Partner Otaku

We announced the WebsiteSpark Program for professional Web Developers and Designers at no upfront cost!  If you have 10 or fewer employees, learn more and sign up if you qualify! Website Spark is also making news. Here’s a link to a couple of articles in PCWorld and Tech Crunch.

I’ve outlined the program below, but please go to the site for additional details.

What does the program provide?

WebSiteSpark provides software licenses that you can use for three years at no cost.  Once enrolled, you can download and immediately use the following software from Microsoft:

• 3 licenses of Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
• 1 license of Expression Studio 3 (which includes Expression Blend, Sketchflow, and Web)
• 2 licenses of Expression Web 3
• 4 processor licenses of Windows Web Server 2008 R2
• 4 processor licenses of SQL Server 2008 Web Edition
• DotNetPanel control panel (enabling easy remote/hosted management of your servers)

The Windows Server and SQL Server licenses can be used for both development and production deployment.  You can either self-host the servers on your own, or use the licenses with a hoster.  WebsiteSpark makes it easy to find hosters who are also enrolled in the program, and who can use your licenses to provide you with either dedicated or virtual dedicated servers to host your sites on.

In addition to software, WebsiteSpark provides partner opportunities to grow and build your business (including customer referrals through our partner programs).  It also includes product support (including 2 professional support incidents) and free online training for the products.

Who can join the program?

WebSiteSpark is available to independent web developers and small web development companies.  The only two requirements to join the program are:

1. Your company builds web sites and web application on behalf of others.
2. Your company currently has less than 10 employees.

If you meet these requirements you can visit the WebsiteSpark website and sign-up today. 

As part of the enrollment process you can pick either a network referral partner (for example: a hoster or an existing Microsoft partner), or enter a referral code that you have received at an event or from a Microsoft employee.  If you send mail to webspark@microsoft.com you can get a referral code quickly.  You can then use that code to enroll in the program on the WebsiteSpark website.  Once enrolled you can immediately download and use the software, as well as begin to participate in the network/partner opportunities.

If you have any problems enrolling, you can also send me mail (wesy@microsoft.com) and I can connect you with someone who can help. 

What happens after the 3 years?

WebsiteSpark is a 3 year program.  There is no obligation to continue to use any of the software after the three years is over, and there are no costs for the three years other than a $100 program fee at the end of the three years.

At the end of the three years, WebsiteSpark participants can optionally choose to purchase all of the software in the WebsiteSpark program via a $999/year package.  This includes 3 copies of VS Professional, 1 copy of Expression Studio (including Blend and Sketchflow), 2 copies of Expression Web, and 4 processor licenses of Windows Web Server 2008 and 4 processor licenses of SQL Server Web edition that can be used for production deployment.

Alternatively, if you want to purchase only the production server licenses, you can take advantage of a $199/year offering that includes both 1 Windows Web Server processor license and 1 SQL Server Web edition processor license.  You can buy the quantity you need of this package at $199/year each. 

Summary

The WebsiteSpark program joins the other two successful “Spark” programs we’ve previously launched – BizSpark for startups, and DreamSpark for students.

Coming at a time when the current economic climate is still tough, WebsiteSpark will help support developers and companies by providing the business resources, training, and software necessary for companies to get started and grow successful businesses on the Microsoft Web Platform.

Visit www.microsoft.com/web to learn more about the Microsoft Web Platform, as well as download and install the new Microsoft Web Platform Installer V2 we released today – which makes it really easy to quickly provision web servers and web development machines.  You can then browse and download and use open source web applications from the Windows Web Application Gallery.

ABOUT THE PDC

The Professional Developers Conference (PDC) is Microsoft’s premier gathering of leading-edge developers and architects.  Attendees come from around the world to learn about the future of Microsoft’s developer platform, exchange ideas with Microsoft technology experts, and network with fellow professionals.  This is the conference you need to attend if you want to stay ahead curve, and get a head start on planning your company’s products and technology investments.

Register by September 15^th and receive $500 off your conference pass – that’s the best discount you’ll get for PDC09.  Visit us online at www.microsoftpdc.com and learn more about the future-focused content, industry-leading speakers and other great

opportunities you’ll get at PDC09.

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU AT PDC09

KEYNOTES

PDC is where our biggest names make the biggest announcements. Learn about the future of the Microsoft developer platform straight from the people who make it happen – Microsoft’s Chief Software Architect, Ray Ozzie, and the President of Server and Tools, Bob Muglia.

SESSIONS & SPEAKERS

For the first time ever, participate in a perfect storm of brilliance, insight, experience, and vision as we bring together Microsoft’s Technical Fellows for the Technical Leaders series of sessions at PDC09. These are the big brains that develop and drive technical strategies for Microsoft and the industry, and this is a series you won’t want to miss.  Visit the Sessions page for a full listing of published sessions.

WORKSHOPS

Join us a day early (on November 16) for a full day of in-depth content delivered by recognized industry leaders.  Workshops are available exclusively to attendees – they will not be made available online.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity to expand your developer skills at the PDC09 workshops.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Not only will you get great content and speakers, you’ll also get early access to the technology and opportunities to meet one-on-one with Microsoft developer technology experts and fellow professions at our special events.  Visit the Special Events page for more information.

Today we announced pricing for Azure.  Lot’s of press on this already, but I wanted to provide a new link to hit for more information specifically for partners about Azure.

Azure Partner Quickstart Portal

I’ve embedded an impromptu video of Hank Janssen from Microsoft who presented this session at PHP|tek. It’s not the greatest sound quality, but worth checking out. Thanks go to Brian Gorbett for recording.

The Worldwide Partner Conference will be in New Orleans from   July 13-16.  The WPC is great opportunity to learn and network with Microsoft’s leadership and your peers.  Here’s the link for more information and registration details

1. Competitive Advantage: We’ll share our product roadmaps so you can align your business plans and leverage our marketing dollars. Additionally you’ll hear from Microsoft Executives
2. Get in-depth, hands-on information, with demos of Microsoft’s new product lineup including Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Office 2010, Mobile 6.5, Silverlight 3, SQL Server 2008, and Azure Services Platform. There are more than a half dozen Microsoft product launches or releases coming over the next 18 months, all of which will be featured at WPC09 as key revenue generators!
3. Hear from Microsoft executives from across the business, as they outline what you can expect from Microsoft now and in the future, and offer insights for partners that you may not hear anywhere else:
   • Steve Ballmer CEO
   • Chris Capossela, SVP IW
   • Stephen Elop, President, Microsoft Business Division
   • Steven Guggenheimer, CVP, OEM
   • Bob Kelly, CVP Infrastructure Server Marketing
   • Bob Muglia, President, Server and Tools Business
   • Kevin Turner, COO
   • Bill Veghte, SVP for Windows
   • Allison Watson, CVP, Worldwide Partner Group
   • Robert Youngjohns, President, CVP for North America Sales and Marketing
4. See guest speaker, Jack Welch on Wednesday, July 15!
5. Worth the Time and Money Investment. Take advantage of four days’ worth of valuable information, interactive breakout sessions, hands-on business planning, and opportunities to connect with other partners and with Microsoft.
6. Accelerate the development and execution of your business plans. 25+ sessions designed to help partners align to Microsoft U.S. marketing investments
7. Schedule meetings with over 500 Microsoft U.S. leaders and their teams from all aspects of the business. including Enterprise, Small and Midsize, Government and Education, Communications Sector, as well as our East, Central, and West Region geographies, are attending the Conference to connect with partners
8. Connect and collaborate with complementary partners to develop joint solutions for customers. Thousands of companies attend WPC, offering U.S. partners the opportunity to build new and deepen existing
9. The great hotel rates in New Orleans expire June 15, so we encourage partners to register before then for the best price.
10. Learn How to Navigate and Maximize Your Relationship with Microsoft – Join the WPC09 U.S. Partner Community on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/WPC09-US-Partner-Community/106017791350), to meet both Microsoft U.S. team members and other U.S. partners attending the Conference.
11. Get a first look at how the Microsoft Partner Program is changing to better serve partner needs.
12. Have a Little Fun—It’s New Orleans! On Thursday night, join us for the WPC Jazzfest Celebration and take in the great local music and cuisine!

Register for Microsoft WPC 2009 – July 13-16, 2009

We know it’s more important than ever to invest your travel dollars wisely. We’re working to make 2009 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference the most valuable partnering event you’ll attend this year.

Preview the WPC09 Session Catalog for more session information, and follow the Microsoft US Team on its journey to WPC09 on Twitter @WPC09US.

One of Windows Azure’s goals is to provide support for a variety of languages including Java, PHP and Ruby.  If you are a PHP developer, and are interested in testing the PHP SDK for Windows Azure please click the link to the PHP SDK home page – PHP SDK for Windows Azure – Home.

PHPAzure is an open source project to provide a software development kit for Windows Azure and Windows Azure Storage – Blobs, Tables & Queues

Here are some resources that maybe useful to you in getting started:

Quick note, the first link is still being built out, if you wish to register go the “Register here” link. 

Location – www.WindowsPartnerReadinessDay.com

Time – 8:00-2:45pm (Pacific Standard Time)

Registration – The event is FREE, Register here and be notified the day prior with the link to the live feed of the event.

At this event you will have the opportunity to learn about Windows 7, the next-generation operating system from Microsoft. Online attendees can take advantage of the readiness and marketing tools made available specifically for partners to help prepare for the Windows 7 business opportunity. 

Windows 7 Partner Readiness Day will provide the resources you need to become a Windows 7 expert and help better prepare you for customer conversations. Microsoft executives and product experts will be on hand to answer all your questions and to provide you with a look at the following Microsoft product strategies:

• Industry trends and how Windows 7 will affect the marketplace 
• The business opportunities that Windows 7 brings for partners
• An overview of the key steps and programs to get ready for Windows 7

The ISV track includes information on the Windows 7 Compatibility Tool and the Windows 7 Logo Program.

Azure Services Training KitToday we released an updated version of the Azure Services Training Kit.   The first Azure Services Training Kit was released during the week of PDC and it contained all of the PDC hands-on labs.   Since then, the Azure Services Evangelism team has been creating new content covering new features in the platform.

The kit now includes the following content covering Windows Azure, .NET Services, SQL Services, and Live Services:

• 11 hands-on labs – including new hands-on labs for PHP and Native Code on Windows Azure.
• 18 demo scripts – These demo scripts are designed to provide detailed walkthroughs of key features so that someone can easily give a demo of a service
• 9 presentations – the presentations used for our 3 day training workshops including speaker notes.
• 2 additional hands-on labs for Windows Azure PHP and Native Code support

Download the package here

Azure Services Management Tools

The Azure Services Management Tools include an MMC SnapIn and Windows PowerShell cmdlets that enable a user to configure and manage several Azure Services including .NET Access Control Services, and the .NET Workflow Service. These tools can be helpful when developing and testing applications that use Azure Services. For instance, using these tools you can view and change .NET Access Control Rules, and deploy and view workflows.The November release of the management tools was downloaded 2190 times.Download here

I often use iTune or XBOX Live as examples of Software + Services.  I really like our XBOX Live experience. It offers the chance to play with other real people and download XBOX Live Arcade games.  The XBOX Live Arcade offers cool games for people my age (I won’t tell you how hold, but my demographic is probably on the far right of the age curve) and/or for those that don’t have 100 hours to devote to the latest RPG.  

However, the process to purchase games via XBOX Live is convoluted.  My biggest gripe is that I have to buy and/or earn “points” to purchase games.  The games are often 800 points, but I then have to do currency conversion to cacluate how much I’m spending.  When it’s late at night, it’s the last thing I want to do…

Here’s Amazon to my rescue!  I can now buy the games directly with real dollars vs. points. 

 If I choose to purchase the very cool “Braid“, I recieve the code to active the game! It’s the little things that make life better Enjoy!