Solution Providers


Microsoft Considers Making Cloud Sales Required for Gold Competencies

It's no secret that Microsoft is encouraging partners to offer its cloud computing services, but the company may ultimately step that up to a requirement.

Microsoft Releases Office 2007, SharePoint 2007 SP3

Microsoft recently released the third and, probably, last service pack for Office 2007 and SharePoint 2007.

BlackBerry Service for Microsoft Office 365 Betas

Smartphone manufacturer Research In Motion on Tuesday announced an open beta trial for a new BlackBerry service that works with Microsoft Office 365.

Oracle Acquiring Cloud Vendor RightNow for $1.5 Billion

Less than a week after entering an agreement to buy enterprise search vendor Endeca, Oracle announced on Monday that it also plans to acquire RightNow Technologies Inc. for $1.5 billion.

SMB Nation: Where Did All the Cloud Supporters Go?

Enthusiasm for cloud computing was (surprisingly) weak among attendees of this year's SMB Nation Fall conference.

Two Years in, Google's L.A. Cloud Contract Hits Security Snag

Two years after winning a contract to provide cloud-based applications to the city of Los Angeles, Google is still fielding concerns over the security of its offerings.

A Microsoft Partner's Inside Tips for Selling Windows Intune

Lead with pain points, not the Windows Intune brand. Leverage Windows Intune to help SMBs upgrade to Windows 7. Pair Windows Intune sales with Office 365. Look for business incentive fund (BIF) opportunities.

Microsoft Releases Second 'Wave' of Windows Intune

Microsoft began rolling out the second generation of Windows Intune, called "Wave 2," on Monday.

Microsoft Talks Up Windows 8's Metro-Based Start Screen

Perhaps to head off early concerns, Microsoft has posted a series of blogs on its "Building Windows 8" site that describe the reasoning behind the Metro UI.

IBM Readies Partners for New Public, Private Cloud Portfolio

IBM this week fleshed out its SmartCloud public and private cloud portfolio and said it is enabling its wide network of partners to deliver its cloud products and services.

Microsoft: Next SQL Azure Release Coming by Year's End

Microsoft spent Day 2 of this week's PASS Summit in Seattle outlining some of the new features in the next release of SQL Azure, which the company said will land sometime during Q4 2011.

Microsoft Makes 'SQL Server 2012' Official at PASS Summit

Microsoft has officially dropped the "Denali" code name from its next-generation relational database management system, which is now called simply "SQL Server 2012."

Microsoft Releases SQL Server 2008 SP3

Microsoft released Service Pack 3 (SP3) for SQL Server 2008 on Thursday, about one year after the release of SP2.

5 SharePoint Questions with Microsoft's Jared Spataro

Jared Spataro, a senior director of SharePoint product management at Microsoft, explained the nuances of the keynote in an interview during the Anaheim, Calif. conference.

Upcoming SP3 for Office 2007, SharePoint 2007 'Likely Final'

Microsoft announced this week that Service Pack 3 for Office 2007 and SharePoint 2007, expected by year's end or sooner, will be "likely final" for both products.