UK SBSC : Windows Server

Windows 7 &Windows Server 2008 R2has RTM’d!

UK SBSC — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:59:31 GMT

No doubt you have all heard the news – Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 have reached the Released To Manufacturing (RTM) stage of the lifecycle. Here is a short video posted earlier about Windows 7 and the RTM sign-off put together by a Test Manager on Windows Live. Can you tell how excited Microsoft are about this release?!

What’s more, we also have a video that gives an inside peek from Microsoft’s annual sales kick-off event in Atlanta. Steven Sinofsky joined Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on stage to announce the RTM of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. There’s even a clip of Steve Ballmer signing the gold RTM DVDs. You can watch it here.

Read about Windows 7 RTM announcement here, on the The Windows Blog.

Read about the Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM announcement here, on the Windows Server Division Weblog.

Evaluate Windows Server 2008 R2 RC Now, Reap Benefits Later

UK SBSC — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:39:00 GMT

Evaluate Windows Server 2008 R2 RC Now, Reap Benefits Later.

Download Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate (RC), and get ready to offer new virtualization tools, Web resources, management enhancements, and Windows 7 integration. And be sure to review the release documentation prior to installation.

LiveSeries: Details of upcoming Partner Live Meetings

UK SBSC — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:26:04 GMT

There are a number of new Partner Live Meeting events available to register for as part of the LiveSeries. The Live Series are a programme of Live Meetings which aim to effectively deliver top line information and key value propositions, highlighting the opportunities available to you around Microsoft technologies and resources. Visit: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/liveseries

Click on the titles below to register now for the upcoming Partner Live Meetings:

Using Intelligent Application Gateway (IAG) to provide secure remote access to applications, Wednesday 20th May 2009, 2pm - 3pm
Who should attend? Partners who are looking to understand how to provide policy-based secure remote access to applications to extranet, mobile and internet users, be those Microsoft applications such as SharePoint or Exchange, or applications from 3rd parties.

Agenda:
• Overview of Microsoft Intelligent Application Gateway and the associated partner opportunity.
• Partner case study – Why we’re deploying IAG solutions to our customers.
• Q and A

Windows Server 2008 R2 – What’s New and where is the opportunity for Partners? Thursday 4th June 2009, 4pm - 5pm

The forthcoming new release of Windows Server provides a wealth of new capability for the web, virtualisation, manageability, and reliability. There are also a number of key features which makes it ‘Better together with Windows 7’, especially around the interconnecting of branch offices. Analyst AMI recently found that 80% of midmarket businesses wanted to better connect their remote offices and branches, rating it their number 1 strategic priority.

Agenda:
• An overview of key features and business benefits of Windows Server 2008
• Integration with Windows 7.
• What are the key opportunities for partners?
• Q&A

System Center Technologies with Exchange Server 2007 & SharePoint Server 2007, Monday 18th May 2009, 4pm - 5pm.

Who Should Attend? SharePoint and Exchange design and deployment partners who are looking to enhance the security of their solutions they implement for their customers.

Agenda:
• Overview of Microsoft System Center solutions and how they integrate into Exchange and SharePoint products, drive customer satisfaction and deliver incremental “services” opportunities for partners
• Partner case study – Why we’re deploying these solutions with our Exchange solutions. TBC
• Q&A

Join the "Live Series: Windows Server 2008 Foundation Live Meeting"

UK SBSC — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:32:24 GMT

Join the Live Series: Windows Server 2008 Foundation Live Meeting!

In this presentation, we will explore Windows Server 2008 Foundation, a new edition of Windows Server that is designed to meet the needs of your entry-level, budget-conscious customers. We will start with an overview of the Windows Server 2008 Foundation and then discuss its recommended uses, benefits, licensing, and upgrade path.

At the end of this presentation you will be able to:

Be familiar with the Low End Server Market
Understand Windows Server 2008 Foundation
Be able to sell Windows Server 2008 Foundation in this New Market

There will also be opportunity to ask questions directly to the Corporate Product Management team.

Date: 30th April 2009
Time: 16:00-17:00
Register here: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032413242&Culture=en-GB

What is The Live Series Programme?

The Live Series Programme is a programme of Live Meetings delivered to Microsoft partners with the aim of quickly and effectively delivering top line information and key value propositions highlighting the opportunities to sell Microsoft technologies to small and medium sized customers.

As a result of attending the Live Series, Microsoft partners will have a clearer understanding of the topics delivered, have opportunity to engage directly with the presenter for up to one week post the Live Meeting, and in some cases be in a position to utilise the parallel customer version of the Live Series to educate and entice their own customers, and /or to take leads from customers (who are not already engaged with a Microsoft partner) interested in the topics delivered.

Visit: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/liveseries

If you have any further comments you would like to share about this LiveSeries Live Meeting please email: lseries@microsoft.com

Windows Server 2008 Foundation Announced

UK SBSC — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:26:17 GMT

Microsoft have just announced Windows Server 2008 Foundation. This is a new entry-level server platform that gives small businesses access to big-business solutions. For press release information click here... here are a few snippets from the press release, including a link to more information:

"Microsoft Corp. has expanded its industry-leading Windows Server family of operating systems with the addition of Windows Server 2008 Foundation. Built for small businesses with 15 or fewer users, Windows Server 2008 Foundation puts the reliability, security and manageability of the Windows Server platform within the reach of all businesses at an affordable price. Windows Server 2008 Foundation is initially available in 40 countries and will provide small business customers with the ability to run business applications and databases, host Web sites, and provide basic server functionality such as file and print sharing and remote access."

...

"Microsoft’s goal is to provide a Windows Server-based solution for every customer need, size and budget. Windows Server 2008 Foundation delivers server functionality that customers have come to expect from Microsoft in a familiar Windows environment. As the business grows, customers can upgrade to other members of the Windows Server family, which provide additional functionality such as integrated e-mail, simplified management, virtualization and other advanced features. Customers can invest in Windows Server 2008 Foundation with confidence that there will be a Windows Server-based solution that suits their evolving business needs."

...

"Windows Server 2008 Foundation will be sold preinstalled on servers from manufacturers, including Dell Inc., HP and IBM Corp. Each OEM will set its own prices, which may vary by country. The first such machines will be available for purchase in the coming months. More information and details on how to purchase Windows Server 2008 Foundation are available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsfoundationserver. Windows Server 2008 Foundation takes advantage of the same application certification requirements as Windows Server 2008. Applications certified for Windows Server can be found at http://www.windowsservercatalog.com.

Additional information on Windows Server can be found at the Windows Server Division blog at http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/default.aspx."

Stay tuned for more about Windows Server 2008 Foundation and it's roll out in the UK.

Windows Server Offer has now been extended to include Open Program Licensing!

UK SBSC — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:02:24 GMT

To help our channel partners continue their investment in delivering the best business value to their customers, we are offering a services rebate from January 15 to June 30, 2009. The following service rebates will be available when partners sell and provide services for the listed servers:

Partners can claim up to 5 rebates in total per unique customer.
Partners can claim up to 25 rebates in total per unique partner.
The services provided to the customer must exceed the amount of rebate being requested.

Eligible License types include: Open Value, Open Value Company Wide, Open Value Subscription, FPP, COEM (System Builder), DOEM and OEM (ROK) for each listed Eligible Server product.

Here’s how to participate in this promotion:

Sell a minimum of 2 qualified server operating systems with services between 15^th January 2009 and the 30^th June 2009.
Submit the product key and related services invoice for each claim by 31^st July 2009 by logging into www.serveroffer.com. You will also need to submit your organisational details and the customer name.
Check the status of your rebate request using your claim number and registered email address.

Go to www.serveroffer.com now for more information.

Also, why not take the 5W/50 Series - The Small and Midsize Business Server Platform: Which Is Right for Your Customer? Online training?

Server Promotion

UK SBSC — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:00:34 GMT

Don’t miss this opportunity to accelerate your server sales.

From January 15 to June 30, 2009, resellers and system builders can qualify for valuable rebates when they sell and deploy any of the following server operating systems:

$100 for Windows Server 2008 Standard
$500 for Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
$100 for Windows Small Business Server 2008 Standard
$250 for Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium
$300 for Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard
$500 for Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Premium

To qualify, you must have a minimum of two approved rebate requests. Partners can submit up to a maximum of 25 rebates. Click here for complete information.

Partnercast: SBS/EBS/Windows Server: Which is right for your customer?

UK SBSC — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:46:12 GMT

There have been a number of significant product announcements from Microsoft in the recent part. With options like Small Business Server 2008, Essential Business Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008, identifying the right solution for your customer environment can often be tricky. In this partnercast, Bernardo Munoz, Senior Product Manager for Windows Server and Kevin Watt, Product Manager for Windows Server go through different sales scenarios to help with your decision making. Join them in this discussion not only to learn more about these individual offerings but also how you can leverage all three to boost your revenue.

Go to: https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/details.aspx?systemid=1820315&page=/plc/search.aspx#

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Training: WESS & Windows Server 2008 for OEM & System Builders

UK SBSC — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:35:40 GMT

Here's an update on what Windows Essential Server Solutions (WESS) and Windows Server 2008 training opportunities and resources there are for OEM & System Builder partners:

Windows Server 2008 Product and Sales Overview

Introduces the participant to features and benefits of Windows Server 2008 and core Value Proposition for All OEMs. Includes a high-level look at system requirements and installation options.

https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/details.aspx?systemid=1800057&page=/plc/search.aspx

MSDN Webcast: Windows Server 2008 for Embedded Systems (Level 100)

Windows Server 2008 for Embedded Systems provides new functionality that will be of value to appliance original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) including a smaller footprint, virtualization capabilities, and new management and security functionality. Attend this webcast to learn about the new features, SKUs, and pricing for Windows Server 2008 for Embedded Systems.

https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/details.aspx?systemid=1794571&page=/plc/search.aspx#

Essentials of the OEM Pre-Installation Tool Kit (OPK Tools) for SBS2008 and EBS2008

This course will take you through the business value of using the OPK Tools where they fit with SBS and EBS2008. Why you should be using them and most importantly when you should be using them. We will also cover the essentials of using the powerful “Answer File” with SBS and EBS 2008. This single component adds a tremendous value to both the building of multiple SBS and EBS Servers for sale to customers and to installing the SBS and EBS 2008 servers for clients. We will explore when to use the Answer File for building servers and when to use it for migrations from current versions of SBS to the new products.

https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/details.aspx?systemid=1823453&page=/plc/search.aspx

The OEM Pre-installation Kit (OPK) and Deployment Methodologies for Microsoft Small Business Server 2008

https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/details.aspx?systemid=1822617&page=/plc/search.aspx#

SBS TechNet Page

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sbs/default.aspx

Windows Server 2008 TechNet Page

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/windowsserver/2008/default.aspx

Microsoft Learning

http://www.microsoft.com/Learning/