Microsoft Partnering 101


Microsoft Enters Display Ad Deal with Yahoo, AOL

Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL have entered a publisher partnership deal to cross-sell their inventories as part of a collaboration on Web-based display ads.

Adobe Kills Mobile Flash, Slashes 750 Jobs

Adobe is phasing out its browser-based Flash Player for mobile devices, and is planning to cut 750 jobs as part of a financial restructuring, the company announced this week.

Why So Secretive, Steven Sinofsky?

Now that the main elements of Windows 8 seem locked down, will Sinofsky be more forthcoming with information for Microsoft's hardware partners?

Microsoft Talks Cloud (Not 'Software Plus Services') at Investor Event

Charles Di Bona, general manager of Microsoft's Server and Tools Division, offered some perspective on Microsoft's cloud vision on Monday at the CLSA Asia USA Forum for investors in San Francisco.

Former Samsung VP Joins Microsoft's Windows Phone Team as GM

According to an interview on the Web site Boy Genius Report (BGR), the former vice president of Samsung's Consumer & Enterprise Services division, Gavin Kim, is moving to Microsoft to become the general manager of the Windows Phone division.

Microsoft Reveals SQL Server 2012 Licensing Model

Microsoft recently shared the details of the licensing model for its up-and-coming relational database management system, SQL Server 2012 (previously code-named "Denali").

AT&T Starts Selling 'Mango'-Based Samsung Devices

Less than two weeks after participating in Nokia's hotly anticipated unveiling in London of Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango"-based devices for international markets, Microsoft was in New York Monday to launch several devices with AT&T in the United States.

Best Buy To Acquire Cloud Provider mindSHIFT

Nearly a decade after it acquired Geek Squad, consumer tech retailer Best Buy has agreed to buy IT outsourcer and cloud provider mindSHIFT Technologies for $167 million.

Dell Bundles Microsoft's SBS Essentials 2011 with Entry-Level Server

Dell has released a bundle targeted at small businesses that includes Microsoft's Small Business Server (SBS) Essentials 2011 running on an entry-level PowerEdge system.

Top 8 Partner Opportunities in Windows 8

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.

Report: Google Enters Cloud Deal with General Motors

According to a report published Friday by The Wall Street Journal, Google has entered an agreement with General Motors Corp. to provide its cloud-based Google Apps suite to more than 100,000 of the automaker's employees.

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.

Post-Master VAR, Microsoft Cracks Down on Alternative Approach

With its first two Master VARs named, Microsoft is cracking down on a so-called buying group that sprung up in response to the recent changes for Microsoft partners focused on the business application/Dynamics side of Microsoft's product portfolio.

Microsoft's Dynamics Partners Finding Strength in Numbers with Katalys (UPDATED)

Katalys Group formed to help small Dynamics partners find a creative way to meet the Microsoft Partner Network requirements by banding together.

The ABCs of a Productive Channel

This isn't rocket science. Lay out a plan by week, by month, by quarter and by year for all of your communications and then execute that plan.