SQL & BI

SQL Server 2008

Want to know more about the features in SQL Server 2008 around BI?

Take a look at this whitepaper....

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/whitepapers/sql_2008_bi.mspx

Included in This Document:

• Introduction
• Unifying Data Storage and Access
• Building and Managing Sophisticated BI Solutions
• Extending the Reach of Your BI Solution
• Conclusion

PerformancePoint events

Just seen these PerformancePoint events through the partner community. Partners can invite their customers to the morning event and then join them at lunch and attend the afternoon event.

Events for Customers:

Monday 19^th November - AM - Cardinal Place, London

Register here or call 0870 166 6680 ref 6729

Wednesday 28^th November - AM - Cardinal Place, London

Register here or call 0870 166 6680 ref 6839

Tuesday 22^nd January - AM - Microsoft, Edinburgh

Register here or call 0870 166 6680 ref 5870

Events for Partners:

Monday 19^th November - PM - Cardinal Place, London

Register here or call 0870 166 6680 ref 6834

Wednesday 28^th November - PM - Cardinal Place, London

Register here or call 0870 166 6680 ref 6838

Tuesday 22^nd January - PM - Microsoft, Edinburgh

Register here or call: 0870 166 6680 ref 6303

Whats new in SQL 2008?

To find out we have introduced 3 new modules of the what’s new in SQL Server 2008 eLearning

Take the Microsoft free eLearning Collection 6187: What's New in Microsoft SQL Server 2008

In this 3 hour on-line collection, IT Professionals will learn about the new features in SQL Server 2008. Topics covered within these clinics include:

· What's New in SQL Server 2008 for Enterprise Data Platform

· What's New in SQL Server 2008 for Business Intelligence

· What's New in SQL Server 2008 for Database Development

https://www.microsoftelearning.com/eLearning/offerDetail.aspx?offerPriceId=139087

Performance Point is now on Volume Licencing

See more @ www.microsoft.com/performancepoint

Please see below the relevant information to get started. 

In addition there is lots of helpful documents...  check out the Office Developer Portal and TechCenter for deployment and operations guides, technical whitepapers and ‘how-to’ help and tips.

Finally, look out for the PerformancePoint Server books and online training webcasts, as they should help you get started!

Licensing

Find answers to your licensing questions

· PPS licensing site

· Volume Licensing site

Collateral Update

· New! PerformancePoint Server TechNet webcasts

· New! Upcoming PerformancePoint Server online training

· New! Pre-order PerformancePoint Server book on Monitoring and Analysis

· New! Pre-order PerformancePoint Server book on Planning

MOPPS training - thats Performance Point!

Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 Technical training.

This four day instructor-led workshop provides students with the knowledge and skills to architect and build Business Intelligence solutions using Microsoft® Office PerformancePoint Server 2007. This session covers both Monitoring and Analytics and Planning. Participants will build on their base knowledge through extensive, hands on, exercises.

We have limited availability on these dates:

January 15^th. Edinburgh

January 22^nd – 25^th, Altrincham

New date added: January 8^th Maidenhead

For more information and to enrol, click here: https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search.aspx?ssid=C06EE50879C54AF0B66F53466EA43CFC

Microsoft Positioned in the Leader Quadrant in Gartner’s latest Magic Quadrant for Data Warehouse DBMS, 2007

Here are the main points from this....

Microsoft is positioned in the Leader quadrant in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Data Warehouse DBMS.

The analysts say that SQL Server 2005 is expected to grow in the data warehouse space.

Microsoft’s vision for SQL Server 2008 makes clear the company’s intent to become a major presence in the data warehouse market.

SQL Server has been leading in Data Warehousing benchmarks by delivering the #1 price/performance for the 3TB TPC-H non-clustered benchmark and the #1 performance result for the 1TB TPC-H

You can find the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data Warehouse Database Management Systems, 2007 at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/oct07/10-12DWMQPR.mspx

SAP to buy Business Objects

There has been speculation around this for some time but it has now been announced that SAP are to buy Business Objects. At a cost of $6.8B. More consolidation of the market.

Find out more here

OBA Training

Office Business Applications (OBA) Technical Briefing

This two day technical briefing explores an emerging category of applications, known as Office Business Applications (OBA). It explores the technologies that underpin them, in particular  Microsoft Office 2007, Windows SharePoint Services, Microsoft Office SharePoint Services, and Open XML.

This two-day course is run as a seminar, and the labs are provided as a take-away for attendees to go through in their own time.

Dates currently scheduled are:

December 17^th - 18^th, Maidenhead

January 24^th – 25^th, London

A November date will soon be scheduled and will appear on the link below.

For more information and to enrol: https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search.aspx?ssid=A4EC2B86F4734C18886C73B4076FEE44

MOPPS training available

Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 Technical training.

This four day instructor-led workshop provides students with the knowledge and skills to architect and build Business Intelligence solutions using Microsoft® Office PerformancePoint Server 2007. This session covers both Monitoring and Analytics and Planning. Through extensive hands on exercises participants will build on their base knowledge.

Dates currently scheduled are:

November 20 – 23^rd,  London

December 18^th – 21^st , Maidenhead

January 22^nd – 25^th, Leeds

For more information and to enrol: https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/search.aspx?ssid=C06EE50879C54AF0B66F53466EA43CFC

UK BI Community Day

We are holding a Community event for our UK Partners that have attained the Data Management Competency.

Please look at the below details and register....

Data Management Partner BI Community Event – 27th September 2007

Dear Partner,

I would like to invite you to an exclusive event held for Microsoft Partners with the Data Management Competency.

To support the investment that you have made in achieving this competency we are hosting an exclusive Managed Partner briefing that will deepen your understanding of our strategy and future roadmap for our BI and Data Management solutions.

Please save this date in your diary and join us for this important event.

Event Overview

Microsoft Business Intelligence is a complete offering, enabling all decision-makers to drive increased business performance at strategic, tactical and organisational levels. By reaching every employee — from information worker to CEO — by adding value to every decision, integrating process and promoting collaboration, Microsoft Business Intelligence solutions help increase the impact of all employees, and the businesses they represent.

Why Join us?

Analyst overview from Freeform Dynamics on some recent research findings into the issues and opportunities for partners around Business Intelligence. 

Listen to the latest developments of SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008, and a heads-up on why Data Protection Manager is important to Data Management partners.

Hear the latest details on Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 and the upcoming launch.

Agenda

09:00AM Registration

09:30AM Introduction

09:45AM Recent BI Research – Dale Vile –Freeform Dynamics

10:15AM Update on SQL Server 2005 and SQL 2008

11:00AM Break

11:15AM Data Protection Manager

11:30AM Update on MOPPS 2007

12:00PM Call to Action

12:15PM Lunch

13:30PM Close

Register

https://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/EventDetail.aspx?culture=en-GB&eventid=1032349921

Or telephone:  0870 166 6653

Location

De Vere West One

West One

9-10 Portland Place

London

W1B 1PR

http://www.devere.co.uk/venues/West-One/business-services.aspx

I look forward to seeing you there.

ISV Partner Kick-off Event

Thursday 13th September at Thames Valley Park, Reading. 

What will we be talking about?

• new business development tools and initiatives that we'll be launching and running over the next twelve months.
• new approach to the conundrum of how to demonstrate revenue influence without becoming a Microsoft licensing expert!
• sharing our plan for delivering some exciting new technologies along with the programmes we'll be running to support them.

If you'd like to attend - please click on the following link to register:

ISV Kick-off Event - Sept 13th

or call 0870 166 6680 and quote reference 5947

Training opportunity for Oracle DBAs

A Microsoft Partner - Skyline - are offering a great opportunity for Oracle DBAs to attend training on SQL Server 2005. Skyline are a Partner that has strong skills in both technologies.

Here is the info from Skyline. Please contact them directly to discuss further.

SQL Server 2005 Training for Oracle Database Administrators

More and more frequently DBA jobs require multiple skill sets. We see many requests for Oracle DBA's with SQL Server 2005 DBA skills as a requirement. In today's competitive job marketplace knowing SQL Server 2005 is no longer considered a 'nice to have', it not only makes work life more interesting, it can inevitably pay off financially too.

This course provides an overview of SQL Server 2005 functionality for Oracle DBA's. The training programme is delivered by a leading Oracle & SQL Server Database expert, who offers an objective and detailed view of the respective technologies, whilst understanding and empathising with the perspective of the Oracle DBA.

Why should an Oracle DBA attend these courses?

• To extend their SQL skills.

• Understand the differences and similarities between Oracle DBMS & SQL Server.

• To be able to manage and maintain enterprise applications and data in a heterogeneous environment.

• To broaden their skills and become more marketable.

• To be able to evaluate both technologies objectively for future implementations.

• To help their organisations to reduce costs.

• To extend their role as custodian of corporate data.

• To protect themselves from potential or future changes in IT policy.

Pre-requisites - Working knowledge of Oracle Database Version 8i, 9i or 10g, 8i/9i/10g OCP (Oracle Certified Professional).

We will be running these courses from September 2007 through to April 2008. If you would like more details and to see the schedule, please visit:

http://www.skyline-training.uk.com/

Tafiti - Silverlight enabled search

Tafiti is a new showcase of how we can now mix a rich web experience with search functionality.

You can view search results in a number of ways: tree view, newspaper view or drop-down results on a glass pane.  You can also switch between search mediums and save search results.

Betanews discusses the news and explains that the name means "to search" in Swahili.

Take a look at this new concept on search and a great example of Silverlight's capabilities.

The Cloud

There has been a lot of talk recently about Microsoft's "cloud". Its not just discussions on the lack of UK summer this year ... its much much more. Its Microsoft's new approach to the delivery of Internet services.

I saw this article that gives a good summary

The most powerful women of the channel

So who are these women?

Although they come from all different corners of the channel community -- from vendors to distributors to resellers and systems integrators -- the 2007 50 Most Powerful Women of the Channel have one thing in common: They're all leading innovators driving growth in the channel.

Great to see our very own Allison Watson in there...

Interesting read here