Microsoft Partnering 101


Push for Answers on Software as a Service

Partners have good reason to be concerned as Microsoft grows its SaaS business.

Best Buy's Small Business Offensive

In a move that's making some Microsoft partners jittery, the retail giant plans to double the number of stores targeting SMBs this year.

RCPmag.com Readers Respond

Small (biz) complaint; software as a service advocate speaks up; sold on selling tips.

Virtualization Saves Real Dollars

Virtual Server 2005 R2 has a range of applications that can help your customers improve efficiency and cut costs.

Going for the Gold

Partners say that making the jump from Certified to Gold Certified is worth the effort -- but not necessarily for the reasons that Microsoft emphasizes.

Striking the Balance in Partnership

Recognizing those "whoa" moments and those "vive la différence" between you and other Microsoft partners that you work and/or compete with.

Microsoft Revamps Office Group

Microsoft said this week it will split the Office business unit in two to better reflect the suite's continuing evolution, and has appointed two veteran insiders to head the new groups.

Getting Serious about ERP

Microsoft has finally put together a strategy for its Dynamics business applications and is pumping major resources into the product line. Partners need to be ready for what's coming.

New Version of Ubuntu Software Coming

A new version of the Ubuntu software package, a flavor of the freely distributed Linux operating system, is due out Thursday.

Market Shift

On the strength of its scanning tool, Intellagent is making the move from service provider to product vendor.

The Best Estimate

Even with a well-defined project plan, it's best to let the customer know that an estimate on deliverables is just that -- an estimate.

One Hat or Many?

Can your IT services company be a generalist and a specialist?

NetIQ To Ship Analysis Center Update

Enterprise management software vendor NetIQ will ship its new Analysis Center 2.5 package on June 22, the company says.

Analyst: AMD Considering Acquisition of Graphics Chip Maker ATI

Shares of ATI Technologies Inc. jumped more than 9.5 percent Wednesday after a Wall Street analyst said the graphics chip maker may be acquired by Advanced Micro Devices Inc., the PC microprocessor maker that's been taking market share from Intel Corp.

Cap on High-Tech Visas for 2007 Already Met

The government has already reached the limit on high-tech worker visas for 2007 even though the fiscal year doesn't start until Oct. 1, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said Thursday.