Reaching Out to Microsoft Partners in Australia : Partner Portal Nuggets

News on Action Pack Pricing for Australia

nickmayhew — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:19:34 GMT

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.

Latest from the Partner Network Blog

nickmayhew — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:54:20 GMT

Sarah Arnold’s been busy on the blogging front recently – don’t forget to check out her excellent resource for Aussie partners. Here are some recent posts (http://blogs.msdn.com/auspartners/):

Action Pack Update: http://blogs.msdn.com/auspartners/archive/2009/07/23/microsoft-action-pack-update.aspx

Australian Partner Winners at Worldwide Parrtner Conference (congrats !) : http://blogs.msdn.com/auspartners/archive/2009/06/25/australian-partners-win-8-awards-at-worldwide-partner-conference.aspx

Special offer on MS Press for Windows 7 (finishes July 31): http://blogs.msdn.com/auspartners/archive/2009/07/07/hit-the-ground-running-with-windows-7.aspx

New partner offers for security solutions

nickmayhew — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:15:35 GMT

Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006 Enterprise Edition Promotion

Through December 31, 2009, offer Open License, Open Value, Select License, Select Plus, and Enterprise Agreement customers savings on Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 Enterprise Edition processor license and Software Assurance packs.

Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006 Standard Edition Promotion

Through December, 31, 2009, offer Open License, Open Value, Select License, Select Plus, and Enterprise Agreement customers savings on Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 Standard Edition processor license and Software Assurance packs.

Earn a 50 percent bonus on Security Software Advisor claims through December 1, 2009

Your customers are looking for business-ready security solutions that will help them save money and lower IT risks. If you’re selling licenses for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server software, Windows operating system, Windows Server operating system, or Microsoft Exchange Server software, you can offer a fully integrated experience to your customers by adding Microsoft Identity and Security products to your sale. You will receive a Security Software Advisor (SSA) fee of up to 30 percent of the Forefront stand-alone license revenue you generate.

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.

New Local Partner Program Blog from Sarah Arnold

nickmayhew — Thu, 07 May 2009 07:20:51 GMT

http://blogs.msdn.com/auspartners/

Sarah is known to many of the local MS partner community as the person responsible for running the partner program, and associated things like worldwide partner conference attendance amongst many other things.

It’s great to see Sarah join the blogging world – so go subscribe to her blog today to ensure you stay in touch with the key news in her part of the Microsoft partner world.

In her own words:

“Hi, my name is Sarah Arnold and I am the Partner Program Manager for Australia. I am very excited to share my new blog with all of you. This blog is a new addition to the Microsoft Blog network and is dedicated to Microsoft Australian Partners of all levels. I hope this new form of digital inclusion provides another insight into the Microsoft Australia Partner Team and keeps you up to date on all the latest news.

I welcome your comments and feedback to my blog, and look forward to sharing with you my thoughts on the Microsoft Partner Program. Please stay tuned for new blog postings. “

Software Asset Management information for partners

nickmayhew — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:01:04 GMT

One of the team sent me this which they thought would be useful reading for many of our partners and I agree:

As a continuance of IDC's 2006 Whitepaper about the risks of using counterfeit software, Microsoft recently released its own white paper which explores the prevalence of counterfeit software within midsize business environments in the UK. The study found that 37% of the midsize businesses reviewed had counterfeit software. The counterfeit software found was high-quality, meaning the businesses, who had bought it in good faith, were surprised to find that it was non-genuine. These businesses were found to have spent an average of $USD 10,222 on software that was neither licensed nor genuine. As a trusted advisor you can help make sure your customers are not at risk or wasting their money on non-genuine software. Read the white paper (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=143926) and gain a greater understanding of the risks of counterfeit software and how you can help or click here (https://partner.microsoft.com/Australia/licensing/sam) to learn how offering Software Asset Management services can benefit both you and your customers.

S+S for ISVs – new content on the partner portal

nickmayhew — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:55:44 GMT

https://partner.microsoft.com/40104750

I had a read around the site and it provides some useful guidance for ISVs considering how best they can take advantage of the transformation to the services world.

New content on Microsoft Online for partners

nickmayhew — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:53:44 GMT

This info came in an internal mail – but is promoting some interesting looking new content for partners available now on the QuickStartOnlineServices.com site.

Whitepapers, cases studies etc:

Whitepaper: Migrate to Microsoft Online Services new

Whitepaper: Exchange Online Developer Guide for CRM and SharePoint new

Whitepaper: Exchange Online - Standard Service Description new

Case Study: Partner Inspired Software and Services new

Case Study: Partner Dezyples new

Case Study: Customer Saas-it Consult

Whitepaper: Office Communications Online Standard Service Description new

Webcast: Business Productivity Online Suite WWLP Webcast Partner Chat LAR new

Webcast: Business Productivity Online Suite WWLP Webcast Partner Chat VAR/SI new

Program Material: SharePoint Online Datasheet new

Whitepaper: Service Description for Office SharePoint Online Standard new

Technical Info:

The Exchange Online Standard Developer Guide is now available for download

at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=0ffa787d-79cd-43fd-b528-b47d45c7ea0d

Some of the main topics covered (and tested) include:

1. Exchange Web Services

List of exchange web services supported in an Exchange Online Environment
Using Auto Generated Proxy
How to write an EWS client application

2. Auto Discover Service

Lookup logic
Sample application

3. Integration of Exchange Online with Azure (two sample apps: Free/Busy and Delegate access)

Create an online project
Creating a Web Cloud Service
Deploy Web Cloud Services on Azure

4. Integration of Exchange Online with Microsoft Dynamics AX

Creating wrapper classes, adding references and invoking the wrapper classes

5. Using EWS via Java client

6. Code examples as appropriate.

WPC awards tool opens

nickmayhew — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:19:35 GMT

WPC=Worldwide Partner Conference of course. It’s coming up soon (July 13-16) and we always have had a great showing in the awards from Aussie partners. So please note that the awards tool for WPC is now open.

Find out more here.

Commerce Server 2009 Available to MSDN Subscribers (incl partners)

nickmayhew — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:47:37 GMT

http://www.microsoft.com/commerceserver/en/us/default.aspx

and just for partners: https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40013175

Revised Application Platform Sales Training

nickmayhew — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:07:30 GMT

Have you switched from product to platform selling yet?

We have just refreshed the online sales training for partners on application platform – go check it out in the PLC :

Microsoft Application Platform University (APU)

Here is the full list of courses in this area for your convenient reading:

Selling the Application Platform Module 1: App Plat Introduction
Module 1: Application Platform Introduction Agenda & about the course and learning objectives: • Leveraging field tested “platform selling” approaches to drive more strategic business discussions w/ customers • Understand an “Integrated Platform” selling approach w/ other models and offerings Presenter: Will Yafi - CEO - Tidwit, Inc

Selling the Application Platform Module 2: Business Intelligence
Module 2: Selling Business Intelligence Solutions Agenda & about the course and learning objectives:• Learn about the Microsoft Business Intelligence story: enterprise wide BI offering and how to drive revenue • Understand Business Intelligence market dynamics Presenter: Will Yafi - CEO - Tidwit, Inc

Selling the Application Platform Module 3: NextWeb
Module 3: Selling Next Web Solutions Agenda & about the course and learning objectives: Learn how to drive and win a next generation Web Platform opportunity Understand web platform market dynamics and opportunities to drive revenue in enterprise accounts Presenter: Will Yafi - CEO - Tidwit, Inc

Selling the Application Platform Module 4: SOA
Module 4: Selling Enterprise Application Solutions Agenda & about the course and learning objectives: • Learn about the Microsoft SOA story: the real world SOA offering and how to drive revenue using • Understand successful field tested sales strategies to maximize revenue opportunity in your accounts Presenter: Will Yafi - CEO - Tidwit, Inc

Selling the Application Platform Module 5: ALM
Module 5: Selling Application Lifecycle Management Agenda & about the course and learning objectives: Understand how the Microsoft ALM process methodology and solutions can drive IT to be a strategic asset Leverage field tested sales strategies to drive more business discussions and revenue with enterprise customers Presenter: Will Yafi - CEO - Tidwit, Inc

Selling the Application Platform Module 6: SQL Server 2008
Module 6: Selling SQL Server 2008 Agenda & about the course and learning objectives: • Understand the business value and the technology around Microsoft SQL Server 2008 for the enterprise • Learn how to leverage SQL Server 2008 to deliver business value while maximizing revenue Presenter: Will Yafi - CEO - Tidwit, Inc

Selling the Application Platform Module 7: Oracle
Module 7: Oracle Compete Agenda & about the course and learning objectives: • Learn where and how to compete with Oracle in the enterprise • Understand field validated best practices and sales strategies to maximize your revenue opportunities in Oracle accounts Presenter: Will Yafi - CEO - Tidwit, Inc

Selling the Application Platform Module 8: Engaging with Microsoft
Module 8: Engaging with Microsoft Agenda & about the course and learning objectives: • Learn the process and resources to move the sale forward• Streamlining profiling with IO Analyzer Tools and work through the Business Priorities worksheet to help unveil customer needs Presenter: Will Yafi - CEO - Tidwit, Inc

Microsoft IO – connecting IT to business

nickmayhew — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:29:39 GMT

This is an interesting and useful-looking section on the Microsoftio.com website: http://www.microsoftio.com/it.aspx Helps you bridge between IT and business perspectives but also includes more specific scenarios. Example: healthcare: http://www.microsoftio.com/it.aspx#Heal

Action Pack News: Assessment Requirement Suspended for MAPS Renewals

nickmayhew — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:02:09 GMT

Assessment Requirement Suspended for MAPS Renewals

The Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) brings the latest Microsoft software right to your door, so that you can spend your time serving clients and growing your business. We’re improving the process; meanwhile, the assessment requirement has been temporarily suspended for returning subscribers. Renew today.

New on Partner TV - Intellimax on the ISV Royalty Program

nickmayhew — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:55:28 GMT

We think many Australian ISVs are leaving $ on the table - yes, it's true !

Find out more on Partner TV from one of our ISVs who has embraced the ISV Royalty Program:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ozpartnertv/archive/2009/01/06/partner-tv-intellimax-solutions-on-the-isv-royalty-licensing-program.aspx

New on Partner TV - Partner Sales Resource Portal - MSPP Benefit of the month

nickmayhew — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:46:18 GMT

http://blogs.msdn.com/ozpartnertv/archive/2009/01/06/partner-tv-prima-consulting-on-partner-sales-resource-portal.aspx

Robert Easson from Prima Consulting talks about the Microsoft Partner Sales Resource Portal. Securing new customers – or keeping existing customers – can take enormous amounts of time and money. Unfortunately, it’s often difficult to find the time, or the resources, to make this happen. However, with the Microsoft Partner Sales Resource Portal, you can enjoy instant access to a huge collection of complimentary resources that can help you secure more sales. Go there now >