In-Depth Features


The 2013 Microsoft Product Roadmap

Redmond Channel Partner magazine updates its comprehensive and authoritative annual roadmap of upcoming products from Microsoft over the coming year. Although 2012 was one of the biggest release years in a long time, Microsoft still has a lot of significant updates for the year ahead, including the rumored Windows "Blue," the "Apollo Plus" update for Windows Phone 8 and the complete Office 2013 suite.

Kicking Off a Simpler Era in Office 365 Migrations?

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Microsofties' startup called SkyKick automates the process for partners to sell, plan, provision, migrate, manage and set up Office 365.

The New Microsoft National Systems Integrators: Full List

The Microsoft National Systems Integrators are a special group of U.S. partners with super-regional scale and special expertise. Here are the partners who made the list in this fiscal year.

Microsoft Gets Serious in the Cloud with Office 365 Open

With its Open Licensing move, Microsoft finally enlists all partners in the Office 365 effort.

Lync 2013: Microsoft Revs Up Its UC Platform

Microsoft is turbo-charging everything about its unified communications platform -- from customer adoption and partner engagement to multiplatform capabilities and release cadence.

Tales of Partner Successes in Microsoft's 'Cloud OS'

The combination of Windows Server 2012, System Center 2012 SP1 and Windows Intune have given Microsoft partners new opportunities to expand their businesses into the cloud. Here are a few examples.

IT Communities: A Primer for Microsoft Partners

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Channel communities are key for partners who want to network, shore up resources and bolster their access to the larger organizations they are partners with. But given their wide variety, it can be a challenge for partners to know which communities suit them best. In this primer, Howard runs down the different types of partner communities to help you find the best fit for your partner company.

59 Real-World Marketing Tactics for Microsoft Partners

From specialization to audience targeting, content creation, traffic generation and more, marketing consultant Barb Levisay offers proven tips for bolstering your name recognition.

Windows 8 Faces Slow Ramp-Up, But Big Potential: Q&A with a Microsoft Distributor

In a Q&A, D&H Distributing Co-President Michael Schwab says structural factors are giving Windows 8 a slow start, but he predicts some of those same dynamics will make the new OS a huge hit in the near future.

15 Revelations in Microsoft's Financials

WEB EXCLUSIVE: The Windows Division may have been the star of Microsoft's recent Q2 FY'13 earnings report, but what other insights do the numbers reveal? RCP reads between the lines of Microsoft's latest financial earnings.

Windows Phone 8 Gallery: The First Devices (UPDATED)

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Microsoft is staking its mobile success on its just-launched smartphone platform, Windows Phone 8. The first devices are set to roll out in the coming weeks and months from major U.S. carriers including Verizon and AT&T. Here's what we know so far about the new lineup.

One Month with Windows 8: A Review of Microsoft's Most Radical OS

With Windows 8, Microsoft aims to unify the tablet and PC interfaces in an ambitious experiment. In a month-long review, RCP finds the effort largely succeeds.

Marching Orders 2013: 11 Things Microsoft Partners Need To Do in the New Year

Channel luminaries offer their best advice to help Microsoft partners succeed in the coming year.

UPDATE: Microsoft Partner Network Cost: How Much To Join the MPN?

WEB EXCLUSIVE: The short answer? It depends. For most U.S. solution providers, the MPN costs between $0 and $5,260. We break down the perks of seven cost levels so you can determine where your firm will get the most bang for its buck.

Windows RT Gallery: 5 Standouts

Not to be outdone by Microsoft's own Surface RT offering, OEMs from Dell to ASUS are rolling out their own Windows RT-based tablets. Here are a few of the standouts.

Analysis: What Businesses Should Know About Windows RT

Yes, Windows RT is almost entirely consumer-focused. There are cases in which it makes sense for businesses, but partners must make sure their customers fully work through the pros and cons.

On the Death of SBS: Microsoft Partners Rally from Anger to Acceptance

Rage was the first reaction to the death of the Microsoft Windows Small Business Server brand. Now resellers are making plans for what comes next.

Q&A with Microsoft's Top Channel Exec: Is the MPN Still Worth the Cost?

RCP asks Microsoft's Jon Roskill about the increase in price to gain the gold competency and the overall value of the 2-year-old Microsoft Partner Network.

For Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Puts Hosting Partners First

Hosting services providers have always been important stakeholders in Windows Server development. With the 2012 version and its Cloud OS emphasis, Microsoft hosters' needs come to the fore.

Will Windows 8 Bring Boom Times for Ultrabooks?

OEMs looking to take advantage of the Windows 8 wave are flooding the channel with new, touch-capable models -- but many face pricing challenges. With the PC market struggling, what are the chances for the Ultrabook's success?