Shailan - Data for the Masses : Microsoft

Microsoft Action Pack

Shailan — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:55:46 GMT

To enhance the value of Microsoft Action Pack, from March 1^st, all of those renewing or subscribing must take a course and pass an assessment to receive it. Partners must take one specific Microsoft online course from the required Partner Learning Centre course list and complete its associated assessment with a minimum score of 70 per cent. To continue receiving Action Pack, partners must pass an assessment every two years. Courses are all 100% subsidised and take no more than 60 minutes. The assessments will take no more than 30 minutes to complete. To help partners, an enrolment guide and more information is available at: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/actionpack. In addition, if partners have any queries regarding their Action Pack subscription or if they are experiencing any issues when renewing, please call: 0870 60 70 700 (press option 1) for assistance.

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Partner Season's Greetings e-card and game

Shailan — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:19:25 GMT

As per tradition, we have sent our partners a Season’s Greetings e-card.

This year, our e-card contains a link to a seasonal quiz and ‘snowball game’ – upon completion, partners can enter a free prize draw for an Xbox 360.

Technorati Tags: Microsoft

TechNet Edge Begins!

Shailan — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 11:58:15 GMT

We're extremely excited to bring you TechNet Edge! Some IT Professionals from around the world gave us their thoughts on IT Pro community without any knowledge of TechNet Edge. A local professional graffiti artist did an amazing rendition of the word EDGE on a 30 foot wall. Combine the two and you can see there is something big brewing here. Come join the community by registering now, hang out, and tell us about your own "Edge".

http://edge.technet.com/Media/TechNet-Edge-begins/

Technorati Tags: Technet Edge

Real World SOA

Shailan — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:31:27 GMT

Real World SOA hosted by the Microsoft Technology Centre provides an opportunity for both business and technical decision makers within organizations, to explore the Microsoft SOA platform offerings and engage with Microsoft in a deeper dialogue this area. The Real World SOA centre provides a series of offerings that allow customers to accelerate their knowledge and understanding of how the Microsoft SOA platform can help achieve greater IT agility through the SOA approach. The series of offerings provide a complete 360° view of SOA and allow customers to envision, solution and deep-dive into all aspects on SOA fulfilled through the Microsoft platform.

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/bpm/technology/realworldsoa.mspx

Technorati Tags: Biztalk, SOA

New Zune Launches

Shailan — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:49:34 GMT

Yesterday saw the launch of the new Zune. Instead of the old one version now there are more in the range

Zune 4GB/8GB http://www.zune.net/en-US/products/zune4gb8gb/default.htm

Zune 30GB http://www.zune.net/en-US/products/zune30gb/default.htm

Zune 80GB http://www.zune.net/en-US/products/zune80gb/default.htm

There are also a lot more accessories, something the previous Zune lacked.

http://www.zune.net/en-US/products/accessories/default.htm

Time to get to the US and buy one :)

Technorati Tags: ZUNE

MSFT 1st Quarter Financials

Shailan — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:25:22 GMT

Microsoft Corp. today announced revenue of $13.76 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, a 27% increase over the same period of the prior year. Operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $5.92 billion, $4.29 billion and $0.45, respectively.

“This fiscal year is off to an outstanding start with the fastest revenue growth of any first quarter since 1999,” said Chris Liddell, chief financial officer at Microsoft. “Operating income growth of over 30% also reflects our ability to translate revenue into profits while making strategic investments for the future.”

Microsoft’s businesses of Client, Microsoft Business Division, and Server and Tools grew combined revenue in excess of 20%, and experienced robust demand for Windows Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, Windows Server, and SQL Server.

Read on

http://www.microsoft.com/msft/default.mspx

Technorati Tags: Microsoft

Facebook Partnership

Shailan — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:13:28 GMT

Facebook and Microsoft Corp. today announced that the two companies would expand their advertising partnership and that Microsoft will take a $240 million equity stake in Facebook’s next round of financing at a $15 billion valuation. Under the expanded strategic alliance, Microsoft will be the exclusive third-party advertising platform partner for Facebook, and will begin to sell advertising for Facebook internationally in addition to the United States.

This deal is a major advertising syndication win for Microsoft and an enormous vote of confidence from our largest advertising partner. Microsoft continues to grow share of the global online advertising opportunity—currently worth $40 billion and growing rapidly—increasing the volume of advertising partnerships.

http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2007/oct07/10-24FacebookPR.mspx?rss_fdn=Press%20Releases

http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2201992/microsoft-beats-google-facebook

Also for all you SQL folk - read on to find out about FQL

http://developers.facebook.com/documentation.php?doc=fql

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Facebook, SQL, FQL

Microsoft Software + Services

Shailan — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:28:36 GMT

“Live” services from Microsoft are designed primarily for individuals, businesses end-users, and virtual work groups. Live offerings span entertainment, communication, and productivity. These services emphasize ease of use, simplicity of access, and flexibility, and are ideally suited for situations where people either don't have access to professional technical expertise or don't require high levels of system management.

“Online” services are for organizations with more advanced IT needs where power and flexibility are critical. Online services from Microsoft give businesses the ability to control access to data, manage users, apply business and compliance policy, and meet high availability standards while providing performance, scalability, security, management features and service level capabilities to support mission-critical applications and systems. Microsoft is providing business customers with the flexibility to choose between traditional on-premises implementations, services hosted by Microsoft partners, and now with Online services that reside in Microsoft’s data centres. More details are available at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/default.mspx

· Microsoft Office Live Workspace -- a new web-based feature of Microsoft Office which lets people access their documents online and share their work with others.

· Microsoft Exchange Labs, a new R&D program for testing next-generation messaging and unified communications capabilities in high-scale environments.

· Continued customer and partner support for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Live.

· Renaming of Microsoft Office Live hosted small business service -- a service dedicated to addressing key small business pain points including core IT services and sales and marketing services -- to Microsoft Office Live Small Business.

· Microsoft BizTalk Services -- a building block service that enables developers to more rapidly and cost-effectively build composite applications, to enable greater cost efficiencies and thereby opening up new business opportunities for enterprises of all sizes.

Technorati Tags: Software + Services, Microsoft

TechEd IT Forum, 12-16 Nov, Barcelona, Spain

Shailan — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:43:37 GMT

This years TechEd is in Barcelona, Spain. There are quite a few Data Management sessions listed. Follow the link

http://www.mseventseurope.com/OnlinePub/Public/sessions.aspx?EventId=mJ1zMVxtUYw%3d

Technorati Tags: TechEd

Microsoft Products Roadmap for FY08 and beyond

Shailan — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:12:16 GMT

Just to re-iterate SQL Server's importance in the roll out this FY. Also a lot more technology releases this FY. Just take a look

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20070727/msft-roadmap-fy08-beyond/

Technorati Tags: Microsoft

Live Labs Photosynth

Shailan — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:57:59 GMT

Now this is very cool!

Live Labs Photosynth

Watch how a three-dimensional image is created from two-dimensional photos. See photos from multiple angles and seamlessly zoom in or out of a photograph that’s gigapixels in size.

Technorati Tags: Photosynth

Microsoft UK's #1 Superbrand

Shailan — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:54:33 GMT

Microsoft was voted the UK's #1 Superbrand, beating Coca Cola, Google and the BBC to claim the top spot!

Read on http://www.superbrands.com/uk/

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Worldwide Partner Conference Videos

Shailan — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:23:44 GMT

Keynote session videos can be viewed online here

http://members.microsoft.com/partner/digitalwpc/#

Watch CEO Steve Ballmer announce the latest in Software Plus Services, the future of software. Learn how Microsoft and partners are building a consistent and seamless experience across multiple platforms including voice, data and wireless.

View the highlights

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BI Market Share Increases for Microsoft

Shailan — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:54:24 GMT

InformationWeek review of BI market share last week reported Microsoft gains BI share.

Worthwhile read

http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=200001921

Technorati Tags: Microsoft Business Intelligence

Worldwide Partner Conference 2007

Shailan — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 23:13:48 GMT

This year the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference is held in Denver, even if you are not attending you can watch the presentations here http://members.microsoft.com/partner/digitalwpc/#wpcconnectiontool

Technorati Tags: Microsoft Worlwide Partner Conference