Hanging on to that Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Logo
Microsoft is supposed to flip the switch for many of the most significant elements of its Microsoft Partner Network sometime in October, a month which, you may have noticed, is upon us.
But October 2011 is shaping up as a key month for the MPN as well. In a document on the public portion of Microsoft's Partner Portal called "Prepare for the Microsoft Partner Network," the year-ahead month crops up several times.
It's especially relevant to partners concerned about the MPN transition away from the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and the Microsoft Certified Partner levels. While partners won't be able to re-enroll in the Microsoft Partner Network at those levels after the switch happens at some unspecified date this October -- they will be able to hang onto the logos for awhile.
According to the site: "Continue to use the logos you have today. After October 2011, the current Certified Partner and Gold Certified Partner logos will be retired since we're shifting to silver competencies and gold competencies. All partners must discontinue their use of these old logos by October 2011."
That said, the old logos won't be available for download after October 2010 for partners who haven't already obtained them.
How do you view this policy? Is it a nod to the challenges of distributing new branding to a massive network of partners? Or is it an opportunity to lobby Microsoft for another 12 months to reverse its decision to retire the Gold Certified Partner and Certified Partner levels? Let me know at [email protected].
Posted by Scott Bekker on September 30, 2010