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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New Digital Partner of Record for Online Services Advisor Deploy Incentives
Starting March 2, a new online capability will automate how you are attached as the Partner of Record for the subscriptions you are actively managing for customers for Office 365, Microsoft Intune, CRM Online, and Enterprise Mobility Suite. Throughout March, we are offering partner training and office hours. Read more.
Ends March 31: Office 365 Customer Adoption Offer
Microsoft partners with the Microsoft Partner Network Cloud Productivity competency may apply for up to $60K in adoption funding on behalf of new Office 365 customers that purchase a minimum of 150 seats from September 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015. Get the details about this offer, customer and partner eligibility, and how to apply for funding. Read more here, and watch our short video below.
New Cloud Customer Relationship Management competency
This Cloud Performance competency joins those for Office 365 and Azure, and comes with benefits for partners demonstrating success in the cloud, like Signature Cloud Support, priority placement in the Microsoft Pinpoint marketplace, and initial eligibility qualification for CRM incentives (Sales + Management). Earn the silver competency at no cost and gold level competency at a discounted rate.
- Register for the March 2 webcast about the new Cloud CRM competency
- Learn how to get started with the Office 365 and Azure competencies today
- CRM Online is now available through Open
- Over 30% off Dynamics CRM Online Professional effective now through June 30
March 5: Office 365 Partner Community call – overview of hybrid SharePoint and Office 365
On the next Office 365 Partner Community call, Senior Product Marketing Manager Bill Baer will talk about hybrid environments with SharePoint and Office 365. For enterprises that want to gradually move their existing on-premises SharePoint Server 2013 services to the cloud, SharePoint Server 2013 hybrid provides a staged migration path by extending high-impact SharePoint Server 2013 workloads to SharePoint Online. Register for the March 5 call and read the community blog series.
Sell more Office 365 today—new Action Plans from Ready-to-Go Marketing
We’re making it easier than ever to start and expand your cloud business with easy-to-implement marketing action plans to help you reach new prospects and target existing customers with the cloud story.
Enabling great Windows experiences through modern applications
If you’re demoing or seeding Windows 8.1 devices, create the best experience and impress customers with industry and LOB apps on Windows 8.1 devices using the new Windows 8.1 start screen setup guides. As part of the Modern Biz Windows 8.1 Pro campaign, you’ll find guides for Retail, Government, Financial Services, and more.
March 13: SMB Partner Insider Regional calls
Hundreds of SMB partners participate in these calls each month to build their businesses and connect with Microsoft. Your Microsoft Regional General Manager and Regional Account team will bring you the latest Microsoft information and resources for US partners serving SMB customers, giving you the opportunity to be among the first to know what’s happening. Read more and register.
MPN competency renewal guide
If your company is due to renew its Microsoft Partner Network membership and competency in the next 90 days, it’s time to get your renewal started. Renewing your Microsoft Partner Network membership and competency on time ensures that you keep your valuable MPN benefits. Read more.
March 9–13: Microsoft Empower Enterprise Mobility (EEM) Virtual Boot Camp (200-300 level)
Three days of live, virtual, instructor-led technical training focuses on the Enterprise Mobility Suite: Mobile Devices, Application & Data Management with Intune, Identity & Access Management with Azure Active Directory, and Information Protection with Azure Rights Management Services. Designed for solution architect, presales technical, or deployment roles. Register here.
Partner calendar through March 13
 | Refer to the March Hot Sheet for a comprehensive, frequently updated list covering the next several weeks. Featured training
|
Week of March 2–6
Monday, March 2
- Digital Partner of Record training
- Cloud Customer Relationship Management Competency Updates
- Partner Practice Enablement: Azure Technical Training
- Ask the Experts Messaging: Hybrid Migration
Tuesday, March 3
- Windows Apportal Office Hours (last one!)
- Part 1 Windows Licensing series: Licensing Windows 8.1 Overview
- Microsoft Virtual Academy: Azure and Open Source – What You Need to Know
- Partner Technical Services: Office 365 Real World Scenarios – Knowledge Management
- Partner Technical Services: Office 365 Initial Journey – Drive Office 365 Adoption
- Success with Enterprise Mobility Suite: How do I protect my data wherever it goes?
Wednesday, March 4
- Cloud Profitability Webcast: Accelerate Sales Process
- Microsoft Cloud Platform Road Show for Hosting Service Providers in Dallas, TX
- Introduction to Dynamics CRM Online (Sales Productivity), Administration, Pricing & Licensing
- Microsoft Virtual Academy: SQL, Python, and Flask
- Partner Technical Services: Voice for Office 365
- Microsoft Azure Solution Scenarios – Big Data on Azure
Thursday, March 5
- Partner Technical Services: Office 365 Practice Accelerator for SMB
- Microsoft Virtual Academy: Developer Productivity: What's New in C# 6
- Sales and Licensing Excellence Webcast: Trust and Transparency in a Cloud-First World – Level 100
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Spring Readiness Blitz – Sales Track
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Spring Readiness Blitz – Technical Track
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015 Virtual Foundations Course
- US Office 365 Partner Community Call
- How to Sell Office 365 Through the Value Propositions of SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Yammer
- Microsoft Online Services Advisor Monthly Office Hours: Web-Direct and Deploy Incentives
Friday, March 6
Week of March 9–13
Monday, March 9
- Digital Partner of Record training
- Microsoft Experience Center Facilitator Boot Camp in Chicago, IL
- Microsoft Experience Center Facilitator Boot Camp in Los Angeles, CA
- Partner Technical Services: Design the Hybrid Cloud
- Microsoft Virtual Academy Meets Reddit: Ask Us Anything!
- Ask the Experts - Identity: Deploying AADSync and upgrading from DirSync/FIM to AADSync
Tuesday, March 10
- SMB Live Workshop: Attract Customers, Grow Sales in New York, NY
- SMB Live Workshop: Attract Customers, Grow Sales in Nashville, TN
- Part 2 of Windows Licensing series: Software Assurance and Windows VDA – Level 200
- Partner Technical Services: Office 365 Real World Scenarios: Budgeting & Accounting System
- Enterprise Mobility Scenario – Visual Studio Development: Mobile apps for Windows, IOS and Android
Wednesday, March 11
- SMB Live Technical: Modernize with Hybrid Cloud in New York, NY
- SMB Live Technical: Modernize with Hybrid Cloud in Nashville, TN
- SMB Live Workshop: Attract Customers, Grow Sales in Indianapolis, IN
- SMB Live Workshop: Attract Customers, Grow Sales in Sunnyvale, CA
- Cloud Profitability Webcast: Sales Motion – Proof
- Dynamics CRM Online – Remove Wind from Competitor Sails & Integration with SharePoint
Thursday, March 12
- SMB Live Technical: Modernize with Hybrid Cloud in Indianapolis, IN
- SMB Live Technical: Modernize with Hybrid Cloud in Sunnyvale, CA
- Microsoft Virtual Academy: Construct 2 Advanced Game Development
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015 Virtual Foundations Course
- SharePoint Online Developer Series for Office 365: Real World Challenges
- Partner Technical Services: Migrate Your MBX to Office 365
- Microsoft Cloud Platform Road Show for Hosting Service Providers in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Friday, March 13
- Digital Partner of Record office hours
- SMB Partner Insider Call Series – East Region
- SMB Partner Insider Call Series – Central Region
- SMB Partner Insider Call Series – West Region