RCP asked 19 channel luminaries for their best piece of advice for the year ahead. Here are their tips on ways to make 2012 a banner year for Microsoft partners. 
                    
			            - By Scott  Bekker
- January 03, 2012
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    WEB EXCLUSIVE: For many partners, matching their priorities with Microsoft's is a sure-fire way to boost business. Conveniently, Microsoft has just listed its top priority areas -- or "priority workloads" -- for the Microsoft Partner Network. Here they are, along with the related products and competencies for each.
                    
			            - By Scott  Bekker
- December 31, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    WEB EXCLUSIVE: In Part 2 of our Q&A with Microsoft's Tom Rizzo, he discusses Office 365's momentum and how Microsoft's advisor and syndication partners are contributing to its growth.
                    
			            - By Jeffrey  Schwartz
- December 20, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    WEB EXCLUSIVE: Part 1 of our two-part Q&A with Microsoft's Tom Rizzo. He talks about the cloud, Office 365's recent compliance coup, and why Google Apps wouldn't be missed if it got shuttered.
                    
			            - By Jeffrey  Schwartz
- December 19, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    The Master VAR program evokes strong emotions in the Dynamics partner channel. There are plenty of critics of the program, but Microsoft is committed to pushing the model forward, which will bring a new dimension -- and perhaps new energy -- to the Dynamics partner ecosystem.
                    
			            - By Barb  Levisay
- December 05, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    More than 200 partners showcased tools aimed at extending the Microsoft team collaboration platform at its annual SharePoint Conference. Here's a snapshot of eight that caught our eyes.
                    
			            - By Kurt  Mackie, Gladys  Rama
- December 01, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    What's happened since Microsoft completely switched over to the Microsoft Partner Network with its dramatically different competency, specialization and incentive structures? A lot.
                    
			            - By Scott  Bekker
- December 01, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    The company that defined cloud-based Software as a Service is now looking to change the way workers collaborate, communicate and service their customers. 
                    
			            - By John K. Waters
- November 14, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    The latest Microsoft OS promises disruptive opportunities for every type of partner -- from developers to solutions providers to those who provide training -- assuming they move fast.
                    
			            - By Scott  Bekker
- November 06, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    Katalys Group formed to help small Dynamics partners find a creative way to meet the Microsoft Partner Network requirements by banding together.
                    
			            - By Barb  Levisay
- November 02, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    Enterprise Ireland (EI) is a government agency that helps Irish ISVs expand to global markets. The 13 ISVs who attended the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference and shared the EI-sponsored booth have a lot to teach other small firms about taking their products worldwide.
                    
			            - By Barb  Levisay
- October 23, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    WEB EXCLUSIVE: Apple, Google and Microsoft are all sporting new operating systems for their smartphones. We look at the most promising business-related features in iOS 5, Ice Cream Sandwich and Mango.
                    
			            - By Scott  Bekker
- October 21, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    One of Microsoft's key strategies for improving the market share of Windows Phone is to get the smartphones into partners' hands. Anecdotal evidence and an informal RCP survey suggest partners are taking up the devices. Will their customers follow?
                    
			            - By Scott  Bekker
- October 16, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    Microsoft's largest acquisition arrives with potential promise as well as possible pitfalls.
                    
			            - By Paul  Korzeniowski
- October 11, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    For tens of thousands of Microsoft partners, HP is their other strategic vendor. A look at what is driving HP's seemingly scattershot moves.
                    
			            - By Jeffrey  Schwartz
- October 03, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    Microsoft preps pilot of program for Dynamics partners as an alternative to its aborted franchise plan. 
                    
			            - By Jeffrey  Schwartz
- September 26, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    WEB EXCLUSIVE: The skinny and streamlined group of Windows PCs that Microsoft recently showed off seems to reference some of Apple's design philosophy -- even though Microsoft may never admit it outright. 
                    
			            - By Scott  Bekker
- September 24, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    WEB EXCLUSIVE: Microsoft's recent Build conference gave partners -- and the world -- the first in-depth look at the forthcoming Windows 8 operating system. From the radically different UI to Hyper-V support, here are the top 10 features Microsoft revealed at Build that partners should pay close attention to. 
                    
			            - By Scott  Bekker
- September 23, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    At the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, Microsoft COO Kevin Turner singled out and attacked six strategic rivals. Does Microsoft have what it takes to compete and win against Apple, Google, Cisco, Oracle, Salesforce.com and VMware?
                    
			            - By Scott  Bekker
- September 07, 2011
 
            
                
	                
                    
                                        
		            
                    On the Verizon Wireless network, Apple and Microsoft each have one offering: the iPhone 4 and the HTC Trophy with Windows Phone 7. Both are relatively new to the largest U.S. mobile provider's network. Which phone is better? 
                    
			            - By Scott  Bekker
- September 01, 2011