BMS Blog: SBS Consulting in the UK

On 15 February, customers running Windows 7 Release Candidate will begin receiving automatically generated notifications, warning them that their operating systems will expire and that they need to back-up their data. Beginning 1 March, Windows 7 RC will reboot or go to a blue screen every two hours, depending on the PC’s system failure settings. Start talking with your customers about migrating to Windows 7 before the Release Candidate expires.

Technical Schools are a series of monthly Live Meetings specifically for the Small Business Specialist Community (SBSC) and Registered partners who specialise in targeting the small to medium size business market. Taking place on 22 February from 11.00-12.00 (GMT), the fourth Technical School led by Frank Bennett and Dan Lewis, will provide an overview of the opportunities associated with Microsoft Online Services from a small and medium size business (SMB) perspective. Review a recording of last months’ Technical School meeting, which discussed SharePoint.

This course is split into three videos to help provide an overview of Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). The BPOS suite is a set of Microsoft hosted messaging and collaboration solutions including Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Office Live Meeting and Microsoft Office Communications Online.

If you haven’t yet attended a Small Business Specialist User Group in your area why not give it a go?

Small Business Specialist User Groups are events run by partners for partners. These meetings, which typically take place monthly, provide an opportunity for Small Business Specialists to learn, network and share information.

There are a number of Small Business Specialist User Groups nationwide and sessions usually take place in the evenings (start time is typically 6pm but please check for the meeting you would like to attend).

If you’d like to attend one of these meetings, please contact the group coordinator who will then invite you to future sessions as well as share timing and location detail.

If you would like to start your own User Group in your area, email me.

Want to find out more about the Microsoft Partner Network? Or do you have a question relating to your benefits or how best to utilize the Microsoft Partner Portal? If so, log onto this Live Meeting where Microsoft Partner Network Manager, Dell Quinn will provide a Microsoft Partner Network overview and some practical advice as well as help answer your questions.

The theme for this year’s Partner Business Briefings is ‘growth’. Growth encapsulates what Microsoft are working to achieve, from growing together through the Microsoft Partner Network through to helping you grow your revenue by utilising the latest Microsoft technology.

These events provide an opportunity for you to:

• Grow your business through the Microsoft Partner Network
• Grow your revenue through Microsoft Technology
• Grow your Network

London and Manchester events are now full. Registration for Birmingham and Edinburgh events opens end of March.

Don’t miss out on your chance to go to one of these events! Look out for your invitation via email.

I’ve just finished my Q3 PAL catchup call with Andrea Russell and the rest of the worldwide PALs.

The main point of discussion was around the changes to the MPN program and how they effect SBSC partners. Although I can’t tell exactly what was discussed as it is under NDA what I can say is this document The Value of Earning a Microsoft Competency eludes to many of the main points.

If I was an SBSC partner right now (and I am) I would have a big grin on my face!

The dates for the next technical and business schools have been announced.

We had a fantastic attendance for the last technical school and this series is really starting to gain momentum so don’t miss out and register today!