Microsoft Partner Network Overview

January 2011

Sharon CollinsMicrosoft Partner Network Marketing ManagerU.S. Partner Group

The Microsoft Partner Network

Competency Benefits

Silver Competency Core Benefits• Internal Use Software (25 licenses):

Windows 7, Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007, Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Office SharePoint, and more.

• Support Services: 20 phone-based advisory hours, unlimited deal-related and business-critical phone support, online support experience, and a five-pack of break/fix incidents.

• Marketplace Prioritization: Priority listing in Microsoft customer-facing directories and use of the Microsoft Partner Network silver competency logo.

• Channel Incentives

• Training: Access to the Partner Learning Center.

Gold Competency Core Benefits• Internal Use Software (100 licenses):

Windows 7, Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007, Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Office SharePoint, and much more.

• Support Services: 50 phone-based advisory hours, unlimited deal-related and business-critical phone support, online support experience, and a five-pack of break/fix incidents.

• Marketplace Prioritization: Top-priority listing in Microsoft customer-facing directories and use of the Microsoft Partner Network gold competency logo.

• Channel Incentives

• Training: Access to the Partner Learning Center.

Competency-Specific Benefits

Partners with silver competencies and gold competencies are eligible for competency-specific benefits, including extra software licenses. Please refer to the appropriate competency pages or License Calculator for more information.

Requirements Summary for Silver & Gold Competencies

Requirement Earn a Silver Competency Differentiate Through a Gold Competency

Credentials

Two Microsoft Certified ProfessionalsORQualifying silver competency application test

Four unique, credentialed Microsoft Certified Professionals, not holding any other gold competencyORQualifying silver and gold competency application tests

Revenue Commitment

N/A (except for the Microsoft CRM and Microsoft ERP competencies)

Reference the following document for specifics:Microsoft Gold Competency Revenue Guidelines

BusinessTraining andAssessments(BeginningOctober 2010)

One individual who passes a Licensing overview assessmentANDOne individual who passes an online Sales and Marketing competency assessment

One individual who passes a Licensingoverview assessmentANDTwo individuals who pass an online Sales and Marketing competency assessment

Customer References

Three unique customer references per competency

Five unique customer references per competencyANDParticipate in Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Index

Commitment

Full profile and silver competency membership fee of $1850, good for one or multiple silver competencies

Full profile and gold competency membership fee of $3800, good for one or multiple gold competencies

Customized MPN Transition Plans for Partners

1. Call the Microsoft Partner Network Experts – via email (msexpert@microsoft.com) or phone (1-800-MPN-SOLVE/1-800-676-7658; just say “Expert” at the first tele-prompt).

2. Work with an Expert to develop a customized transition plan including:

• Your organization’s status toward achieving new silver or gold competencies based on the competencies currently achieved.

o Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs)o Exam requirements for those MCPso Training and Assessments

Licensing Assessment Sales & Marketing Assessments

o Customer References/CSATo Revenue commitment guidance, if applicable

• Review benefits, training & certification promotions available

3. Once you engage with an MPN Expert, you will receive a follow up email customized transition plan.

MPN Expert Follow Up Email Customized Transition Plan

Get Your Customized MPN Transition Plan Today!

Appendix

Available Now!

• Identity and Security• Independent Software

Vendor (ISV)• Learning• Midmarket Solution Provider• Mobility• OEM Hardware• Portals and Collaboration• Project and Portfolio

Management• Search• Server Platform• Software Asset Management• Software Development• Systems Management• Unified Communications• Virtualization• Volume Licensing• Web Development

Partner Points are retired.

Partner levels (Registered, Certified, and Gold Certified) are retired.

Microsoft Partner Network: Changes Now Live

Partner levels (Registered, Certified, and Gold Certified) are retired.

New business assessment requirements are available.

New partner logos are available for partner use.

Specializations are consolidated into new competencies.

New silver competencies and gold competencies, as well as their associated benefits, are available.

Both Microsoft Action Pack Solution Provider and Microsoft Action Pack Development and Design are available.

Microsoft Partner Network competencies launched:

• Application Integration• Application Lifecycle

Management• Authorized Distributor• Business Intelligence• Content Management• Customer Relationship

Management• Data Platform• Desktop Platform• Digital Marketing• Enterprise Resource

Planning• Hosting Platform

Microsoft competency brands:1.Showcase your expertise2.Are more customer-friendly3.Provide more exclusivity

Branding Overview

The Microsoft Partner Network branding will shift to identify your areas of expertise instead of your relationship level with Microsoft, allowing you to better align with the way your customers buy and clearly showcase your business focus through your logo.

Benefits Extension Through October 31, 2011

Extending Usage Period for Gold Certified / CertifiedBranding (Logos) & Software Benefits

To help our Microsoft Gold Certified and Certified partners more easily make the transition to the new competency membership opportunities, we are extending the period that Gold Certified and Certified partners can continue to use the partner logos and the software benefits until October 2011.  

This extension means that Gold Certified or Certified partners who have an active membership can retain use of their current logos and internal-use software benefits until October 2011, regardless of which membership opportunity they renew into between October 2010 and October 2011.  However, the ability to download software and obtain activation keys will be affected depending on the membership chosen.  Partner Technical Services benefits are not included in the extension. Further, to retain use of MSDN and TechNet benefits, partners must have at least one silver competency.

Full Details on the Partner Portal https://partner.microsoft.com/40148776

Revenue Requirement for Gold Competencies

Starting October 2010, partners will need to commit to delivering a minimum Microsoft revenue amount based on their respective gold competency(ies) attained.

Revenue Requirement Timeline

Oct 2010 – Oct 2011 Oct 2011 – Oct 2012

Between October 2010 and October 2011, partners need only agree to deliver a minimum revenue amount by their membership renewal date; this will be in the form of an “acknowledgement” at the time of gold competency enrollment.

Beginning October 2011, Microsoft will start to measure actual gold competency revenue attainment. Partners will need to meet the revenue amount by their next membership renewal date that occurs after October 2012, for which there has been a year to measure revenue achievement.

Example of how the revenue commitment will appear in the Partner Membership Center, Competency Summary page. Starting October 2010, to commit to the revenue requirement partners need to click

the “Agree” link.

Please refer to the gold competency revenue guidelines for details.

US Minimum Revenue Commitment by Competency

Numbers above are represented in US Dollars.

Competency Revenue Commitment

Application Integration 100,000 Application Lifecycle Management 100,000 Business Intelligence 180,000 Content Management 130,000 CRM 300 seats or 200,000 Data Platform 130,000 Desktop 1,000 seats deployed Distributor Varies by contract ERP 100,000 Hosting 100,000 Identity and Security 100,000 ISV 12 Customer wins or $50K transacted revenue Learning Gold Learning KPI Licensing 100,000 Midmarket Solution Provider 100,000 OEM 150 BOS/15 Server Portals and Collaboration 180,000 Project and Portfolio Management 130,000 Search 130,000 Server Platform 180,000 Software Development 100,000 Systems Management 180,000 Unified Communications 180,000 Virtualization 130,000 Web Development 100,000

Sales & Marketing Assessments | Licensing Overview Assessment

• Online Business Assessments required for most competencies• Sales & Marketing Assessments • Licensing Overview Assessment

• Online learning paths are available to help you prepare

Curriculum and Assessments by Competency

Review details for the Licensing overview assessment and the Sales and Marketing competency assessment.

Category

Microsoft Partner Network Competency (New)

Licensing Assessment – October 2010

Sales and Marketing Assessment - October

2010

Invitation to Sales Specialist Accreditation

Dynamics CRM May 2011

ERP May 2011

APO Data Platform

Application Integration

Software Development May 2011

Web Development May 2011

Application Lifecycle Management

May 2011

BPIO Business Intelligence (also in APO)

Content Management

Portals and Collaboration

Search

Project and Portfolio Management

May 2011

Unified Communication

Core IO Systems Management

Desktop Platform

Server Platform

Virtualization

Identity and Security

Other Mid Market Solution Provider

Learning

Software Asset Management

Training and Certification Offers

• Now extended into 2011! Save up to 30% when you update your certifications with Microsoft Partner Network Competency Exam Packs. You'll also get one free "Second Shot" exam retake per exam voucher.

• Take advantage of valuable training offers from our learning partners to help train, certify and showcase your skills.

• Use the Learning Plan Tool to identify trainings to help you prepare for your certification exams.

Next Steps for Partners

Be sure to visit the “Prepare for the Microsoft Partner Network” Portal Page to get familiar with the changes to the network.

Contact a Microsoft Partner Network Expert to develop your customized MPN transition plan – via email (msexpert@microsoft.com) or phone (1-800-MPN-SOLVE/1-800-676-7658; just say “Expert” at the first tele-prompt).

Create or update your Pinpoint profile.

Get started today!