Microsoft Partnering 101


Analyst Gives Tips for Purchasing Windows Server 2012 R2

Consultancy Directions on Microsoft recently offered a few suggestions on how to buy Microsoft's newest server, when it becomes available.

MPN 2.0: Behind the Microsoft Partner Network Overhaul

At the Worldwide Partner Conference, Microsoft laid out a major overhaul of the 3-year-old Microsoft Partner Network. The changes send several important messages about how the software giant is thinking about its partners and their role.

Microsoft Partner Network Competency Changes in 2014 (Flow Chart)

In January 2014, Microsoft will boil 25 competencies and one quasi-competency down to 22. Here are the key changes (and a list of the competncies that remain unchanged).

Report: Microsoft Developing Siri-Like Feature for Windows Phone

Several media reports indicate Microsoft is planning a voice assistant for its Windows Phone platform.

Gartner Lays Out Three Approaches to Dealing with Windows 8.1

Organizations moving to Windows 8.1 will have three approaches to consider when dealing with the updated operating system, according to a webinar Thursday by Gartner Inc.

IT Services and the Lie of 'Customer Satisfaction'

How do you differentiate yourself from the competition? If the answer is your "commitment to customer satisfaction," you'd better examine how truthful that is.

IDC: Worldwide Tablet Shipments To Leapfrog PCs by 2017

Global shipments of traditional PCs will begin to lose ground to tablet shipments starting in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to recent analysis from IDC.

Intel 'Bay Trail'-Based Tablets and PCs Expected in Q4

Devices running Intel's "Bay Trail" family of power-saving processors are due to arrive from hardware makers in the fourth quarter of this year, Intel said on Wednesday during its Developer Forum event.

Reports: Microsoft To Unveil Next-Gen Surface Tablets this Month

Microsoft is widely expected to unveil new Surface RT and Surface Pro devices at an event in New York on Sept. 23.

Intel CEO Unveils New Chips for PCs, Servers and Mobile Devices

During Tuesday's keynote presentation at its Developer Forum in San Francisco, Intel laid out its vision for a broad range of its activities -- from building chips for datacenters, PCs, smartphones and personal wearable devices, to "the Internet of things" world of connected devices.

Microsoft, Google and Others Petition To Disclose Spy Request Details

Microsoft on Monday joined Google, Facebook and Yahoo in filing amended motions to disclose more details about customer data access requests from the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC).

Microsoft Wins Nearly $15 Million in Motorola Patent Dispute

Last week, a jury awarded Microsoft $14.5 million in damages stemming from a dispute with Google-owned Motorola Mobility.

Meet the New Bosses: The Key Executives in Microsoft's Reorg

Steve Ballmer unveiled a much anticipated major reorganization intended to change the conflict orientation of Microsoft's culture to one of shared focus. Some of the winners in Ballmer's new structure are familiar faces. Others are being pulled into the spotlight from deeper within the organization.

Windows 8.1 RTM and Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM Released to MSDN, TechNet

Microsoft allowed its MSDN and TechNet subscribers to download the release-to-manufacturing (RTM) versions of Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 on Monday.

Latest Windows Azure Tweaks Include Cache Service Preview

Microsoft on Tuesday launched a preview of a new distributed cache service for Windows Azure-hosted applications as part of a set of improvements to the cloud platform.