May 2009 - Posts
We now offer two flexible service options designed specifically for Microsoft partners. With either the full-service or self-service option, you can easily combine Live Meeting video, audio, and interactive tools including polls and live question and answer, to deliver customized and engaging webinars that bring your solutions to hundreds of prospects at once.
Self-Service:
Deliver webinars using a hands-on, step-by-step approach. Learn best practices for planning, promoting, presenting, and post-event activities for a successful webinar event. The self-service option is available globally to all partners and includes:
• A cost-effective, do-it-yourself approach with best practices guidance
• Step-by-step guidance in planning your webinar
• Marketing resources to help with promotion and presentation development
• Instructions on how to setup the Live Meeting event registration system
• Training on the Live Meeting features best suited for webinars
Full-Service:
Leverage comprehensive event management services for a successful end-to-end experience for presenters and attendees. Focus on content and delivery while your dedicated event manager facilitates the logistics and details of the event. The full-service option is available in select countries today and includes:
• Assurance for a smooth event and the efficient use of your time
• A dedicated webinar event manager to guide you through the entire process
• A branded registration system designed for you and customized for your lead generation requirements
• Facilitated, personalized Live Meeting training and rehearsal for your presenters
• Technical troubleshooting throughout your event so you can focus on the presentation
For more information, go here:
https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40073316
Then take advantage of the Microsoft Online Services Ready-To-Go-Campaign!
Tomorrow I will be working with a partner to host a webcast using free marketing content on the MS Partner Site! Just the fact that we are hosting the webcast using Live Meeting is a testament to the value of BPOS!
For more information and details on the PowerPoint presentation we are going to be using go here:
http://www.mspartnerdirect.com/action/microsoft/site/library/CampaignView?campaignID=615
(You will need to login using your Partner Live ID)
Additionally, look for some more BPOS security documents to be available shortly!
By now, you are probably aware that changes to the Response Point team have been made. If you are wondering what's in store for Response Point, I encourage you to join the Town Hall webcast at the end of June.
Here is the specific info:
Date: June 30th, 2009 (Tuesday)
Time: 1:00 - 2:30pm PDT (Redmond Time)Registration URL:
https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/details.aspx?publisher=12&delivery=267491
In today's Waltham, MA event, the point was that some customers may have just purchased a laptop.... but they don't know if they will be able to utilize XP mode in Windows 7.
If you'd like to find out, check out:
"How to confirm your PC can run Windows XP Mode"
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/configure-bios.aspx
As Microsoft Partners, I'm sure you often have the "licensing talk" with some of your customers to make sure they are in compliance.....
But when it comes to the Action Pack, are you "walking the walk" as well?
Please remember that the Microsoft Partner Program has given Registered partners an AWESOME value in the form of the Action Pack.
For only $25 a month, you have the ability to run your business on the latest Microsoft Software. Not only do you get quarterly software updates, but you also get access to Partner Marketing materials!
But also please remember that this is a SUBSCRIPTION based program. If you decide NOT to renew, you are no longer licensed to use the software that you installed... And you will no longer receive updates like Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 once they are available.
Just a friendly reminder to make sure you renew :)
Overview:
Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Ignite is a training workshop for partners who are proactively looking to stay ahead of the market by delivering and using a highly reliable unified communications solution.
FORMAT: Instructor Led Training with Hands on Lab
LEVEL OF COURSE: Level 300
LENGTH: 3 full days
Course Description:
The Exchange Server 2010 Ignite workshop is a 3 day workshop that will cover a wide variety of topics and hands-on labs ranging from architecture, setup, deployment, tools, migration, security, transport, unified messaging, governance, archiving, storage to high availability.
The event includes 3 days of modules and hand on labs:
Day 1: Exchange Server 2010 Overview, Setup, Deployment and Server Role Configuration, Client Access Server, End User IW Experience
Day 2: Exchange Server 2010 Federation, Transport, Routing and Information Leakage Protection and Control IPC), Transport Routing, Compliance: Information Leakage Protection and Control, and Archiving
Day 3: Exchange Server 2010 Storage, High Availability, Management Tools and RBAC, Technical Architectural Wrap-up and Transition/Migration Topics and Online Roadmap
By attending the Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Ignite workshop, you will be able to:
• Demonstrate the technical capabilities of deploying and configuration of Exchange Server 2010
• Design a solution for compliance including Archiving and Retention and Information Leakage Protection.
• Administer a High Availability and Security solution for a customer.
Who Should Attend
To ensure the best experience, we recommend the following IT professionals attend:
• Architects with Microsoft Exchange Server, Windows Server/Active Directory and Networking experience
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Follow this link to register: Register now - https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/details.aspx?systemid=266399&EventTypeID=2
(Please note that you will need to logon with your Partner Live ID in order to see/register)
During my Windows 7 presentation, a large number of attendees were impressed that Windows 7 had the ability to run applications in "compatibility mode".... the thing is, this functionality has been around in Vista since it was released.
In other words, if I find an application, right-click on it, and select properties, there is a compatibility tab that allows me to emulate XP and other Microsoft desktop OSes all the way back to Windows 95.
Unfortunately, Vista has received such negative press that many have not even taken the time to really see what Vista has to offer.
Now I will admit that if you don't have the proper hardware and your application developers have refused to write a Vista version, you will have a poor experience.... but I still stand by the fact that Vista is a SOLID operating system.
There's no need to fear!
Q. Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium comes with two Windows Server 2008 Standard technologies licenses. If I choose to, can I downgrade one of those licenses to run an earlier version in order to support a legacy application?
A. As a rule, the components of the Windows Small Business Server solution cannot be separately downgraded, however Microsoft recognizes that line-of-business applications may experience compatibility issues moving from one version to the next, so customers can downgrade the 2nd copy of Windows Server 2008 Standard, shipped as part of SBS 2008 Premium, to Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard. This exception is being granted until December 31, 2009. Look for this downgrade option here. Note: Under this exception, the customers are restricted from running both the 2nd copy of Windows Server 2008 Standard as well as Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard (to which the customer has downgraded) at the same time simultaneously. Also, after December 31, 2009, customers are restricted from downgrading just the 2nd copy of Windows Server 2008 Standard, shipped as part of SBS 2008 Premium, as the exception granted will expire; however customers who have exercised the downgrade right before December 31, 2009 can continue to use either version of Windows Server, but not both at same time.
If you live in Orlando or Tampa, I will be doing a high-level presentation and demo on Windows 7 as part of the Angelbeat event series.
For more information checkout: www.angelbeat.com
Orlando: http://www.angelbeat.com/?p=219
Tampa: http://www.angelbeat.com/?p=220
Not only will we be discussing Windows 7 but there will be a number of other presentations security, networking, and virtualization!
I know that May 18th seems like a long time to wait for that webcast, but if you want to check out the Beta version of XP Mode on your Windows 7 RC today, follow this link and download it today!
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=0e8fa9b3-c236-4b77-be26-173f032f5159
On May 18th, we will be delivering a Partner webcast on the value of this technology. As a partner, I hope that you are excited about this being implemented in Windows 7. And if you aren't yet, I'm sure you will see the true value after you watch this webcast:
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| Event Title : WVC30PAL: Windows 7 Professional and Windows XP Mode for Partners May 18, 2009 from 8-9am Pacific Time |
| We’ll share the value proposition of Windows 7 Professional for partners and dive a bit deeper into one of its key differentiating features next to domain join: Windows XP Mode. Windows XP Mode greatly improves the already high compatibility of the OS with many productivity applications that SMB customers rely on, removing a key barrier to move to the new Windows. We’ll show you how it works and how partners can play a key role in offering this functionality. |
https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/details.aspx?systemid=1882103
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With all the excitement and positive news around Windows 7, now is the time to finally move your customers from XP to the latest MS operating system.... and XP mode may just be right tool to do it!
Wow...
Late last night I decided to install the Windows 7 Release Candidate on one of my drives so that I can dual boot for presentations/demos....
Of course I thought this would take awhile so I decided to plunk my laptop down in front of my T.V. and started watching Pitchmen on the Discovery Channel.
I thought I'd probably be watching at least the whole hour of Pitchmen and then an episode or two of Mythbusters afterwards.... but I was pleasantly surprised!
About 30 minutes into the show, my install was done! Office 2007 Enterprise installed in about 15 minutes. Even the AT&T connection manager that I use for wireless access when I'm on the road installed in about a quarter of the time that I recall it installing before!
The only issue that I ran into were some video "remnants," but that seems to have been cleared up with an install of the VISTA ATI drivers from Lenovo!
I really do hope that this install experience goes just as smoothly for our end users doing upgrades or clean installs!
I also hope that you are spreading the word about Windows 7 and letting your customers know that they have alot to look forward to!