Microsoft today launched an updated version of a tool to help customers with licensing that it bills as helpful for partners. The Microsoft Product Licensing Advisor is currently in its 3.0 iteration. (
We covered the 1.0 version here
.)
New features include user interface enhancements, the ability to design configurations based on products or IT solutions rather than strictly by licensing program; and a live chat link that connects to Microsoft Customer Service & Support representatives. While older versions took users out of the tool for more information about products, related products and pre-requisites, more of that information is integrated into the tool interface now.
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Posted by Scott Bekker on July 12, 20060 comments
Steve Ballmer laid down a loyalty challenge to its partner channel in kicking off the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference: Velocity 2006 this morning. According to Ballmer, partners need to make a choice between Microsoft and its competitors in search and portal; unified communications; and security. "Will you choose to work with us or your traditional partners?" Ballmer asked.
See the full story:
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Posted by Scott Bekker on July 11, 20060 comments
Another Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, another update on Microsoft's massive channel numbers. Last year at this time, Microsoft claimed 4,600 Gold Certified Partners, 28,000 Certified Partners and 266,000 Registered Partners. This month, Microsoft is reporting massive jumps in numbers at the Gold Certified Partner and the free Registered Partners levels, and a decline in Certified Partners.
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Posted by Scott Bekker on July 11, 20060 comments
Having 7,000 partners at the Worldwide Partner Conference sounds like a
lot and it is. But when you consider there are somewhere between 300,000
and 400,000 partners signed up in the Microsoft's Partner Program, that
means the vast majority of Microsoft partners aren't here. If you're at
home, you can still get access to some of the content of the sold-out
conference. Microsoft is offering daily video feeds from the conference
in Boston.
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Posted by Scott Bekker on July 11, 20060 comments
There will never be another delay between Windows versions like the one between Windows XP and Windows Vista, Steve Ballmer promised partners today at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference.
"We will never have a gap in Windows releases as long as the one we had between Windows Vista and XP. Count on it," Ballmer said. Microsoft's CEO said he could go into all the factors that led to the delay but wouldn't. Then he reiterated his "count on it" pledge for no more five-year-and-counting gaps between OS releases. As for timing, Ballmer's comments meshed with Microsoft's most recent dates – "turn of the year" – for both Vista and Office 2007. Meanwhile, Ballmer also vowed a massive consumer launch of Windows Vista and argued that the consumer launch will reinforce the business launch.
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Posted by Scott Bekker on July 11, 20061 comments
The centerpiece of Microsoft's partner year,
the Worldwide Partner
Conference
, gets underway today with a kickoff keynote by CEO Steve
Ballmer.
With the official name "Velocity," the conference has the theme "driving
your business forward fast and profitably." Sub-themes include
positioning the Microsoft platform and your solutions to targeted
customer needs; learning about Microsoft's technology plans and
competitive strengths; and successful business models tailored to
specific businesses.
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Posted by Scott Bekker on July 11, 20060 comments
Speaking of software giveaways, there's not much in the way of free
software when it comes to the goody bags Microsoft gave out to partners
as they registered at the Worldwide Partner Conference. As free software
goes, WinHEC and even TechEd were the better deals this year. Given the
respective audiences, and the timing of the different shows, though,
it's understandable. So what do partners get in their WWPC show bags? A
32-bit bootable DVD with Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" Beta 2.
Posted by Scott Bekker on July 11, 20061 comments
Microsoft announced retail and channel availability of SBS 2003 R2 today during CEO Steve Ballmer's keynote at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference.
At $1,299, the Premium Edition of R2 is $200 less than the Premium Edition of SBS 2003. "That's based on a price reduction in the SQL Server line," said Steven Van Roekel, director of the Windows Server Solutions Group. The R2 version uses the Workgroup Edition of SQL Server 2005 rather than the slightly pricier Standard Edition of SQL Server 2000 that was included in the original SBS 2003 package. "From a partner perspective, I think that will open some additional doors," Van Roekel said of the price-sensitive small business market.
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Posted by Scott Bekker on July 11, 20060 comments
There's been a delay in the Microsoft Action Pack kits for July,
Microsoft acknowledged on Monday. Now Microsoft is telling partners to
expect the quarterly update of free software by Aug. 15 or sooner. In
any case, some interesting stuff is coming in the next Microsoft Action
Pack for Registered Partners, especially the 2007 Microsoft Office
system Beta 2 and Windows Vista Beta 2.
Posted by Scott Bekker on July 11, 20064 comments