Mike Marshall's TS2 Rag

Glad to have you aboard! I am the Group Manager for TS2 Events at Microsoft. I want to hear from you! Please give me feedback on how we can build our Breadth Partner Community and help you become more successful! Please give us any comments on the Microsoft TS2 Events, our event Content, the Microsoft Partner Program, our website, www.ts2seminars.com the Small Business Specialist Community, or anything you feel like talking about! Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

November 2005 - Posts

Take advantage of the increasing demand for hosted email and communication services. The Microsoft Hosted Exchange Winter Seminar Series is coming to a city near you. You could also win a Portable Media Player!

Discover a Solution Designed for ISPs, Web Hosters, VARs and SIs

The Microsoft solution for hosting Exchange and SharePoint® is based on the Windows Server System™ platform and is designed for companies looking to grow their business by adding hosting rich e-mail and collaboration services to their offerings.. It provides tools, scripts, sample code, provisioning services, and best practices that service providers can use to efficiently deploy and operate Hosted Exchange, Hosted SharePoint® and Hosted Live Communication services.

In one day, you will:

  • Acquire business insights and understand the opportunities around Hosted Exchange, SharePoint® and other collaboration services.
  • Receive an overview of the Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration
  • Receive technical guidance and best practices for structuring your hosting environment to reduce operating costs.
  • Discover the benefits of partnering with Microsoft, including special licensing and certification programs.
  • Hear success stories from partners with Hosted Exchange service offerings

Expand Your Service Offerings and Grow Your Business!

If you already host basic e-mail and want to add new hosted services to your business, the Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration will allow you to offer higher value services to your customers and still maintain a competitive total cost of ownership. 

The demand for rich mailboxes and hosted collaboration tools is expanding rapidly.  Add Hosted Exchange to your services today to take advantage of these increased revenue opportunities!

The Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging & Collaboration allows you to expand your hosted services to include:

  • Rich mailboxes
  • Shared contacts and calendars
  • Team Web sites and document collaboration
  • Instant messaging services
  • Mobile device support
  • and lots more!

Learn more about meeting the growing demand for hosted messaging and collaboration services.

Seminar Topics Include:

  • Welcome
  • Why host Microsoft Exchange?
  • Introduction to the Microsoft solution for hosting Exchange & SharePoint®
  • Technical overview of the Solution for hosting Exchange & SharePoint®
  • How to deploy Hosted Exchange
  • Partnering with Microsoft to build your Hosted Exchange business
  • Sponsor Showcase – how featured sponsors can help you get going faster
  • Question and Answer Session

Register today for the city nearest you!

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Date: Location:  
December 08, 2005 Redmond, WA Register Now
December 13, 2005 Washington DC, DC Register Now
December 15, 2005 Atlanta, GA Register Now
January 10, 2006 Århus, Denmark Register Now
January 11, 2006 Mississauga, Canada Register Now
January 11, 2006 Copenhagen, Denmark Register Now
January 12, 2006 Oslo, Norway Register Now
January 18, 2006 New York City, NY Register Now
January 19, 2006 Chicago, IL Register Now
January 20, 2006 Brussels, Belgium Register Now
January 23, 2006 Fort Lauderdale, FL Register Now
January 24, 2006 Vienna, Austria Register Now
January 25, 2006 San Jose, CA Register Now
January 26, 2006 Reading, United Kingdom Register Now
January 31, 2006 Prague, Czech Republic Register Now
February 02, 2006 Denver, CO Register Now
February 03, 2006 Milan, Italy Register Now
February 07, 2006 Orange County - Irvine, CA Register Now
February 08, 2006 Athens, Greece Register Now
February 09, 2006 Amsterdam, Netherlands Register Now
February 15, 2006 Dallas, TX Register Now
February 21, 2006 Paris, France Register Now
February 23, 2006 Warsaw, Poland Register Now
Posted by mmars | with no comments
Hey Folks,
 
Right now partners are seeking IT consulting companies to help with software and application integration. Is your company the right one for them? This type of opportunity and many others are waiting for you in Channel Builder. You can also post descriptions of your offerings for free, using the Solution Profiler.

 

Build New Partnerships
Extend your market reach to the worldwide partner community to create new partnerships, locate specific opportunities, and collaborate with partners whose offerings complement your own.

Start Using Partner Channel Builder

To use Partner Channel Builder, you must be a member of the Microsoft Partner Program. Not enrolled yet? Become a
Registered Member for free in just 15 minutes.
 
What is a Partner Channel Builder?
 
Partner Channel Builder is a networking and resource-sharing community exclusively designed for members of the Microsoft Partner Program. Partner Channel Builder also includes structured networking events in selected cities.

Partner Channel Builder helps you make the most of the expertise available through the Microsoft Partner Program. By getting involved, you'll be able to:
  • Deepen your services and solutions. Create business relationships with other Microsoft partners whose skills and expertise complement your own. Respond to more complex business opportunities and extend a wider range of services to existing clients.
  • Help to reduce operating and demand generation costs with easy online access to opportunities though partnerships, collaboration, and mutual referrals.
  • Reach new markets by creating partnerships with complementary solution providers in regions outside your own.
  • Explore new opportunities and help increase ongoing revenue. Search for opportunities to connect with other partners across industries, locations, or competencies.
  • Help to increase customer satisfaction. Serve your customers’ needs better by partnering to deliver comprehensive solutions.
  • Realize business potential for you and your customers through innovative and collaborative application of Microsoft technologies and through your relationship with Microsoft and the worldwide partner community.
Registered Members, Certified Partners, and Gold Certified Partners can enter solutions and opportunities in Partner Channel Builder. Use Partner Channel Builder to promote your offerings and collaborate with other Microsoft partners worldwide. Search for opportunities to connect with other partners across verticals, locations, or competencies. Discover new business relationships that can help increase value to your customers and revenue for you.

Start Using Partner Channel Builder
Experience the benefits of collaborating with partners in order to provide customers with complete solutions on the Microsoft platform.
Posted by mmars | with no comments

Great article to share with customers!

Help thwart online scams with Microsoft Phishing Filter

Microsoft Phishing Filter helps identify fraudulent Web sites before you visit them and offers dynamic screening to help protect against online data theft

Published: September 22, 2005
Microsoft Phishing Filter helps identify fraudulent Web sites before you visit them and offers dynamic screening to help protect against online data theft

57 million people in the United States alone claim to have been exposed to at least one online phishing scam. These scams typically attempt to lure you into visiting phony Web sites where your personal information or credit card information can be collected for criminal use.

Microsoft Phishing Filter helps provide dynamic protection against phishing scams as you visit Web sites in two ways. It scans and helps identify suspicious Web sites, and provides up-to-the-hour updates and reporting on known phishing sites. Microsoft Phishing Filter is available as an add-in for the MSN Search Toolbar at no cost, and will be also available in the upcoming Windows Internet Explorer 7.

 
Two key features Two key features
Microsoft Phishing Filter in action Microsoft Phishing Filter in action
How to get Microsoft Phishing Filter How to get Microsoft Phishing Filter
Step 1: Download and install the MSN Search Toolbar Step 1: Download and install the MSN Search Toolbar
Step 2: Download and install the Microsoft Phishing Filter Add-in for the MSN Search Toolbar Step 2: Download and install the Microsoft Phishing Filter Add-in for the MSN Search Toolbar

Two key features

Microsoft Phishing Filter combines two technologies to help protect you against phishing scams:

1.

A built-in filter that scans the URLs and Web pages you visit for characteristics associated with phishing scams.

2.

An online service that offers real-time information about the reputations of reported phishing Web sites. (Phishing sites often appear and disappear in 24–48 hours, so up-to-the-hour information is critical.)

 
Microsoft Phishing Filter in action

After you download and install the Microsoft Phishing Filter Add-in for MSN Search Toolbar, if you come across a suspected phishing site while surfing the Web, a yellow warning appears.

Yellow warning

If you attempt to visit a known phishing site, a red warning appears and you are prevented from entering any information into any Web form on that site.

Red warning

How to get Microsoft Phishing Filter

To use Microsoft Phishing Filter, you must be running the MSN Search Toolbar and then install the new Microsoft Phishing Filter add-in. (The MSN Search Toolbar can also be downloaded at no charge.) To install the Microsoft Phishing Filter add-in, you need to have a Windows PC running Windows XP SP2.

Step 1: Download and install the MSN Search Toolbar

Note: If you are running Internet Explorer or Microsoft Outlook, the installation will require that you close the programs to continue.

1.

Go to http://toolbar.msn.com/

2.

Click Download Toolbar Now - Free. When the File Download window opens, click Run.

3.

In the security warning window that says "Do you want to run this software?", click Run to begin the Installation Wizard.

4.

On the Welcome page, click Next.

5.

After reviewing the terms of use and the privacy statement, click the option button next to "I agree to the terms of use and the privacy statement" and then click Next, if you want to continue.

6.

The installation process will continue automatically until a window opens that enables you to either customize the MSN Search Toolbar or continue installation with the default settings. Unless you know of specific changes you want to make in the settings, select Use the default settings and close the Wizard, and then click Finish.

7.

Click Okay to verify your settings.

 
Step 2: Download and install the Microsoft Phishing Filter Add-in for the MSN Search Toolbar

If you're already using the MSN Search Toolbar, you can install Microsoft Phishing Filter by following the following instructions.

1.

Go to the MSN Search Toolbar Add-ins home page (http://addins.msn.com/addins_category_toolbar.aspx#phishing).

2.

Scroll down to Microsoft Phishing Filter Add-in for MSN Search Toolbar and click Get it now.

MSN Search Toolbar Add-ins home page

3.

Click Run. Then, in the security warning window that says "Do you want to run this software?", click Run to begin the Installation Wizard.

4.

Before you can continue, you must close Internet Explorer and Outlook if those programs are running on your computer (this does not include the Installation Wizard).

5.

After reviewing the privacy statement, on the Welcome page of the Installation Wizard, click Next to agree to the privacy statement. Select Yes or No if you do or do not want to participate in the customer experience improvement program, then click Install to begin automatic installation.

6.

Open Internet Explorer, and the MSN Search Toolbar will now be at the top of your screen, with a button for the Phishing Filter that gives you options to Report a Website, Check for Updates, Learn Phishing Filter Options, and Learn more about the Phishing Filter.

Phishing Filter options

Now, with Microsoft Phishing Filter installed in your MSN Search Toolbar, each Web site you visit will be verified and scanned for suspicious characteristics and be automatically checked against known phishing sites.

Posted by mmars | 9 comment(s)

Hey Folks,

Here is a good chance to look at what's new and hot inb Office 12 and get a look at the new XML file format!  Click on the link to register for the Webcast!

What's hot in Office 12? Well the new XML file format has to be atop the list. We will be talking with Brian Jones about this incredible breakthrough and how it will impact your world from programming to interoperabilty. Please join us for one of the first deep dives into the Office 12 XML file format.

http://www.msreadiness.com/WS_abstract.asp?eid=15003290

Posted by mmars | with no comments

 

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 will be available in early 2006. Find out what to expect and how to prepare by reviewing the documents on this page.

Attend a launch event near you to see Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 in action (U.S. only)

Be among the first to see how Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0, the fastest growing CRM application, has evolved to help organizations overcome some of the biggest CRM obstacles.

Special offer: Buy now and get full rights to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0

Purchase any module of Microsoft CRM 1.2 Professional and get full suite rights to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 (expires December 1, 2005).

View the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 data sheet

See how you can standardize customer communications and business processes. You’ll find a familiar Microsoft interface combined with technology that works the way your users work, adapts to the way you do business, and works the way IT expects.

Preparing for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0: Invest in Microsoft CRM 1.2 today

By acquiring Microsoft CRM 1.2 now, you can get your customer and product information set up the way you want. Then you can transfer the data as part of a smooth upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0.

Upgrading supported Microsoft CRM 1.2 environments to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0

Find out what you need to do to successfully upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0.

Upgrading unsupported Microsoft CRM 1.2 environments to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0

The "Upgrading Unsupported Microsoft CRM 1.2 Environments to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0" white paper provides what you need to know about upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 if your current installation has non-supported customizations. You’ll find examples of some common non-supported customizations and instructions on what to do to fix problems with the customizations so your upgrade will proceed smoothly.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0: Application training

Learn about the new and enhanced features in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0: Technical training

Review this training designed for technical team members to find out about the new and enhanced features in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0.

Posted by mmars | with no comments

Some real good info for those  partners who are focusing on Small and Medium Business.  This is some good info about the MBS products offered by Microsoft!

As a member of Microsoft Professional Accountants’ Network (MPAN), you have access to resources that will help you grow your business, advise your clients, and get up to speed quickly on Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting 2006.
Microsoft Professional Accountants' Network
Microsoft Professional Accountants’ Network Member Benefits

Software, Solutions, and Services
Extend the value of Office Small Business Accounting with:
  • ADP payroll for Small Business Accounting. Choose from two affordable payroll services that deliver a hosted, full-featured payroll and tax processing application from the industry leader.
  • Merchant services. Small Business Accounting includes integrated credit card processing that works with all major credit and debit cards. Card processing is available through Wells Fargo Merchant Card Services, Chase Merchant Services, or by continuing to use an existing merchant account.
  • Checks and forms. Order high-quality checks and forms that are compatible with Small Business Accounting. You can select the styles that best match your business’s identity, and order by phone, fax, mail, or online.
Support, Training, and Resources for Your Practice
Support
Help ensure that your technology investment is secure and running smoothly with:
  • Business-Critical Phone Support. Get your clients’ financial systems back to full functionality with this free technical support service.
  • Microsoft Managed Newsgroups. Get your break-fix and other technical support questions answered quickly and reliably in professionally staffed online forums.
  • An online Knowledge Base. Quickly find what you need among thousands of articles covering all aspects of working with Microsoft software.
  • Other online resources. Get easy access to additional resources such as support webcasts and informal discussion groups.
Training
Get access to resources for help mastering Office Small Business Accounting with:
  • Free CPE training on Small Business Accounting. Choose from three 8-hour self-paced tutorials and one 3-hour Hands-On Lab Online, all tailored to the needs of accounting professionals.
  • Extensive training on Microsoft Office. Explore Office Small Business Accounting with step-by-step training in a lab environment where you can use the product without installing it on your computer.
  • Microsoft Partner Learning Center. Take advantage of hundreds of other training courses.
Resources for Your Practice
You can develop your business by taking advantage of:
  • Small business resources. Get more out of your Microsoft products and tap into insights from a broad range of small business experts.
  • Microsoft Competencies. Demonstrate your expertise in specialized areas of Microsoft technologies, such as Microsoft Business Solutions, to help differentiate your company from the competition and gain access to additional Microsoft benefits.
  • Microsoft Partner Channel Builder. Connect with Microsoft Certified Partners who can help you create new revenue streams and maintain strong client relationships.
Other Program Benefits
Strengthen your role as a trusted adviser to your clients with priority access to essential Microsoft information such as:
  • MPAN website and newsletter content. Stay current with news, information, and resources tailored to your needs.
  • MPAN Customer Support Hotline. Use this toll-free hotline to quickly resolve any benefits and membership issues.
  • Events and webcasts. Attend Microsoft events in person or online, and get the latest information from Microsoft experts.
  • Discussion groups. Communicate with Microsoft employees, experts, and peers about small business accounting and other critical issues.
MPAN Member Benefits with Microsoft Action Pack Subscription
When you add a Microsoft Action Pack Subscription to your MPAN membership, you gain even more benefits to help you enhance your practice and guide your clients to success.
Microsoft Action Pack Subscription. Take advantage of this cost-effective, convenient subscription to acquire a comprehensive set of Microsoft client and server software for running your practice. For one low annual fee, get 10 licenses for most software programs and updates sent quarterly.
Get extended support for Small Business Accounting. Stay on track with free installation support, technical phone support at no additional charge for five calls related to Small Business Accounting, priority queue access, and extended support hours during tax season.

Posted by mmars | 2 comment(s)

Prepare yourself for business oportunities or refer to this before deplying a Small or Medium Business Solution...

Get the guidance you need for planning, building, operating, and supporting end-to-end IT solutions for small and medium businesses (SMB). Based on Microsoft software and complementary partner technologies, these solutions are designed for partners who want to provide their customers dependable, secure, and integrated IT solutions based on pre-tested and pre-configured designs.

Program Overview
The Microsoft Solutions for Small and Medium Business program consists of a series of solutions that are based on Microsoft products and complementary partner technologies, and are designed for different small and medium business market segments.
 
  • Peer-to-Peer Networking with Windows XP
    Designed for a server-less environment with up to ten users. The Peer-to-Peer Networking with Windows XP solution provides guidance on how to connect and configure computers and networks in a small office or a home office. This solution helps customers through the common tasks, answers questions they may have, and helps them avoid or troubleshoot problems that they may encounter. The solution is targeted at business users who use and install their own computer systems.
  • Small IT Solution
    (Small Business Server 2003 — Multi server scenario)
    The Small IT Solution is an entry-level solution into server-based computing for small businesses that are looking for high-value core information technology (IT) functionality that is affordable, secure, dependable, and easy-to-use. This solution is targeted at organizations with up to 50 users.
  • Small Business Solution Accelerator
    (Small Business Server 2003 — single server scenario)
    This is an entry-level solution into server-based computing for small businesses with up to 25 users. It offers integrated end-to-end prescriptive guidance for a small IT infrastructure environment that includes networking and SBS services such as file and print, messaging, collaboration, fax sharing, and remote web workplace.
  • Small IT Solution for Mobility
    The Small IT Solution for Mobility provides guidance to help deploy a mobility solution in the small IT environment. It uses Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC (Phone Edition) and Windows Mobile-based Smartphone devices. The solution requires Exchange Server that is a part of the Small Business Server deployed using the guidance provided in the Small IT Solution.
  • Medium IT Solution Series
    Designed for growing businesses that are progressively increasing the use of IT to empower employees and connect with customers. The solution provides greater flexibility in terms of IT design and the number of supported users. The solutions series is a collection of solutions and guides intended for medium-sized businesses with 50-250 users.
Posted by mmars | with no comments

Looks like a great session and worth checking out folks, thought I'd share!  Cindy Bates is Hosting (General Manager Microsoft US SMall Business Group)

Event Date:
11/17/2005

Presenter:
Cindy Bates, Janet Waxman, Elyn Yao, Mohit Vij

Event Time:
9:00 AM Pacific, USA & Canada (DST) = GMT - 08:00

Duration:
60 minutes

Description:
Come join us for this interactive web seminar, hosted by Cindy Bates, Microsoft’s General Manager, U.S. Small Business Group. This hour long session will feature discussions with recognized IDC analyst, Janet Waxman, Small Business Server product manager Elyn Yao, and Mohit Vij from our partner, General Informatics.

The panel will address when, where and how to uncover new opportunities with Microsoft Small Business Server. Specifically, we’ll take a look industry trends and market opportunity, how Small Business Server helps address the most common problems faced in the SMB space today, and how Microsoft can help you uncover and pursue opportunities with SBS moving forward. Small Business is Big Business: Uncovering Opportunities With Microsoft Small Business Server.
About the panelists:

Cindy Bates- General Manager, US Small Business group
Cindy is responsible for maximizing Microsoft’s potential to serve the needs of the 6 million small businesses in the United States. Armed with a wealth of management experience and expertise in strategic and corporate development, investment banking, and small business operations, Bates is charged with bringing even greater focus and visibility to Microsoft’s already strong, ongoing efforts to serve small businesses.

Janet Waxman- VP of Hardware Channels and Alliances/IDC Industry Analyst
Ms. Waxman leads a team of researchers responsible for identifying and analyzing go to market strategies that are key to the success of the hardware focused IT vendors. This encompasses tracking a set of business issues that face these suppliers' ecosystems, including distribution channels, strategic alliances, partnering strategies as well as balancing hybrid and complex
routes to market. The team provides guidance and advice to a broad range of companies including start-ups through multi-national organizations. Ms. Waxman's research specifically focuses on these key issues for server and storage related products. She joins this panel as an industry expert and author of a recently published whitepaper, “Paths to Opportunity for Microsoft Windows Small-Business Server 2003 Partners”.

Elyn Yao- Senior Product Manager, Windows Small Business Server Worldwide Product Management Team
Elyn joins us from the worldwide SBS product management team and is responsible for SBS’ go-to-market efforts, partner marketing, product marketing, and worldwide marketing. Elyn brings more than 10 years of marketing experience to Microsoft, most of which was spent working in small businesses.

Mohit Vij- President, General Informatics
Mohit Vij is the President of General Informatics. His company focuses on Small Business Technology needs for business in the Gulf Coast region. His company recently won the Microsoft Partners-in-Paradise Contest for the best Small Business IT solution in the nation. Last month they were also announced “Company of the Year” from Louisiana Business & Technology Center. In the last four years Mo has successfully steered his company with a growth of over 200% annually and recently also became the first Small Business Specialist in Louisiana.


Posted by mmars | 2 comment(s)

Hey folks,

Some cool stuff coming from Microsoft and the Partner Program.  Check this out and get the details!

The Microsoft Partner Program is rolling out new program enhancements to help you extend your market reach, increase operational efficiency, and realize maximum business potential.

This announcement represents the most significant enhancements to the program since its inception approximately 18 months ago. Many of the new benefits are available today, and the rest will become available early this fall. In addition, we’ve centralized processes, expanded into global support, added four new Microsoft Competencies, streamlined and simplified the Partner Points model, and made many all-around enhancements to the tools and infrastructure to make it easier to do business. Download the complete announcement for additional details.
 
Turn Expertise into Opportunity: Achieve a Competency
Achieving a Microsoft Competency enables you to promote your expertise and differentiate your organization from the competition. Attaining a competency provides access to additional benefits and value-added resources to help drive business results.
 
Save Up to 30% on Microsoft Certification Exams Worldwide
To help Gold Certified and Certified Partners become qualified to attain Microsoft Competencies, Microsoft is offering certification exam savings on Partner Competency Exams (PCEs) and Microsoft Business Solutions and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exams for a limited time.
Learn more.
Overview of What's New
We’ve centralized processes, expanded into global support, added four new Microsoft Competencies, streamlined and simplified the Partner Points model, and made many all-around enhancements to the tools and infrastructure. The following are highlights of what is new.
Four New Competencies
Changes to Existing Competencies
New Opportunities for Small Business
Improved Membership Management
  • Partner Membership Center
    • Simplified navigation, unified anniversary dates, and points expiration
  • Streamlined enrollment and renewal process
  • Automatic enrollment into competencies (if requirements are met)
  • New support for global businesses
  • Software License sales
  • Small Business Specialist designation
  • Pool Partner Points across multiple locations
New and Improved Benefits, Tools, and Resources

Posted by mmars | with no comments

Great Small Business Security info from the Microsoft Small Business site...

Security Guide for Small Business cover

We know how much security and dependability mean to you in today's business computing environment. And we want to help. That's why we created the Security Guide for Small Business explicitly for small-business owners. Download this free technology resource to get tips, tricks, and how-to information you can use right away to help protect your PC and your business. You'll learn:

It's free, and the information could be priceless. Click here to download your free Guide (Adobe PDF, 1.41MB, 62 pages).


Get Acrobat Reader



If you have questions about this offer, please call 1-800-MICROSOFT and refer to designated code SECR.
 
Important Microsoft security links:

Small Business Security Guidance Center: Learn how to reduce your risks from viruses, hackers and other threats with security information aimed at the business owner. This online guidance center was developed with the business owner in mind so it's approachable and digestible.

Latest Security Updates: Get information on the latest software security updates and find out how to help protect your PC against viruses, hackers, and other security issues.

Latest Security Updates: Check for free updates that improve Office's stability and security.

Get Notified Right Away of Important Security Updates: To help you maintain a safe computing environment, Microsoft offers e-mail alerts that notify you when we release an important security bulletin or virus alert, or when you might need to take action to guard against a circulating threat.

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer: MBSA is a free tool you can download and use to scan your stand-alone or networked computers for security vulnerabilities. With MBSA you can easily find missing security updates for Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 systems. After scanning your computers, MBSA provides information on how to locate and install necessary updates.



©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Posted by mmars | with no comments

Hey Folks!  Here is an opportunity to REACH OUT and NETWORK with other prtners to promote your solutions and find new business opportunities!  You can post your offereings in Microsoft's online directories so that customers cand other partners can find them easily.  Below are some directions to get this done!  Happy Hunting!

Profile your company’s offerings in Partner Solution Profiler to reach both customers and Microsoft partners through Partner Channel Builder and customer-facing solution directories.
Partner Channel Builder is the exclusive networking and collaboration tool that can connect you with other Microsoft partners around the world. Use it to take advantage of new business opportunities.
The Microsoft Resource Directory helps you find companies that provide third-party software, solutions, services, or training based on Microsoft technologies. The directory has exposure in more than 223 countries.

More Networking Resources:

 

Posted by mmars | with no comments

 

 
Profile Your Solutions Once and Communicate Them Everywhere
Enter your company’s offerings in Partner Solution Profiler. Providing this information in one location will allow you to reach both customers and Microsoft partners through Partner Channel Builder and customer-facing solution directories.

Start Profiling Your Solution Now
Please be sure that the solution profiles you submit meet the following quality standards to be exposed in the online search directories.
  • Solution profiles must be updated annually through the online tool.
  • Solution profiles must be supported by customer references.
  • Customer references may be validated by Microsoft at any time.
To use Partner Solution Profiler, you must be a member of the Microsoft Partner Program. Not enrolled yet? Become a Registered Member for free in just 15 minutes.
 
Why Use the Partner Soultion Profiler You Ask?
 
Get visibility in Microsoft customer and partner directories by describing your solutions and differentiating them from those of your competitors. When you enter your solutions in Partner Solution Profiler, they will appear in both Partner Channel Builder and customer-facing solution directories.
Extend Your Market Reach with Partner Channel Builder
Partner Channel Builder enables you to network with other Microsoft partners on potential opportunities. Promote your business online to more easily enter new markets and geographies while helping to reduce your operating and demand-generation costs.
Connect with Customers and Plug into Microsoft through Customer Solution Finder
Customer Solution Finder, launching later this year, will help you promote your company's solutions to potential customers. Profiling your solutions also helps you qualify for leads and co-marketing support with Microsoft.
Posted by mmars | with no comments

Great info on MS company future direction.  Click the link below for the Press Release. 

Windows Live:  What is it?  Your online world gets better when everything works simply and effortlessly together. That's the basic idea behind Windows Live. So the things you care about - your friends, the latest information, your e-mails, powerful search, your PC files, everything – comes together in one place. This is a brand new Internet experience designed to put you in control. And this is just the beginning – you'll see many more new services in the coming months.

Microsoft Corporation today previewed two new sets of software-based services that utilize the Internet to deliver rich and seamless experiences to both individuals and small businesses. Windows Live and Microsoft Office Live are two new offerings that combine the power of software plus services and provide natural complements to the Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Office products. In particular, Windows Live helps bring together all the elements of an individual's digital world while Office Live will help small companies do business online.

With over 40 million small businesses worldwide, partners will be able to tap into the tremendous opportunity to use Office Live as a platform for extending their own small business solutions in a scalable and cost-effective manner as well as apply their expertise to customize and extend solutions for Office Live.
Posted by mmars | with no comments

Wow!  This is a pretty smokin offer!  Check this one out!  Share with your Partner Friends...

Sell a Small Business Platform SKU Agreement & get a FREE HTC "Wizard" Pocket PC Smartphone for you or your Small Business customer!*

Entry Form


The Microsoft U.S. Small Business Team is proud to announce the FREE Pocket PC Smartphone offer!

One of the great features SBS 2003 provides Small Businesses is the power of mobility.  Being able to access their email, calendars, contacts, etc. while on the road or at home provides a level of freedom unavailable to them before.  Utilizing some of the new mobile devices, such as Pocket PC Smartphones, allows them to take this technology with them even more conveniently.  Now, with the introduction of the NEW Small Business Platform SKU, available on a company-wide basis through Open Value 2.0, Small Businesses now have the ability to acquire this technology in an easy and flexible manner as well. 

As one of our Small Business Partners, you have told us that being able to show your Small Business customers the power of this mobility is a great benefit to you and them.  This offer is designed to provide you an easy way to do that.  So what's the offer?

The first (100) Partners who submit a valid Open Value 2.0 Company-Wide Agreement for the NEW Small Business Platform SKU that was sold to a Small Business in the U.S. with 25 PCs or less will receive one (1) FREE HTC "Wizard" Pocket PC Smartphone per eligible Agreement submitted! 

What is this Pocket PC Smartphone for?  Here are just a couple ideas:

1) Looking to show your Small Business customers how using mobile devices such as Pocket PC Smartphones can help them leverage their investment in technology such as SBS 2003?  Give the FREE Pocket PC Smartphone to the owner of the Small Business that placed the order for the Small Business Platform SKU Agreement and let them start accessing their SBS 2003 Server through it.  It shouldn't take long for them to see the benefits of this technology for their company.

2) If you do not already have a Pocket PC Smartphone that you are using to demonstrate the mobility features of SBS 2003 and what it can provide to your Small Business customers, you will now!

How do you enter this promotion?

- First: Make sure your Agreement meets the minimum requirements (below)
- Second: Complete the ENTRY FORM online and press Submit
- Third: Once your entry has been confirmed and validated as meeting the requirements for this promotion, you will receive a confirmation email.
- Fourth: Receive your FREE HTC "Wizard" Pocket PC Smartphone

* Details and minimum requirements for the offer:

1) Open Value 2.0 Company-Wide Agreements must contain the NEW Small Business Platform SKU (Part #B6K-00052 or B6K-00050) and be for companies with (25) PCs or less.

2) Only agreements processed on or after October 17, 2005 qualify.

3) Offer valid for the first (100) eligible submissions.

4) Promotion is for the FREE HTC "Wizard" Pocket PC Smartphone only.  Any and all activation/service requirements and all monthly fees are the responsibility of the recipient of the phone.

5) Warranty on HTC "Wizard" Pocket PC Smartphone is provided by hardware manufacturer, not Microsoft.

6) Pocket PC Smartphone must be shipped directly to either customer address contained on Open Value 2.0 Agreement or directly to Partner organization main address.

7) Exact model of phone shipped will depend on availability (please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery).  Here are two current models of HTC "Wizard" Pocket PC Smartphones as examples:

1) i-mate K-Jam

2) Qtek 9100


  Official Rules

Please Note:  It is your sole responsibility to review and understand your employer’s policies regarding your eligibility to participate in trade promotions such as this one.  If you are participating in violation of your employer’s policies, you may be disqualified from entering this sweepstakes or receiving prizes.  Microsoft disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for disputes arising between an employee and their employer related to this matter and prizes will only be awarded in compliance with the employer’s policies.  Microsoft intends that the use of this product comply with applicable federal, state, and local government gift and ethics rules. If your customer is a government employee (including an employee of a public education institution), this product may be used for evaluation purposes only, solely for the benefit of the agency/institution, and not for the personal use or benefit of any individual.

Program Description / Eligibility: No purchase necessary. This promotion is open only to companies that are authorized to sell Microsoft Open License Value 2.0 software in the United States. Employees of Microsoft, their affiliates, subsidiaries, and any person working on the product, project, or promotion, advertising and promotional agencies and the immediate family members of each are not eligible. Void where prohibited by law. Falsification of any information on submission forms will immediately invalidate all entries for that reseller (See CAUTION section located in final paragraph below for more details).

How To Enter:

1) Process an order for a new Microsoft Open License Value 2.0 Company-Wide Agreement containing the new Small Business Platform SKU (B6K-00052 or B6K-00050) for a Small Business Customer (defined as a company having between 5 and 25 PCs in their organization) in the United States of America on or after October 17, 2005.
2) Upon activation of the new Open License Value 2.0 Company-Wide Agreement, complete all fields in the Entry Form online, and click Submit Entry button.

- The first 100 valid qualifying entries will receive one. (1) HTC "Wizard" Pocket PC Smartphone.
- Each Agreement can only be submitted once into the promotion. Multiple submissions of the same Agreement will not be considered.
- Organizations may submit multiple unique qualifying agreements during this promotion
- Limit (1) HTC "Wizard" Pocket PC Smartphone per Agreement
- Promotion is for the FREE HTC "Wizard" Pocket PC Smartphone only. Any and all activation/service requirements and monthly fees and charges are the responsibility of the recipient of the phone.
- Warranty on HTC "Wizard" Pocket PC Smartphone is provided by hardware manufacturer, not Microsoft.
- Pocket PC Smartphone must be shipped directly to either customer address contained on Open Value 2.0 Agreement or directly to Partner organization main address.

No responsibility is assumed by Microsoft for lost, late, mutilated, postage due, or misdirected entries or any computer, online telephone or technical malfunctions that may occur. All entries become the property of Microsoft and will not be returned. All activation and service charges involved in the setup and use of the awarded HTC "Wizard" Pocket PC Smartphone are the responsibility of the winning party and not of Microsoft.

No substitution, transfer, or assignment of prize permitted, except that Microsoft reserves the right to substitute a prize of equivalent value in the event the offered prize is unavailable. All taxes on prizes are the sole responsibility of the prize winners.

General Conditions: Entrants agree to abide by the terms of these official rules and by the decisions of Microsoft which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this promotion. This promotion is governed by the laws of the United States. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Prize winners may be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within seven (7) days following the date of attempted notification. Non compliance within this time period may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Return of any prize/ prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Entrants further grant to Microsoft the right to use and publish their proper name and state online and in print in any other media in connection with the sweepstakes. Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for Microsoft to use winner's names and likenesses for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation unless prohibited by law. By entering, participants release and hold harmless Microsoft, their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents from any and all liability or any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this sweepstakes or any prize won.

Internet: If for any reason the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Microsoft which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this promotion, Microsoft reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes. Microsoft assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. Microsoft is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or entry to be received by Microsoft on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this Sweepstakes.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A CONTESTANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE GAME IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH CONTESTANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

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