Find out what’s new for Microsoft partners this week. We’ll connect you to resources that help you become market-ready, connect with customers and prospects, and differentiate your business. You can read previous weeks’ issues at http://aka.ms/uspnewsletter.
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We provide real-time updates about the topics covered in this newsletter and other partner-related news and information on our US Partner Community Twitter feed.
To stay in touch with me and connect with other partners and Microsoft sales, marketing, and product experts, join our US Partner Community on Yammer and see other options to stay informed.
You’re Invited: Join the US Leadership Team at WPC 2015
"The Worldwide Partner Conference is where opportunity meets profitability in this mobile first, cloud first world." Join Jenni Flinders, Microsoft US Partner VP; Judson Althoff, Microsoft President, North America; and the US Leadership Team at WPC 2015 this July in Orlando, Florida. Learn more.
Azure Partner Community Call on Thursday, February 19
If you’re an Azure partner wondering about whether and how you to add Office 365 to your practice, read this month’s blog Azure Partner Community blog series (listed below) and attend the February 19 call. Office 365 is a great way to expand your cloud offerings. Learn more.
MPN 101: An Introduction to the Microsoft Partner Network
Learn about your options for membership in the Microsoft Partner Network, and the associated benefits you receive, like internal use rights, technical support, marketing materials, and more. Our new MPN 101 presentation explains program basics and provides you with links to get further details about your areas of interest. Learn more.
Activate Your Office 365 Internal Use Licenses
Partners with a Microsoft Action Pack subscription or any competency have access to internal use licenses for Office 365. Getting hands-on with Office 365 will help you sell cloud solutions more effectively. With this benefit, you can use Microsoft Office applications, Office for tablets, business-class email, web conferencing, presence, IM, enterprise social, and more. Learn more.
Email Marketing Works – Try It Today with this Special Offer
Eligible Microsoft partners that sign up for a new Constant Contact email account will receive a $150 account credit on their monthly subscription. Terms and conditions. Learn more.
Take Control of Your Cloud Destination
Partner Technical Services can help your business gain a competitive advantage, provide higher quality deployment planning, and drive more profitable solutions to market, faster. Services are available by cloud solution—Microsoft Azure, Hybrid Cloud, Office 365, and (coming soon) Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. Learn more.
Readiness Guide for US Partners
Keeping your team’s knowledge and skills up-to-date is critical to your company’s success. Microsoft offers several options for training partner business, technical, sales, and marketing roles. In our readiness guide, you’ll find information about in-person, live virtual, and on-demand training opportunities, plus offers from Learning Partners. Download the guide.
Cloud Adoption Planning and Profitability Resources
If you’re just starting to evaluate your options for building a cloud-oriented business, we have resources to help, including a new playbook about Cloud Adoption Partner Profitability. You’ll learn about the opportunities and best practices for driving adoption of Microsoft cloud services, and explains the three cloud partner business models for increased profitability. Learn more.
- Cloud Adoption Partner Profitability Playbook (download)
- Weekly cloud profitability webcasts
- Our US Partner Community Yammer note is regularly updated as new resources become available
Join the US Partner Community on Yammer
Thank you for reading our blog—did you know that we also have a Yammer network for the US Partner Community? Partners on Yammer are connecting with each other and with US subject-matter experts. Learn more.
MPN Cloud Performance Competencies – How to Get Started
If you have an active practice around Microsoft Office 365 or Microsoft Azure, consider attaining a Cloud Performance competency. Through June 30, the Silver competency fee for these is waived, and you can enter Gold level at a reduced price. Learn more.
- New Cloud Customer Relationship Management competency coming March 2
- Register for the March 2 webcast introducing the new Cloud CRM competency
Partner calendar through February 27
| Refer to the February Hot Sheet for a comprehensive, frequently updated list covering the next several weeks. Look for the March Hot Sheet the week of February 16. Featured training
|
Week of February 16–20
Monday, February 16
- WPC 2015 Partner of the Year Awards Submission Tool Opens
- Partner Technical Services: Introduction to the Azure Starter Kit
- Ask the Experts Communication: Edge Architectures
Tuesday, February 16
- Road to the Cloud: Business Strategy and Networking for ISVs (in Seattle, WA)
- Windows Apportal Office Hours
- Partner Technical Services: Office 365 Real World Scenarios – Hiring & Onboarding
- Partner Technical Services: Office 365 Initial Journey – Lync Online Technical Overview
- Portfolio Management Made Easy with Project Online/Project Server 2013
Wednesday, February 18
- Cloud Profitability Webcast: Microsoft Office 365 Adoption Journey – 4-Step Adoption Methodology for Success
- Sales and Licensing Excellence Webcast: Selling Office 365 in Healthcare (Refresher) – Level 100
- Microsoft Virtual Academy: MEAN Stack Jump Start
- Partner Technical Services: Voice for Office 365
- Enterprise Mobility Scenario – EMS Overview
- Microsoft Azure Solution Scenarios – New StorSimple Services in Azure
- Microsoft Azure Solution Scenarios – ASP.NET V-Next with Azure Websites
- Windows Server 2003: Security Risk and Remediation
- The Connected Workforce
Thursday, February 19
- US Azure Partner Community Call
- Partner Technical Services: Exchange Hybrid Deep Dive
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015 Virtual Foundations Course
- Microsoft Azure Solution Scenarios – Data Management Options on Microsoft Azure
- Partner Technical Services: End to End Project Management Using Project Online
Friday, February 20
Week of February 23–27
Monday, February 23
Tuesday, February 24
- SMB Live Workshop: Attract Customers, Grow Sales (in Bellevue, WA)
- Microsoft Virtual Academy: Polyglot Persistence – Choosing the Right Storage
- Windows Apportal Office Hours
- Partner Technical Services: Office 365 Real World Scenarios – Inventory Management
- Partner Practice Enablement (Content Sneak Peek)
- Microsoft Azure Solution Scenarios – Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
- Sales and Licensing Excellence Webcast: Dynamics ERP on Azure and How to Get Started – Level 100
Wednesday, February 25
- Cloud Profitability Webcast: Driving Customer Results with Key Office 365 Usage Scenarios
- SMB Live Technical Training: Modernize with Hybrid Cloud (in Bellevue, WA)
- Partner Technical Services: Voice for Office 365
- Microsoft Virtual Academy: Practical Performance Tips to Make Your HTML/JavaScript Faster
- Microsoft Virtual Academy: Getting Started with PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC)
Thursday, February 26
- Sales and Licensing Excellence Webcast: Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Government – Level 100
- Partner Technical Services: Power BI for Office 365 – Enhanced Reporting in Project Online
- Partner Technical Services: Migrate Your MBX to Office 365 – Exchange Hybrid Advanced Scenarios
- Partner Technical Services: Windows Server 2003 Modernization
- Microsoft Azure Solution Scenarios – Azure Mobile Services Deep Dive
- Enterprise Mobility Scenario – Microsoft Azure Rights Management Services
- Microsoft Virtual Academy: Developing Games with Marmalade and C++ for Windows and Windows Phone
- Microsoft Virtual Academy: Advanced PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) and Custom Resources
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015 Virtual Foundations Course
- Dynamics Bite-Sized: Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Transportation Management
Friday, February 27