Ask IW UK Blog : 2007 Office system

New Deployment Site

IW UK Partner Team — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:31:34 GMT

We’ve launched a new Vista and Office 2007 Deployment Web site run by a bunch of experts here in the UK from both Microsoft and our Partner community. www.desktopdeployment.co.uk

To see some of the tools available (like an application compatibility toolkit and a Vista hardware assessment tool) head over to Partner-TV to see Adam Shepherd and Richard Smith from our consulting division give a demo.

http://blogs.msdn.com/ptstv/archive/2007/04/03/partner-tv-adam-shepherd-and-richard-smith-on-deployment.aspx

OCS 2007 Beta Now Available

IW UK Partner Team — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 11:14:51 GMT

Download the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 Public Beta today:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/beta/ocs/default.mspx

Office Communications Server 2007, the next evolution of Live Communications Server, delivers streamlined communications for your users so they can find and communicate with the right person, right now, from the applications they use most—like Microsoft Outlook. And when you download the beta software, you're automatically registered to access valuable beta resources assembled in one convenient Beta Central location.

Please review Office Communications Server 2007 system requirements before you proceed. Actual requirements and product functionality may vary based on your system configuration.

New Partner Training Courses Released

IW UK Partner Team — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 10:55:57 GMT

Selling, Implementing and Configuring Enterprise Project Management (Project Server 2007)https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search.aspx?ssid=B127DC8F77E443AB9626CD47D0CB8AA0

Exchange Server 2007 Ignite Technical Training Workshop: https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search_adv.aspx?ssid=FB5913D4E33A4571BB2BA62757626519

2007 Microsoft Office System Core Training:
https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search_adv.aspx?ssid=C2383DDBA92142469685F3310F4D3D55

2007 Microsoft Office System ECM and Forms Workshop: https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search_adv.aspx?ssid=90D6755BE53744ADB09BD1B48836D76A

2007 Microsoft Office System Performance Management Workshop: https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search_adv.aspx?ssid=6A3C6BAB71B449F1B1581FC54E8F9BFA

2007 Microsoft Office System Portals and Collaboration Workshop: https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search_adv.aspx?ssid=E84FC4254C5A476C888DD8525C3BAB02

2007 Microsoft Office System Unified Communication Workshop: https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search_adv.aspx?ssid=8D23C3E9907C45B999CAC86F052463EF

2007 Microsoft Office System Enterprise Search Workshop: https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search_adv.aspx?ssid=67DF80AA90D1456F93795CE93D18A31C

Business Intelligence Bootcamp Announced!
https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/noauth.aspx?site=global&lang=en&redirect=false

Partner Desktop Deployment Planning Services Readiness Workshop

IW UK Partner Team — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:50:03 GMT

New Desktop Deployment Planning Services Readiness (BDD v3) Workshop for partners have been announced.

Duration: 4 days
Cost: £400
First date scheduled: 27th March 2007
Visit here to enrol, or partners may search for course ID 44wk004 with the Partner Learning Centre.
If partners have any issues enrolling, please call the UK Partner Learning Centre Support number 0870 8509442 or email ukplc@microsoft.com.

Technologies & Products used during the course:

User State Migration Tool 3.0
Windows Vista Deployment tools
- WinPE
- System Image Manager
- Windows AIK
- ImageX
Business Desktop Solution Accelerator (BDD) 2007
Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 5.0
- Inventory Collector
- Standard User Analyzer
- Internet Explorer Test Tool
- Setup Analysis Tool
- Compatibility Administrator
- Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor
Office 2007 System
- ORK
- Office 2007 Multi Language Packs
- Office Customization Tool (OCT v1)
Windows Deployment Service (WDS)
Windows Vista
- Language Packs
- Patches
- Unattended Installation
- Imaging
- Customisation methods
SQL 2000 / 2005
MOM2005 / SCOM2007
SMS 2003 and OS Deployment Feature Pack
Softgrid
Sharepoint
BizTalk

The course overview is attached and available within the Partner Learning Centre:

27 March 2007 for 4 days in London: 44WK004 - Desktop Deployment Planning Services (BDD)
30 April 2007 for 4 days in London: 44WK004 - Desktop Deployment Planning Services (BDD)
11 June 2007 for 4 days in London: 44WK004 - Desktop Deployment Planning Services (BDD)
25 June 2007 for 4 days in London: 44WK004 - Desktop Deployment Planning Services (BDD)

To find all of the events in the Partner Learning Centre please click here : https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search_adv.aspx?ssid=0a0749fb-2ebc-4a2e-a327-43ee90912af7&isMetaTagRefreshed=true

This link to enrol can then be used, or partners can search on the course ID 44wk004 (see below) If you have any issues enrolling, please call the UK Partner Learning Centre Support number 0870 8509442 or ukplc@microsoft.com.

Which 2007 Office Application Are You?!

IW UK Partner Team — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:34:36 GMT

Just when you think you've seen it all, a new "cosmo" style personality quiz launched last week to determine which Office app you are most like... so if you have a couple of minutes, check out www.OnTheOfficeCouch.com. I'm

PowerPoint 2007... I think I saw that coming :)

Profile your solutions for sales leads - check out OSSD

IW UK Partner Team — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 16:56:31 GMT

I'm sure you've heard about Solution Profiler and Solution Finder as a vehicle to profile your business solutions for customers, partners and Microsoft sales teams. Now there's another directory called OSSD (Office system Solutions Directory) which focuses only on the Microsoft Office system.

Confused? To ensure you are up-to-speed, here's my 3 step guide:

Step One: keep your "Solution Profiler" (generic directory, not necessarily IW specific) profile up-to-date and consider linking to a customer built page. Customers, partners & Microsoft'ies can search for solutions using the “sister” tool, Solution Finder.

Step Two: Profile your solution [again] in the OSSD (“Office System Solution Directory”) which allows you to profile their Office 2007 solutions in greater depth.

Step Three: As an incentive, you may achieve Launch Partner Status, by submitting a completed Office 2007 profile by 1^st March 2007 and complete the additional requirements.

What does "Launch Partner Status" mean?

Use of logo: In becoming a Solution Launch Partner, Partners will receive the logo shown below, which you can attach to your collateral and events.
Extra visibility: Office Online exposure via banner ads; currently receives 80million hits a month worldwide
Receive Solution Drive In A Box: information collected in one location, on a variety of local Partner Marketing activities
Why wait?!

Customers and partners can search for these solutions using http://directory.partners.extranet.microsoft.com/.

Partner Sales/Presales Readiness Workshop

IW UK Partner Team — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 17:07:18 GMT

The Business Productivity Infrastructure Optimization (BPIO) Partner Sales/Presales Readiness Workshop is a 2-day in-depth, instructor-led sales readiness workshop for SI and ISV partners.

This training will help partners understand:

how to develop customer conversations around the new 2007 Microsoft Office system
how to sell using the BPIO customer campaign tools
Unified Communications & Collaboration, Enterprise Content Management and Business Intelligence
Microsoft marketing strategies, field priorities, and technology capability training
how to execute their own customer campaigns and selling activities independently

Currently there is availability on 22 Jan; 25 Jan; 29 Jan and 1 Feb.

To register, click here or visit the Partner Learning Centre and search for course ID 44Wk001 or ‘BPIO’. Let me know if you have any issues enrolling by emailing AskIW@microsoft.com.

Play EVO Supremo for UK Partners!

IW UK Partner Team — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 15:58:00 GMT

Welcome back after the festive holidays. To help you get back into the swing of things, I challenge you to try and beat my score in our new game for Partners: EVO Supremo, either with your knowledge of our latest software or your speed at searching.

The game will officially be launched on 8 January 2007 and you'll be able to win some amazing prizes, like an Alienware notebook (with the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Windows Vista naturally), i-mate JasJam, Xbox 360 + games and a Microsoft Zune!

... if you would like to test your knowledge, play the game today by visiting http://www.microsoft.co.uk/evosupremo/.

UK Partner 2007 Office system Courses

IW UK Partner Team — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 21:39:45 GMT

We still have spare capacity on our 2007 Microsoft Office System course deliveries in December and January for UK Partners.

2007 Microsoft Office System Core Training (2 days): For more details and to enrol, click here: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/2007OfficeCore
2007 Microsoft Office System ECM and Forms Workshop (1 day): For more details and to enrol, click here: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/2007ECM
2007 Microsoft Office System Performance Management Workshop ( 2 days): For more information and to enrol, click here: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/2007PerfManagement
2007 Microsoft Office System Portals and Collaboration Workshop (1 day): For more information and to enrol, click here: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/2007Portals
2007 Microsoft Office System Unified Communication Workshop (1 day): For more information and to enrol, click here: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/2007UnifiedComms
2007 Microsoft Office System Enterprise Search (I day): click here for more information: http://www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/2007entsearch

Unified Collaboration Early Start for Partners

IW UK Partner Team — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 21:46:55 GMT

Early Start is for Partners interested in joining the Unified Communications (UC) Specialisation within the Information Worker (IW) Competency of the Microsoft Partner Program. Partners will receive a monthly newsletter specific to UC with the inside scoop on special offers, information on training resources and more. Don’t miss out!

Why should Partners care about joining the UC Specialisation?

Partner to Partner: It is the best way to connect with other Microsoft partners.
Customer to Partner: It provides tools that allow customers to find your company
Microsoft to Partner: It will help Microsoft to identify key UC partners for event participation, training offerings, case studies, etc.

ACTION: sign up today for the Early Start initiative.

Learn more about the upcoming UC Specialization and the Microsoft Partner Program.

Please email me at AskIW@microsoft.com with any questions.

Christian.

Technorati tags: Unified Collaboration, Partners, Information Worker

PerformancePoint Server CTP1 announced!

IW UK Partner Team — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 15:38:57 GMT

Microsoft announced earlier in the week the release of the first community technology preview (CTP) for its integrated performance management application Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007. Scheduled for general availability in mid-2007, Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 brings together next-generation monitoring, analytics and planning capabilities in a complete performance management application. Beginning today, customers can visit http://connect.microsoft.com/site/sitehome.aspx?siteid=181 to download the first bits of code and test the product’s capabilities in a real-world business environment.

Office PerformancePoint Server CTP 1 will combine the planning, budgeting, forecasting and financial consolidation capabilities of the product code-named “BizSharp” and the scorecarding functionality of Microsoft Office Business Scorecard Manager Server 2005. CTP 2, scheduled for early 2007, will incorporate the functionality of CTP 1 and analytics from ProClarity 6.2. Microsoft plans to release either one or two additional CTPs before the general availability of the product scheduled for mid-2007.

“We continue to invest in our business intelligence solution to bridge the gap between people and the information needed to drive business success,” said Chris Capossela, corporate vice president of Microsoft Business Division. “Today’s milestone brings us one step closer to our goal of enabling decision support and superior performance management across the enterprise.”

More information: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/performancepoint/

Registered Partners receive Vista and Office 2007 in January Action Pack!

IW UK Partner Team — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:19:00 GMT

The January 2007 Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) is a special edition that includes key production information for the 2007 Office system, Windows Vista, and Small Business Server 2003 R2. The kit begins mailing on 10 January 2007.

I want to highlight the GREAT software included, along with special partner offers.

Included software in January 2007 MAPS:

Windows Vista Business
Microsoft® Office Enterprise 2007
Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007
Microsoft Office Outlook® 2007 with Business Contact Manager
Microsoft Office Visio® 2007
Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007
Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007
Microsoft Expression® Web

Small Business Specialist (SBSC) “add-on” kit will be available in the March timeframe (for free). SBSCs will automatically receive this kit.

“I’m ready” contest: MAPS will contain one (1) flyer with either an Office or Vista product question – there are ten different questions in all. Answer the question and win a 256 MG USB drive. So install the software to help answer the questions...

Special Offers:

For Resale Copy of SBS 2003 R2: When partners use the Small Business toolkit (soon to be updated with Office, Vista and Mobile and complete five assessments, they can earn a free, for resale copy of SBS 2003 R2. For more details, go to: https://partner.microsoft.com/smallbusinesstoolkit7.
Vista Ultimate Upgrade offer (Windows Anytime Upgrade): Action Pack subscribers can upgrade to Vista Ultimate for $139 (USD) – per license. Visit www.WindowsAnytimeUpgrade.com/maps to learn more.
2007 Microsoft Office System and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Partner Sales Tool: The launch of the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 present a significant opportunity for Microsoft partners. This Reseller Toolkit helps partners articulate product benefits and packaging and licensing offers.
Office Ready OPK: At the time this Action Pack was produced, the 2007 Microsoft Office Ready Master Kit (OPK) was not finalized for distribution. This product will be included in the April, 2007 Action Pack. Partners can contact their local Distributor and receive an OPK beginning mid December. And until April 1, 2007, Partners only have to pay shipping & handling costs. After April 1, 2007, the cost to receive the OPK from a Disti will be approximately $250 (USD), plus shipping & handling.

Thanks to Nicola for the information.

Ready for a new day

IW UK Partner Team — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 20:48:37 GMT

According to Ballmer, the new versions of Windows, Office and Exchange Server 2007 are the result of an unprecedented collaboration between Microsoft and its customers. Real-life scenarios guided product development through feedback from customers who volunteered to let Microsoft watch them work in more than 1 billion user sessions. During testing, customers from around the world downloaded more than 5 million beta versions of the products and provided valuable feedback and suggestions.

“These are game-changing products,” Ballmer said. “It’s an incredible step forward for business computing in a year of unprecedented innovation from Microsoft. We expect that more than 200 million people will be using at least one of these products by the end of 2007.”

Today's world of business is constantly evolving. People increasingly rely on tools that provide greater connectivity to corporate resources, the Internet, and each other. Familiar and easy-to-use, Windows Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 easily connect and integrate with your current business technologies. These new products are designed to evolve as your business needs change. Simply put, using these products together helps promote a people-ready business environment that empowers your people to drive business success.

Learn how other companies have achieved success through collectively implementing these new releases. Our customer success stories illustrate how using these products can simplify how people work together; help to protect and manage content; help people to find information and improve business insight; and reduce security threats and deployment costs.

http://msnewday.com

Technorati tags: EVO, Office system, Vista, Exchange

Office system Training for SI/VAR Partners

IW UK Partner Team — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:49:13 GMT

The Partner Readiness Team is pleased to announce the release of five classroom courses for the 2007 Office system. Deliveries for most of these courses start in December, so please sign up as soon as possible. The courses are:

2007 Microsoft Office System Core Training: This two day technical course explores the core of the 2007 Microsoft Office System. Students will interact with the client-side technologies that drive information worker productivity locally and the server-side components that extend productivity to teams, divisions, and partners. For more details and to enrol, click here: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/2007OfficeCore

2007 Microsoft Office System ECM and Forms Workshop: In this one day course you will learn how to use Office SharePoint® Server 2007, SharePoint Designer 2007 and Visual Studio 2005 to customize and extend solutions for the Web site of a fictional company called Litware Incorporated, an enterprise chain of retail tennis gear and apparel store with an online presence. For more details and to enrol, click here: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/2007ECM

2007 Microsoft Office System Performance Management Workshop: The goal of this two day training course is to give you an in-depth look and hands-on experience of the capabilities of both ProClarity and Business Scorecard Manager. you will explore how both of these technologies to provide a unified solution that address BI challenges, including the need to help businesses effectively communicate and analyze performance. For more information and to enrol, click here: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/2007PerfManagement

2007 Microsoft Office System Portals and Collaboration Workshop: This course utilizes new and improved features for Microsoft Office SharePoint® Portal Server 2007. With the practical application of these new features, attendees will be able to see a portal site implemented post-installation to production. For more information and to enrol, click here: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/2007Portals

2007 Microsoft Office System Unified Communication Workshop: This one day course focuses on the knowledge transfer of critical elements of Unified Communications, including: Unified Messaging, Real-time Collaboration (including Microsoft® Office Live Communications Server, Microsoft® Office Communicator and Microsoft® Office Live Meeting), Microsoft® Speech Server, Microsoft® Office System, Windows Mobile®, and the telephony piece of UC. For more information and to enrol, click here: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/2007UnifiedComms. (Please note – at the moment only December, January and early February dates have been scheduled. More will follow.)

Exchange Server 2007 Ignite Technical Training Workshop – a two day course that covers the architecture, installation and configuration of Exchange, as well as providing information on security, compliance, archiving and remote access. http://www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/exchange2007ignite

Office for Developers Training – This three-day course with Hands-On Labs will take you through the process of building solutions on the Microsoft Office 2007 platform and services. The course will focus on the growing service opportunities and the new features of the Microsoft Office 2007 suite of applications. http://www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/readiness/officedevelopers

Coming soon: 2007 Microsoft Office System Enterprise Search Workshop: This course will train Microsoft partners about Microsoft’s Search strategies and solutions—Windows Live™ Search center, a single application from which to search—consolidating their favorite Microsoft Search technologies (Desktop, SharePoint®, and MSN/Windows Live search on the Web). Live Search gives you the tools needed to easily and consistently harness the explosion of information in your organization, right from your desktop.

Technorati tags: Microsoft Partners, 2007 Office system, Partner sTraining

Where can I download Office 2007 customer collateral?

IW UK Partner Team — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 21:20:46 GMT

I've been asked this question at least a dozen times this week (which is fab!). Partners and customers may download customer-ready collateral by following this 3 step guide, using SharePoint as an example:

1) Visit Office Online at http://office.microsoft.com/

2) Click Products: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/

3) Choose your program/server/solution/technology of your choice, such as "SharePoint Server": http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointserver...

Scroll down and there's a little box "Explore the Details" with:

In-depth information about SharePoint Server 2007

This is availalble for almost every product in the Office system.

Two other fabulous resources on the Partner portal also include:

1) Solution Showcase Scenarios (by industry and department): https://partner.microsoft.com/uk/productssolutions...

2) Gear Up Sales Toolkit, which is a product handbook of the full Microsoft portfolio: https://partner.microsoft.com/UK/40033104?PS=95000...