT

http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2009/jun09/06-01E3PR.mspx

I was watching the BBC videos on Natal yesterday – an amazing development in interactive gaming – check it out here. it’s amazing to watch (see the second video).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8077369.stm