The Microsoft partner team is on the road to deliver virtualisation and unified communications updates, together with the opportunity around Software plus Services, to our Gold & Certified Partners.
Partners will receive research and market insight first hand, specifically covering market influencers, drivers and key considerations to help develop and broaden value propositions to the market. There will also be networking opportunities for partners as well as a technology direction view.
Dates & locations are:
North of England – November 6 2008, IOD Manchester 09.30 to 14.00
Midlands – November 7 2008, Chateau Impney, Worcestershire 09.30 to 14.00
*These events are for Gold & Certified Microsoft Partners*
Update to a previous post to advise that final places remain for a free half-day seminar: “The Route to SaaS and Beyond” 2nd October 2008 @ Microsoft London.
This advisory session and networking lunch has specifically been built to provide ISV’s with tips and strategic advice on moving to a profitable Software as a Service (SaaS) strategy.
Hear from Rackspace SaaS client Xero, as well as Microsoft, Mural Consulting and Collectsoft on the key steps to move to a SaaS strategy and beyond.
We will also be on hand during the buffet lunch to answer your questions individually and confidentially.
Find answers to questions such as:
· Why make the move to SaaS?
· How is SaaS going to expand my software revenues?
· How to securely deliver multi-tenanted software online?
· How will my licensing and revenue model be impacted?
· Why traditional funding doesn’t work and how to overcome the funding gap
· How to develop a new sales model for software delivered as a service
Click to view the full agenda and to register
Please find partner developer training details released this week. Full details of all partner training can be found at the Partner Learning Centre. If you need assistance in enrolling or have any questions then please contact our training helpdesk on 0870 8509442 or email ukplcsup@microsoft.com.
| Course title & description | Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Instructor-led training introducing developers to Visual Studio 2008 and .NET 3.5: LINQ, Workflow Services, Windows Presentation Foundation and ASP.NET AJAX Integration, Key features of Visual Studio Team System 2008 |
| Course duration | 3 days |
| Dates currently scheduled | 13th October, London
17th November Altrincham
.......more will be scheduled if there is demand |
| Cost to attend | £600 for Gold and Certified partners, £750 for Registered |
| Course title & description | Essential SQL Server 2008 for Developers SQL Server 2008 offers an impressive array of capabilities for professional developers that build upon key innovations introduced in SQL Server 2005. The Essential SQL Server 2008 for Developers training course will help you understand how to build enterprise-class applications which deeply exploit the rich data types, programming models and new development paradigms in SQL Server 2008 |
| Course duration | 2 days |
| Dates currently scheduled | 13th October, London
.......more will be scheduled if there is demand |
| Cost to attend | £400 for Gold and Certified partners, £500 for Registered |
Free half-day seminar: “The Route to SaaS and Beyond” 2nd October 2008 @ Microsoft London
This advisory session and networking lunch has specifically been built to provide ISV’s with tips and strategic advice on moving to a profitable Software as a Service (SaaS) strategy.
Hear from Rackspace SaaS client Xero, as well as Microsoft, Mural Consulting and Collectsoft on the key steps to move to a SaaS strategy and beyond.
We will also be on hand during the buffet lunch to answer your questions individually and confidentially.
Find answers to questions such as:
· Why make the move to SaaS?
· How is SaaS going to expand my software revenues?
· How to securely deliver multi-tenanted software online?
· How will my licensing and revenue model be impacted?
· Why traditional funding doesn’t work and how to overcome the funding gap
· How to develop a new sales model for software delivered as a service
Click to view the full agenda and to register
We're now working on building ReMix UK 08and it’s shaping up to be an even bigger and better than last year. A few changes you'll notice; we're now going to be in Brighton - a really chilled out place that has a unique creative buzz about it, and if you're from out of town you'll be able to down tools completely and just lay back and enjoy...
We on the beachfront at The Brighton Centre where we’re building a cool, interactive, ultra funky environment right out of the 70’s. This 48 hour conversation mixes up some of the best content and greatest minds. You will find some very cool stuff and have the freedom to kick start your own conversations in our highly interactive spaces; so make sure you come and join the experience!
EARLY BIRD - SAVE £110 Be one of the first 300 people to book and you can save £110 on your entry price.
Early Bird price £239 (inc. VAT)
Full price £349 (inc. VAT) from the 301st ticket to sell out
Keynotes from Scott Guthrie, a General Manager within Microsoft's Developer Division who runs the development teams that build CLR, ASP.NET, WPF, WPF/e, Windows Forms, IIS 7.0, Commerce Server, .NET Compact Framework, and the Visual Studio Web and Client Development Tools. Also, Bill Buxton, who began his career in music, and has spent more than 30 years observing how people use technology and applying those insights to the human-computer interaction field. His research specialties include technologies, techniques and theories of input to computers; technology-mediated collaboration between people; and ubiquitous computing. Buxton is widely revered for his creative and sensitive explorations of new user-interface techniques spanning audio, speech, two-handed input, keyboards, menus, lenses, pens, augmented reality, multimedia and more.
Full speaker list here and being updated.
Developer subjects include:- Silverlight 2, ASP.NET MVC, IE8, Building Rich Applications, Web 2.0 wireframing, Virtual Earth, Virtualising books
Designer subjects include:- Getting your user experience on a mobile, Conception through to build - an interactive installation, Accessibility in RIA , Advertising and Video, Left and Right brain – dev and design together
The Developer and Platform Group at Microsoft UK are pleased to announce the availability of a limited number of free “Fasttrack” Architectural Reviews specifically for ISVs. A fasttrack review is an opportunity for an ISV to lay out their technical, business and architectural problems in front of some of the Microsoft ISV technology team, and gain advice and guidance on choosing the best path for their future development. These are interactive, conversational engagements which typically last for a half day, and have proved very successful and useful for participants in the past, especially at critical junctures in their product planning and evolution.
The set of dates available from now until Christmas 2008 are published online now. There’s more information on what the review actually consists of here, and there’s some points to think about before undertaking a review here which we encourage you to read carefully, and finally, there’s the application page for FastTrack Reviews here. Places are limited so please follow the directions on the site to apply for a review as soon as possible – we anticipate demand for these based on the pilot we have been running the last few months.
IMPORTANT: Fasttrack Architecture Reviews are only open to ISVs in the UK who are members of the Microsoft Partner Program at the Gold or Certified level, or are members of the Empower, Action Pack or Metro programs. If you are not eligible, then this would be an ideal time to join the Microsoft Partner Program.
Please find some useful information on the recent Microsoft Partner Programme competency updates launched 30th May 08. As well as updates to existing competencies there are also three new competencies. Please look through the below to see which apply to you – at the bottom of this post you will find some guidance we have put together on how these updates may affect you.
New Competency Updates
Business Intelligence - For partners adopting the Microsoft Business Intelligence (BI) end-to-end strategy – covering Performance Management and BI Platform (SQL). Two existing specialisations are merging together to form the new Business Intelligence competency - Business Intelligence Platform specialisation & Performance Management specialisation.
Unified Communications - For partners offering solutions based on Microsoft’s unified communications technologies, including Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Office Communications Server.This new competency is being created by transitioning and updating the requirements of two existing specialisations and adding a third: Instant Messaging (IM) and Presence specialisation, Messaging specialisation, and NEW Voice specialisation.
Hosting - The new Hosting Solutions competency is being created through transitioning the Hosting Solutions specialisation within the Advanced Infrastructure Solutions competency to the Hosting Solutions competency.
Updates to Competencies
Business Process & Integration - Microsoft is changing the name of the Business Process and Integration competency to the SOA and Business Process competency. By renaming the competency is aligned closely to the manner in which the marketplace and customers think about these capabilities.
Microsoft Business Solutions - Microsoft is reducing the exam requirements necessary in order to more closely match the business requirements of a partner's Solution Provider Agreement (SPA) and CRM Software Advisor (CSA) agreements. In addition, the SPA and CRM requirements are also changing.
Guidance on how these new competencies affect partners
- You will be automatically migrated to the new competencies if you were part of the former specialisations.
- The next time you sign into the Microsoft Partner Programme after May 30, your membership status will reflect the change.
- You will retain access to most of the resources you held in their current specialisations until your anniversary date.
- If re-enrolling in the Unified Communications competency after May 30, 2008, you will need to meet the updated exam requirements for the IM and Presence and/or Messaging specialisations.
- If re-enrolling in the Hosting Solutions competency after May 30, 2008, you will need to employ or contract with two people who have passed Exam 70-501: Windows Server® 2003 Hosted Environments – Configuring and Managing, in addition to the existing requirements for the current Hosting Solutions specialisation.
Partner Library – a new addition to the existing partner portal website - is designed to provide relevant and topical information on how our partners can use the resources of the Microsoft Partner Programme to support their business.
These articles are not designed to be fluffy exercises in marketing rhetoric, but an honest and analytical approach to the challenges and opportunities faced by Microsoft partners, the positive impact that partnership has on thousands of UK business, the new technologies coming from Microsoft and also a look at areas where Microsoft is focusing its efforts to improve the partner experience.
A few articles looked up in the Partner Library today include....
- Commentary on 2007 Study* by IT analyst firm IDC shows that the IT industry - and, specifically, Microsoft's vast partner community - plays a key role in driving local economies in 82 countries around the world. This study analyses the economic impact of the partner community - including job creation and employment, taxes generated and technological investments in the country.
- Article by-lined by Gordon Fraser (Managing Director UK Microsoft) discusses how Microsoft can support our partners in these current difficult market situations.
- YouGov research, supported by Microsoft, shows the biggest issue faced by growing companies in UK is a lack of access to finance - money that is essential to increase office space or headcount, develop new products and services or invest in new technologies to drive competitive advantage. A customer case study featured demonstrates some recommendations.
Browse through the Partner Library and let us know your thoughts.
*IDC Global Economic Impact, 2007, "The Economic Impact of IT, Software and the Microsoft Ecosystem on the Global Economy" ( 2007 IDC)
Paul Maher, Microsoft UK Developer & Platform group, has pulled together some useful material for VB.NET and VB6 Developers that should prove of interest. Please feel free to drop Paul an email if you have any questions, in particular if you are a VB6 Developer looking for some guidance paul.maher@microsoft.com.
First port of call....Visual Basic Developer Center and Visual Basic 6 Resource Center. "How do I" videos - on this page you will find dozens of videos designed for all Visual Basic developers, from the novice to the professional. New videos are added regularly, so check back often. Subscribe to this RSS feed for regular updates. Check out the Visual Basic Power Packs and the wealth of Visual Basic Screencasts on Channel 9.
If you are as VB6 Developer looking for the best way to maintain your existing code investment whilst leveraging VB.NET then the following are a great resource:
Useful blogs: The Visual Basic Team and Beth Massi write blogs targeted at VB Developers.
This latest report (Apr 08) on the SMB market from Microsoft has been published with Computer Reseller News and quantifies the market opportunity based on recent AMI-Partners research as well as how to exploit the opportunity. In addition Microsoft resources available are outlined.
The overall message is that partners who get the market approach right will realise significant opportunities - £22bn anticipated growth in 2008! (AMI-Partners research). As well as quantifying the market opportunity for partners the research uncovers top business concerns for the SMB: competition, profitability, finding/retaining talented employees, and increasing customer satisfaction. The research also shares the fastest growing IT goals for SMB – hosted applications, better operational management, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and increased communication and collaboration both within and between office locations. A worthy read!
Download the Guide to Profitability in SMB:
Many partners have asked us how they can stay informed on IT-related policy and make sure their opinion is heard. The Voices for Innovation community helps members understand and stay informed technology policy. Members learn more about policy issues affecting their business, voice an opinion and engage in discussion, and drive the technology policy debate.
Supported by Microsoft this community of voices represents a diverse spectrum of knowledge, experience, and opinion across our customers and partners.
You can join at Voices for Innovation
The MSPP (Microsoft Partner Programme) Kickstart courses have genuinely proved so popular with our partners that more have been scheduled! The course is aimed at all partners - some content will be specific to Certified and Gold - who would like to know more about how to use the Partner Membership Centre, how to make the most of programme benefits, and find information quickly and easily.
Sign up to a Kickstart course!
(Course code 44WK018. Note: You must first sign in to the Partner Learning Centre using your Windows Live ID).
The Partner Network is a group of networks set up and managed by individuals, partner organisations and Microsoft employees. This aim of the Network is to leverage information and exchange news, thoughts and feedback - you can set up your own individual community or blog to establish your own Network!
We would value you taking part so we can use your feedback to improve the alpha Network before beta launch later this year.
Join Partner Network
If you are planning to attend Worldwide Partner Conference this year be sure to register soon as we are expecting to reach sell out this month for July’s conference in Houston, Texas. You’ll hear from Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, and other leading Execs on Microsoft strategy, deep dive into latest technology, use WPC Connect to network with Microsoft and other partners & last but not least join us at the legendary UK partner party on 8th Jul 08! Plus, there are more ISV partner specific sessions now running for you.
WPC info & registration
Daniel Rasmus, Director of Information Work Vision at Microsoft and author of this white paper, opens with some food for thought around how working practices are evolving in the UK today:
“The change that we’re facing today is multi-faceted. A revolution in technology and the application of both IT and communications networks that is shifting our perceptions about the location, purpose and value of our work.”
This synopsis is borne from analysis into technology, society, education, labour and economics trends to devise scenarios used by Microsoft in developing products for tomorrow’s work force.
New World of Work White paper
