UK ISV Blog : MSPP

Turning economic challenges into opportunity – together

kirstys — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:04:46 GMT

Microsoft VP, Allison Watson, discusses how building on great relationships; low cost, high performance Microsoft solutions; and Partner Program resources can create demand.

View webcast

Microsoft Partner Program – please read on for partner competency updates....

kirstys — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:42:02 GMT

Please find some useful information on the recent Microsoft Partner Programme competency updates launched 30^th 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.

A worthwhile read - “Guide to Profitability in SMB”

kirstys — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:39:45 GMT

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:

Making the most out of Microsoft partner benefits – join a MSPP Kickstart course

kirstys — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:55:02 GMT

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.

(Course code 44WK018. Note: You must first sign in to the Partner Learning Centre using your Windows Live ID).

Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) 7th to 10th July 08 – registration sell out alert!

kirstys — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:37:24 GMT

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 8^th Jul 08! Plus, there are more ISV partner specific sessions now running for you.

WPC info & registration

“New World of Work” – changing perceptions in how we work today

kirstys — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:52:58 GMT

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

Heads-Up on Changes to the MSPP ISV/CDS Competencies

smorrow — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:57:24 GMT

ISV/CDS Competencies - Licensing Changes - With the release of Visual Studio 2008, the business group has re-evaluated the license structure for the ISV and CDS competencies and has incorporated the following changes:

Partners who have earned both the ISV and CDS competency are awarded licenses for the first competency earned only (no incremental licenses are granted for the second competency earned).
Licenses for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Development Edition with MSDN Premium Subscription are 5 for Certified and 25 for Gold Certified partners.

These changes have been updated on the portal for ISV and are in progress (estimated live date is February 28) for CDS.

If you require any further information regarding the ISV & CDS competencies please visit:

https://partner.microsoft.com/global/program/competencies/isvsolutions/40011919

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,Partner Programme,MSPP,ISV,Competency,CDS Competency