Partner-TV: telling it like it is

A little while ago, I was luck enough to meet Peter King, the Office Server Group Manager at Microsoft, to talk about Microsoft's new BPOS offering. We discuss what BPOS is, and how it fits with Microsoft Online, SharePoint Online and Software plus Services (S+S). We also talk about how BPOS affects Microsoft partners, including advantages such as faster customer implementations and referral fees that partners can earn through BPOS. Peter also mentions the SPLA licensing changes which now offer more choice for both partners and customers. We talk about the BPOS training available for partners on the partner portal and the readiness plan available on Discover Online Services. Finally, Peter gives us some insight into the future of BPOS.

BPOS was launched in the UK on March 3rd - visit the Microsoft Online website to find out more and to learn how you can get involved, and don't forget to join the BPOS Partner Network.

Please note: there are  some audio issues at the beginning of this interview; however they only affect the introduction.

Today, Jessica Meats, a partner technology specialist at Microsoft talks to Jay Goodison from WCI Healthcare, the consulting division of Ascribe. They discuss how Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007 work together to provide feature rich browser based form solutions. Jay also shares examples of SharePoint and InfoPath deployments, including the electronic discharge healthcare solution that WCI Healthcare have recently implemented, and explains how making use of InfoPath in SharePoint deployments benefits Microsoft partners as well as customers.

For more information on InfoPath benefits, watch Jessica's InfoPath videos, available on her blog. For more information on the e-discharge system, email Jay at WCI Healthcare or visit WCI Healthcare's website.

Hi everyone, welcome back to Partner TV! After a few months away, Partner TV is back with a new look and lots of fantastic new features!

Partner TV now has a Twitter account: http://www.twitter.com/partnertv. Follow us on Twitter for the latest micro blog updates from the world of Microsoft!

We're also working with our friends at Qik to use their live video streaming service. We'll use this to provide short, snappy videos about interesting events and occurrences at Microsoft. Keep an eye on our Twitter feed for links to our Qik videos, or visit our Qik site directly at http://qik.com/partnertv. A big thank you to the lovely guys at Qik for making this happen :)

Partner TV videos are now hosted through the Partner Player. In this interview, Ed Anderson, the Partner Online Lead for the UK, tells us about the great features of Partner Player such as a the variety of videos available for partners to watch, from demos to event recordings to executive videos. These videos also contain links to other relevant videos as well as links to additional resources and downloads. The videos available on the Partner Player are all indexed, searchable and targeted at specific job roles to help you find what you need in the easiest way possible. Visit the Partner Player now to find useful videos for your business!

As Partner TV is now hosted using the Partner Player, you can visit either the Partner TV blog or the Partner Player website to watch all future Partner TV videos.

Please take the time to complete the poll attached to this post - it would be great to get your feedback on the type of content you want to see on Partner TV. If you have any other feedback or suggestions, please leave a comment on the blog, or use the Partner TV email address.

	What type of videos would you like to see on Partner TV?
	Interviews with Microsoft partner team
	Interviews with Microsoft Execs
	Interviews with Microsoft Product Managers
	Interviews with Microsoft Product Managers
	Technical demos
	Information about partner training
	Information about licensing
	All of the above!
	Other

Keep checking back to Partner TV - we'll post a new video every fortnight (at least!).

Recently, Julie Simpson from ResourceiT spoke to Adam Spurr from Genesis Communications, Adrian Munn from Monochrome, and Dan Scarfe and Martin Harrison from Dot Net Solutions.

Genesis Communications, Dot Net Solutions and Monochrome have recently worked together to provide a complete technology offering, from design and development through to hosting. In this interview, all three partners discuss what it was like to collaborate with other Microsoft partners, and the benefits that working together has brought, such as better referenceability, a larger client base and increased profits. They also discuss how attending various Microsoft events, including the Worldwide Partner Conference, gave them the opportunity to meet and network with other Microsoft partners.

Download this video:

http://silverlight.services.live.com/81686/Genesis,%20DotNet,%20Monochrome/video.wmv

Matt Pilgrim, a Partner Account Manager (PAM) at Microsoft, talks to Adrian Munn, Sales and Marketing Director at Monochrome.

Monochrome are a development and consultancy firm, with over five years experience in the design and development of rich Internet applications (RIA). Monochrome work with Adobe; however are now also closely partnering with Microsoft, making use of Microsoft's new web technologies, such as Silverlight.

Adrian speaks about why Monochrome chose to collaborate with Microsoft, and provides advice for new partners and for companies considering partnering with Microsoft about how to successfully work with the 'Microsoft monster'!

More information on Monochrome can be found on their website, or by emailing Adrian at adrian@monochrome.co.uk.

Download this video:

http://silverlight.services.live.com/81686/Monochrome_2/video.wmv

Recently I spoke with Julie Simpson, Managing Director at ResourceiT. ResourceiT specialise in provide sales and marketing support for Microsoft Partners. Using previous experience of working as Microsoft Alliance Managers, ResourceiT are able to help partners develop their relationship with Microsoft, as well as locate useful Microsoft resources. ResourceiT can also provide ad hoc sales and marketing resources for partners, to assist with many different types of promotion, from writing a case study to coordinating and executing a telesales campaign.

In this interview, Julie speaks about why she chose to found ResourceiT, gives examples of partners ResourceiT have worked with in the past and of current opportunities they can offer partners. We discuss the types of sales and marketing promotions ResourceiT can assist partners with, and talk about the costs of these.

More information about ResourceiT can be found on their website, or by emailing Julie at julie.simpson@resourceit.net.

Embed this video on your website:

<iframe src="http://silverlight.services.live.com/invoke/81686/ResourceiT/iframe.html" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width:500px; height:375px"></iframe>

Download this video:

http://silverlight.services.live.com/81686/ResourceiT/video.wmv

Kevin Lief, the Solution Channel Development Manager for Enterprise Project Management, talks to Kelvin Kirby, Managing Director at Technology Associates, a company that has worked within the EPM space for 18 years.

They discuss what prompted Technology Associates to adopt EPM, and how the technology and the competition in this space has changed over the past few years.Kelvin also talks about the challenges that Technology Associates have had to overcome to remain successful, and provides advice for companies considering joining the EPM community.

Kelvin can be contacted by email at kkirby@techassoc.com, and you can view Technology Associate's website at http://www.techassoc.com.

To speak to Kevin about EPM or becoming an Microsoft EPM partner, email him at kevin.lief@microsoft.com, or telephone him on +44 (0)7976 131 573.

Find out more about EPM here and about becoming a Microsoft EPM partner here.

Embed this video on your website:

<iframe src="http://silverlight.services.live.com/invoke/81686/Tech%20Associates/iframe.html" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width:500px; height:375px"></iframe>

Download this video:

http://silverlight.services.live.com/81686/Tech%20Associates/video.wmv

Kevin Lief - the Solution Channel Development Manager (aka Partner Recruiter) for Enterprise Project Management speaks to Paul Major, the Director at Program Framework. They discuss the history of Program Framework and how the company has been successful in the EPM space by overcoming business challenges and differentiating themselves from the competition. Paul also gives an insight into working with other Microsoft partners, as well as advice for companies considering becoming an EPM partner.

Paul can be contacted at paul.major@programframework.com, or you can visit Program Framework's website here.

If you would like to speak to Kevin about EPM or becoming a Microsoft EPM partner, email him at kevin.lief@microsoft.com or telephone him on +44 (0)7976 131 573.

You can find out more about EPM here and how to partner with Microsoft on this technology here.

Embed this video on your website:

<iframe src="http://silverlight.services.live.com/invoke/81686/Program%20Framework/iframe.html" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width:500px; height:375px"></iframe>

Download this video:

http://silverlight.services.live.com/81686/Program%20Framework/video.wmv

Today I spoke to David Gristwood, a member of the UK DPE team, who works closely with ISV partners.

He talked about Fasttrack Review days; a new opportunity for ISVs to tell Microsoft about their technical and business problems, and receive advice and guidance on their future development.

More information on Fasttrack Review days, plus details on how to register for a review, can be found on the Fasttrack Review blog.

Embed this video on your website:

<iframe src="http://silverlight.services.live.com/invoke/81686/Fasttrack%20Review%20Days/iframe.html" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width:500px; height:375px"></iframe>

Download this video:

http://silverlight.services.live.com/81686/Fasttrack%20Review%20Days/video.wmv

Kevin Lief – the Partner Recruiter for Enterprise Project Management (EPM) talks to Ivan Lloyd from Corporate Project Solutions about why they chose EPM from Microsoft as a core technology component with which to grow their business.

To get in contact with Ivan drop him an email at Ivan.Lloyd@cps.co.uk or you can visit their website here: www.cps.co.uk

If you would like to speak to Kevin about EPM or becoming an EPM Partner, here are his contact details: Tel: +44 (0)7976 131 573, Email: kevin.lief@microsoft.com

You can find out more about EPM here and how to Partner with Microsoft on this technology here.

In this interview I sit down with Steve Kerr, head of Microsoft Financing in the UK to talk about what MIcrosoft Financing is, why it’s important to Microsoft Partners and some of new initiatives they have coming out this year.  For more information on MS Financing check out these handy links:

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/financing/default.mspx

Last month I had the opportunity to sit down with Ian Gotts, Founder and CEO of Nimbus Partners and talk about what exciting innovations they have in the pipeline and his experience of partnering with Microsoft.  As well as being an author of a book he is passionate about being an evangelist of technology which is something that we both agree is important when communicating the benefits of your products.

Ian is attending the Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston this year, so if you would like to meet him make sure you use the connect tool.

Embed this video on your website:

<iframe src="http://silverlight.services.live.com/invoke/14377/PTVIanGotts/iframe.html" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width="640" height="480"></iframe>

Download this video:

https://silverlight.services.live.com/14377/PTVIanGotts/PTV Ian Gotts.wmv

I’ve known Steve for a few years now, having managed me when I started at Microsoft.  Since then he’s moved on to become the Software + Services Lead for Microsoft International where he defines what the strategy and messaging will be when taking new products to market as part of Microsoft’s Software + Services initiative.  We chew the fat about what partners can expect to see from Microsoft in the coming years, technology trends and cool things coming out of Microsoft Research.

Related Links:

Microsoft Software + Services Homepage
Software + Services for Partners
Technical Overview of Software + Services
Steve Clayton’s Blog

Embed this video:

<iframe src="http://silverlight.services.live.com/invoke/14377/PTV%20Steve%20Clayton/iframe.html" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width:500px; height:400px"></iframe>

Download this video:

http://silverlight.services.live.com/14377/PTV%20Steve%20Clayton/PTV%20Steve%20Clayton.wmv

In this interview I get to talk to Kirsty Sizeland who works in the Partner Marketing team about “Voices for Innovation”.  Voices for Innovation is a network of technology professionals, business leaders, consumers and academics dedicated to supporting public policies that promote innovation, business success and economic growth.

Technology is a key driver of global economic growth and social progress. New technologies spur creativity, boost productivity, generate jobs, empower businesses and advance science.

To find out more check out the website here: www.voicesforinnovation.org

Embed this video:

<iframe src="http://silverlight.services.live.com/invoke/14377/PTV%20Voices%20for%20Innovation/iframe.html" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width:500px; height:400px"></iframe>

Download this video:

http://silverlight.services.live.com/14377/PTV%20Voices%20for%20Innovation/PTV%20Voices%20for%20Innovation.wmv

In this interview I caught up with Dana Simerkoff of HiSoftware to talk about SharePoint, accessibility and how partners can use HiSoftware’s expertise to ensure their SharePoint implementations are accessible by design and going forward too.

HiSoftware developed the Accessiblity Kit for SharePoint (AKS) for Microsoft so they know a thing or two about the subject.

Embed this video in your blog:

<iframe src="http://silverlight.services.live.com/invoke/14377/PTV%20HiSoftware/iframe.html" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width:500px; height:400px"></iframe>

Download the video here:

http://silverlight.services.live.com/14377/PTV%20HiSoftware/PTV%20HiSoftware.wmv