New Zealand ISV Blog

Microsoft Empower for ISVs Program Guide

Program Overview

The Microsoft Empower for ISVs is designed for Independent Software Vendors ("ISVs") who provide computer software solutions to customers in the consumer, corporate, government, education, medium business or small business space.

This worldwide benefit for Microsoft Partner Program Registered Members is considered an important resource for enabling Microsoft solutions. It is intended as a training ground for future Microsoft Certified Partners and is therefore not available to existing Microsoft Certified Partners or Microsoft Gold Certified Partners.

This benefit is designed to assist ISVs to develop and implement a commercial solution that is based on Microsoft technology. The term of the Microsoft Empower for ISVs benefit is one year with the opportunity to reenroll for a second year. Membership is limited to two years and available once per company.

Microsoft Empower for ISV members are provided with limited Microsoft software licenses (valid for the term of the agreement) for the following purposes:

• Internal Use
• Development and Testing, and
• Technical Support.

Microsoft Empower for ISV members also receive an MSDN subscription. The MSDN Universal DVD set is the primary source for Microsoft program members to receive Microsoft software for development and testing. This includes DVDs for both server and desktop software, development kits (SDKs), device driver kits (DDKs), operating systems, and programming information.

Program Enrollment

Members may enroll one time only. Enrollment is possible any time of the year by using the online enrollment submission tool.

Upon submission of your enrollment application, Microsoft will determine whether you have met the initial program requirements.

Microsoft will send notice of acceptance or rejection within thirty (30) days from submission via email at the email address listed in your benefit Web site profile. Your membership will expire 24 months from the date of membership activation or sooner if you choose not to reenroll.

Enrollment in the Microsoft Empower for ISVs benefit is limited to one enrollment per organization per country. For example, if your company has three subsidiaries located in three different countries, your company may be awarded up to four (4) program memberships; one for your company and one for each subsidiary.

Program Requirements

Microsoft Empower for ISVs members must meet the following requirements:

• Be an ISV who provides computer software solutions to customers in the consumer, corporate, government, education, medium business, or small business space.
• Be a member of the Microsoft Partner Program at the Registered Member level.
• During enrollment, submit a URL to the official company web site. The web site must show the company name, company business description as an ISV, and contact information.
• During enrollment, complete the company profile.
• During enrollment, provide a description of the product under development.
• During enrollment, acknowledge that you have read and understood the Microsoft Empower for ISVs Addendum by accepting the Addendum at https://empower-isv.one.microsoft.com/isv/Agreement/Agreement.aspx in the manner it specifies.
• During enrollment, pay the Microsoft Empower for ISVs membership fee (and appropriate taxes) via credit card, check, or wire transfer (Payment methods vary by country). The fee for enrollment is:

• During your membership, develop one (1) commercial software solution that natively supports at least one of the Microsoft software programs listed in the table below,* for one of your customers.
• Make a public announcement of your product under development on your official website within 6 months of reenrollment in the second year of the initiative (18 months from initial sign-up). Submit the URL of the product announcement.
• Within 12-24 months from activation of your membership, release the new commercial software solution. Submit the URL of the page on your official web site that announces product shipment.
• During your membership, make a reasonable commercial effort to pass one of the software tests authorized by Microsoft and listed in the table below**.
• Upon expiration of your membership, make a reasonable commercial effort to join the Microsoft Partner Program at the Certified level or above with the ISV/Software Solutions Competency, earned by successfully passing one of the software tests authorized by Microsoft and listed in the table below**.  

Program Benefits

Microsoft Empower for ISVs core benefits*** are delivered by monthly mailings, or are accessible in some locations at Microsoft.com.

The monthly mailings begin with a Welcome Kit containing a Welcome Letter, an MSDN Welcome Kit, and the software licenses necessary to get started. Generally, your Welcome Kit will be sent to you within 3 weeks of activation of your membership (this may vary by country).

Following your initial Welcome Kit, you will receive additional mailings periodically that contain MSDN supplements or other marketing material or items as determined by Microsoft. MSDN software code is available in certain countries via the Internet.

Please refer to the Microsoft Empower for ISVs Agreement for specific use requirements for the outlined benefits. Microsoft may expand, change the scope, or delete any features under the program.

Microsoft Empower for ISVs Core Benefits***

Regional Service Centers 0800 444 392

For additional information on the Microsoft Empower for ISVs please contact the following Regional Service Center.