UK SBSC : Windows Vista

Win Prizes with the Windows Vista Mean Business Campaign

UK SBSC — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:16:08 GMT

Take this fun, interactive course broken down into 3 sections and get a better understanding of how Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate is the right OS for a new PC, as compared to Windows XP and a MAC. Small business customers need to understand the benefits of Windows Vista and this course will give you the right nuggets to have that conversation. Morevover, knowing that Windows Vista on a PC is the right path to upgrading later on to Windows 7, learning today about Windows Vista is the right time investment.

Take the course today and be entered for a chance to win a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate.* Game ends 12th June 2009. Terms and Conditions apply.

Click here for more information or click here to directly access the course.

Urgent: Seeking UK SBSC partners for Windows Vista Competition

UK SBSC — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:07:42 GMT

Microsoft have been involved in a competition with “Small Business Challenges” for small businesses to win up to 10 Windows Vista Ultimate laptops, plus the help of a Microsoft Small Business Specialist. To be in with a chance of winning the customer has to simply tell us their biggest IT challenge in no more than 50 words. Challenges should be IT based.

A panel of judges will then select five businesses who stand to gain the most from Microsoft software. Each will be given a Windows Vista laptop - which will be theirs to keep- which they must use to address their challenge. All five businesses selected will be set several tasks to complete over a week using their laptop and Windows Vista. Microsoft will fund, up to the value of £1K, for an SBSC partner to set up the customers new laptop and then provide IT support over that week (anticipated a maximum of around 30 minutes a day) to assist with the IT challenges set to the customer.

The overall winner will be the business judged to have deployed their laptop most effectively. They will win up to 10 Windows Vista laptops (number dependent on the size of the business) as well as the help of a Small Business Specialist to overcome their IT challenges. Again, Microsoft will fund the SBSC partners time which should equate to around a day's work.

The competition has now closed to customer entries and we are in the process of selecting winners and identifying appropriate SBSC partners to take the roles outlined above.

Interested in being one of our SBSC partners?

Here's what's in it for you:

Free publicity of your business – in the SMB supplement that will accompany this activity each partner will identified with a brief synopsis of their business. This supplement will go out in a number of big name publications including Vista Magazine, What Laptop, PC Plus, Computer Arts, 3D World and .NET magazine. In total these magazines have a subscription base of 203,240 people! See here fore details of the last supplement.
You will be paid for the work you carry out and may even generate additional business with the customer as a result
This will promote the SBSC partner channel

So...

Are you an SBSC partner and interested in taking part?

Are you proficient in Windows Vista?

Are you able to dedicate time to this activity week commencing 19th January?

Want to know more?

If so, please email sbscuk@microsoft.com stating where you are based. Partners will be selected based at random and where possible in closest proximity to the customers. Terms and conditions will apply. This is only open to UK SBSC partners.

Get in touch now! If you are selected this will be a great bit of guaranteed business for the new year and with hopefully minimal effort.

"Small Business Challenges" website promotes SBSC

UK SBSC — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:14:33 GMT

Earlier this week I wrote a post about the how SBSC partners have been promoted in a SMB supplement which has gone in many big name magazine publications. This supplement is part of a wider campaign and competition for small business customers to win a business makeover worth around £10,000.

What is the competition?

In order to win, customers have to submit a business challenge in no more than 50 words. Challenges should be related to IT, not to the economy, competitors or difficulty finding the ‘right' people for example. They have until 19 December to submit their entry, after which a panel of judges will select five businesses who they feel stand to benefit the most from Microsoft software. Each of these five businesses will be given a Windows Vista laptop - which will be theirs to keep - which they must use to address their challenge.

The overall winner will be the business judged to have deployed their laptop most effectively. They will win up to 10 Windows Vista laptops (number dependent on the size of the business) as well as the help of a Small Business Specialist to overcome their IT challenges, worth over £10,000. The competition closes December 19th 2008 and the five preliminary winners will be announced on 5th January 2009, with the overall winner announced on 2nd February 2009.

Go here for more information: www.smallbusinesschallenges.com

How does this effect Small Business Specialists?

So, I guess you spotted that we are offering for a Small Business Specialist partner to help us deliver the prize?! Microsoft has put aside some budget in order to fund some time from one or two SBSC partners. An SBSC partner will be selected using the following general criteria (note this is a rough guide, there will be official Ts and Cs for selection):

Their location in terms of proximity to the winning customers
Their advocacy for Windows Vista
Their ability to be available week commencing 19th January

What do the participating SBSC partners get?

Some business funded by Microsoft for this customer engagement activity
Promotion in the second SMB supplement - possibly including a photograph of yourself and a quote, including the customer case study (similar to the current supplement).

How does this benefit the all the other SBSC partners?

This is another great opportunity to promote the SBSC partner channel and "blue badge" logo to raise awareness of you as specialists in small business technology. In turn, we expect this should drive more leads your way. Here's how the SBSC have been promoted:

The current SMB supplement highlights the SBSC partner channel and where to find an SBSC partner
The next SMB supplement will also highlight the SBSC partner channel and where to find an SBSC partner
The website promotes the SBSC partner channel.. here's a great quote from the site:

"That’s why Microsoft has developed the Small Business Specialist Community, a group of highly-trained specialists who work with hundreds of businesses every year. The advantage of hiring a Microsoft Small Business Specialist is that you are employing someone who knows your systems and their limitations, your programs, and the best new software to enable you to get the most out of your business."

If you would like to nominate yourself to take part and be that Small Business Specialist please send an email to sbscuk@microsoft.com and advise what experience you have with Windows Vista as well as where you are based.

I'll keep you updated on how this competition progresses.

SBSC Promoted in Windows Vista SMB Supplement

UK SBSC — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:36:46 GMT

At a number of the recent WESS launch User Group meetings I have talked about how using PR and case studies as a tool can raise the profile of Small Business Specialist partners. I had mentioned to some that a couple of SBSC partners recently contributed to an SMB supplement that has gone out in a number of big name publications including Vista Magazine, What Laptop, PC Plus, Computer Arts, 3D World and .NET magazine. In total these magazines have a subscription base of 203,240 people!

I am delighted to say that the SMB supplement has now shipped and I am able to share with you how the SBSC has been promoted.

Firstly, we have managed to get a whole page dedicated to Microsoft Small Business Specialists, entitled "Meet the Microsoft Business Experts - Microsoft's Small Business Specialists are here to help your business face its IT challenges".

The article clearly points our that SBSC partners are "highly-trained professionals" who specialise in working with small businesses:

"The advantage of hiring a Microsoft-accredited expert is that you are not only getting someone who is trained to understand your business and software, you're also hiring the combined expertise of a thousand-strong community of specialists with the ideas and know-how to move your business forwards... Next time your business needs help, don't place your trust in and 'IT guy' - contact the Small Business Specialist Community and see what they can do for you."

There are two great case studies contained in the supplement given by SBSC customers. The first customer reference is a double page spread and given by Tim Long's (of TiGraNetworks) customer, St David Recruitment Services.

The customer talked about how Windows Vista search helps them stay on top of their client data. Here's a quote:

"The system at St David Recruitment Services was created by MVP and Small Business Specialist Community (SBSC) member Tim Long. The SBSC is a group of Microsoft-accredited experts who can help small businesses get their equipment set up."

The second customer reference relating to SBSC partner engagement came from Mandy Thorn, Managing Director of Marches Care Ltd. Marches Care are a customer of SBSC Partner Paul Dadge, PC Paramedic Solutions. In this short piece, Mandy talked about how Paul's company has helped her grow her business and also offered an invaluable support service. This is a great quote provided by them:

"One of the key reasons we chose Paul was because he was a Microsoft Small Business Specialist. This means he came recommended by Microsoft, so we knew we were dealing with someone we could trust."

I would like to thank Tim and Paul for offering to take part in this promotional exercise. Not only have they raised the profile of their customers businesses and their own businesses too, but they have undoubtedly helped promote the community of Small Business Specialist partners to a huge audience. I think you will all agree this is a great benefit to every SBSC partner!

Book Recommendation from a fellow SBSC partner...

UK SBSC — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:30:29 GMT

One of our SBSC partners, Leslie Cupitt of Business Solutions Ltd, has emailed me with a book recommendation that he thinks every customer should own. It's about Windows Vista but I'll let Leslie tell you about it himself...

I have come across a great book Vista I can really recommend. Vista is all about presentation and a move away from our geeky stuff. This book does both in an excellent way. It is ‘The Computer Book Windows Vista Edition’ by Rob Beattie. Its biggest claim to fame is that it is from Dorling Kindersley who produce those sumptuous inviting coffee table books. This handy A5 size book is given the same full colour treatment. It really does invite you to turn from page to page – I never thought I would ever say that about a computer book. There are full colour screen shots on every page. The instructions are placed at the side of each screen shot and are short, clear, to the point, and technical words are kept to the minimum.

Computers now come without manuals but the things they can do are expanding exponentially. This book makes a first class alternative to a manual. Starting with the desktop and Start Menu it soon gets in to tempting stuff like games and personalising Windows. The chapter on IE7 is very good as Vista user have still not grasped idea of tabbed browsing. Microsoft Mail is covered in clear detail. Outlook Express has moved on and this book covers its replacement in a user friendly way.

The chapters cover:

Introducing Windows
Files and Folders
Using the Internet
Using E-mail
Staying Safe
Using Programs
Enjoying your Photos
Playing Music and DVDs
Making Movies
Maintaining your PC

I first picked up the book in one of the bookstore with shelves. I intended to use it as a quick reference when doing a stint on the Help Desk to save me the hassle of powering up a Vista machine. Explaining how to change the IE default Search can be tricky to do from memory. Simple with this book, and I can add value to the telephone support by telling the end user one or two extra little tips gleaned from the book. It really does invite you to read the next section and the next...

Want to buy your customers a Christmas present with a difference which will also help them to make the move to the excellent Windows Vista. Can I propose this book? It will last long after Christmas, is really useful (like socks) and will soon become well worn; you may be able to subtly brand it for your company. And, who knows it may make your customers to ask for Vista instead of downgrading to XP.

‘The Computer Book Windows Vista Edition’ is available from those nice Computer Manuals people in Birmingham and at http://www.compman.co.uk/scripts/browse.asp?ref=838081. List price is £19.99 but I am sure they will give you a great saving. With over 500 pages you do get good value for your money.

Author: Beattie, R
DORLING KINDERSLEY ; (Jul 2007) ; Pages: 512 Format: hardback
ISBN: 140532547X ; ISBN13: 9781405325479

Leslie Cupitt

If anyone else would like to share a recommendation of a key resource that your fellow SBSC partners would benefit from looking at please email sbscuk@microsoft.com and I will endeavour to share your views through this RSS Feed.

What is the partner roadmap for Windows Vista® and Windows® 7?

UK SBSC — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:17:45 GMT

Join Microsoft executives Rich Reynolds, General Manager of Windows Marketing, and Allison Watson, Corporate Vice President of the Worldwide Partner Group, as they discuss:

Windows 7, the newest Windows operating system from Microsoft.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 roadmap.
Opportunities around Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP).
How to continue to build momentum for Windows Vista.
Partner opportunities around Windows Vista mobility, security, and PC management.
Windows Partner Solutions—now for enterprise system integrators.

Windows 7 builds on the substantial investments Microsoft has made in the fundamentals of Windows Vista. Improving security, reliability, and performance while improving PC management, Windows 7 introduces compelling new end-user experiences—and delivers an operating system that is nimble and reliable, starts quickly, is more secure, gets the most out of today’s powerful hardware, offers a superior mobile experience, and connects with many of the devices people use today.

Begin to map your opportunities to drive Windows Vista and Optimised Desktop business today and with Windows 7 down the road. Don’t miss this information-packed webcast!

Digital WPC Webcast Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Time: 12:30 P.M. PDT / 8:30 P.M GMT

Location: www.microsoft.com/digitalwpc

Windows 7 Naming Announcement

UK SBSC — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:26:13 GMT

It's official - the next version of the Windows operating system is going to be called Windows 7.

As many of you are probably aware, since Microsoft began development of the next version of the Windows client operating system, we have been referring to it by a codename, "Windows 7." Today Microsoft has announced that we've decided to officially call the next version of Windows, "Windows 7." Mike Nash, Corporate Vice President for Windows Product Management, has written a blog post, "Introducing Windows 7" about the decision. He says...

"The decision to use the name Windows 7 is about simplicity. Over the years, we have taken different approaches to naming Windows. We've used version numbers like Windows 3.11, or dates like Windows 98, or "aspirational" monikers like Windows XP or Windows Vista. And since we do not ship new versions of Windows every year, using a date did not make sense. Likewise, coming up with an all-new "aspirational" name does not do justice to what we are trying to achieve, which is to stay firmly rooted in our aspirations for Windows Vista, while evolving and refining the substantial investments in platform technology in Windows Vista into the next generation of Windows. Simply put, this is the seventh release of Windows, so therefore "Windows 7" just makes sense."

Visit the official Windows Vista blog to keep up to date on developments.

Manchester SBSC User Group

UK SBSC — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:13:21 GMT

A couple of Thursday's ago I headed up to Manchester to join the SBSC Manchester User Group. It was a really interesting evening with full agenda.

The evening kicked off with one of the members, Leslie Cupitt of Business Solutions Ltd, delivered a comprehensive session on Vista 64 bit in an SBS environment and his experiences. This was a really interesting session and Leslie has kindly provided me with his Word document he created and is happy to share it with other SBSC partners. I am looking into how we can do this in a formal way (through the Partner Portal) but if anyone is keen to get visibility sooner then drop me an email (emilyl@microsoft.com) and I will send it over to you.

Following Leslie's presentations, Vijay Riyait updated the group on his experiences at WPC and updates from a PAL perspective on the SBSC programme. Go here to see his blog post regarding the evening's meeting. For those who are yet to meet Vijay, he is a very active UK PAL who is working hard to help build a sense of community amongst the UK's SBSC partners. Check out Vijay's blog: The Sikh Geek for his updates on the PAL programme and comments around the SBSC and small business.

Also at the Manchester SBSC meeting was Gareth Hall - Microsoft UK's Windows Server Product (including SBS and EBS). Gareth and I went along to discuss and gather feedback on the the SBSC programme and to listen to our SBSC partner's requirements for the SBS 2008 launch. We, along with a virtual team at Microsoft, are currently working on these plans and hope to share more information within the coming weeks. Stay tuned to this RSS feed for more information!

For those in the Manchester area, next month's meeting will include a session on Office Accounting 2008 or and SPID overview. For more details and to find out how you can participate visit the North West Partner Community Site.

Best regards,

Emily Lambert - Channel Development Manager, Microsoft.

Engineering Windows 7

UK SBSC — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:24:52 GMT

For those who are interested, Jon DeVaan and Steven Sinofsky, two senior engineering managers for the Windows 7 product at Microsoft, have recently set up a blog on Windows 7. Jon and Steven, along with members of the engineering team, will post, comment, and participate in this blog.

In their own words...

Our intent is to post “regularly”. We’ll watch the comments and we will definitely participate both in comments and potentially in follow-up posts as required. We will make sure that members of the Windows 7 development team represent themselves as such as well.

The blog is called Engineering Windows 7 and in essence it aims to open up a two-way discussion about how Microsoft are making Windows 7. If you are interested then why not monitor and engage in the discussions.

The Mojave Experiment Shows Consumers the Real Windows Vista

UK SBSC — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:52:15 GMT

What do people think of Windows Vista when they don't know it's Windows Vista? The Mojave Experiment was launched a few weeks back and is Microsoft's latest marketing campaign which challenges consumer perceptions of Windows Vista. It has produced some fascinating results! This week Microsoft updated the website with a few new videos, including sharing with you the fiercely debated demos that the participants were shown. Click here to view the experiment and see for yourself.

The experiment has seen mixed reactions from people - some love it, some remain skeptical. David Webster, from Microsoft, thought up the experiment and has recently posted on the Windows Vista team blog to talk why they went ahead with Mojave in the first place. David encourages everyone to take a look at the videos, ask questions or air concerns (or even compliments).

What's more, if you visit www.mojaveexperiment.com you can also experience Silverlight!