With the launch of Windows Vista, 2007 Office system and Exchange Server 2007 looming ever closer, Microsoft has never been busier readying its partners for the future of business computing.

Kenneth Lundin, general manager, Windows Client, Microsoft APAC, says, "We are setting the bar for how companies can use software to amplify the impact of every employee. Together, Windows Vista, Microsoft Office 2007 and Exchange Server 2007 will comprise a platform for handling new workplace needs and addressing the full spectrum of how people work to help them get better business results. All this is in-line with our people ready business vision – to empower our customers and their businesses and help them unleash this power."
He also notes that this new platform does a few things together:

• Simplifies work and its processes (especially remotely, allowing for much greater mobility and communicating via different tools)
• Makes individuals more efficient by allowing them to use information more smartly.
• Ensures the necessary infrastructure is in place thereby reducing costs, and also having more stringent security capabilities, thereby enabling it to handle spyware more effectively. The system also has integrated encryption tools for better customer assurance.
  

"New features have been introduced into our 3 new pillars. All are built to suit each customer’s personal requirements and even more features will be added in the next 12-18 months. This is fantastic news for our partners as it presents even greater opportunities for our company’s entire partner ecosystem. It allows them to build customized applications, and will also create software-enabled business opportunities for the industry for years to come. For our partners, Vista gives them additional power and is a much greater value proposition. It will increase demand for our partners in the market, increase their sell-around as Vista complements the sales of other products and opens the pathway to a whole new slew of services and solutions. According to IDC, for every US$1 generated, US$12 is generated for our partner ecosystem."

He adds, "What all this also means is that as customers get more sophisticated, our partners have to step up."  He notes that Microsoft sees leading-edge enterprise customers as well as SMBs – "who are the most nimble at replacing and buying new PCs", to be the early adopters of Vista.

Microsoft has been working very closely with a wide variety of partners throughout the development process of Windows Vista. Lundin explains, "Transforming new technology into real customer benefits isn’t just the operating system’s job – it takes an entire ecosystem of individual developers, software companies, and PC, hardware and device manufacturers to build on that platform and create the diverse range of applications, services and peripherals that people both need and want."

As you can well imagine, preparing for the launch of Vista has been hard work for both Microsoft and all its partners. According to Lundin, the software giant started preparing its 640,000 partners worldwide early and they are all geared for the launch. More than 1,000 of the world’s largest ISVs have been developing and testing solutions for Microsoft’s 2007 Office system and Windows Vista. As of right now, 3,000 partner solutions are in the final stages of development, 35 million developers are creating applications that run on Windows and over 300 OEMs and nearly 350,000 system builder partners worldwide are developing new PCs and form factors. Microsoft will also train 4,500 SIs, thereby enabling them to undertake massive upgrades once these 3 pillars are launched.

Microsoft has also invested heavily in tools and resources to ready their partners for the launch of Vista. The Windows Vista Partner Marketing Day (PMD) which was held from June 13-15th was the largest Microsoft PMD ever held, with 700 representatives in attendance.

Some of the tools/resources available for partners include:

• Scenario marketing guidance and materials, many of which are already available on the Partner Extranet; customer-ready marketing materials and Windows Vita sales training.
• Technical tools, resources and support which gives partners the product experience and expertise they need.
• Early access to beta versions, technical training, documentation, certification programs and developer forums
• Small business partners receive additional support and tools through the Microsoft Partner ProgramThe Channel Builder tool which gives partners a vehicle for connecting with each other to deliver complete solutions to small business customers.
• Access to TAP (Technology Adoption Program)

In addition, Windows Desktop Deployment is the first MSPP specialization focused on Windows client deployment. Lundin notes that with the launch of Windows Vista, this will bring significant value to partners engaged with Microsoft. "Also, certification will be important as well. Since October this year, we have announced that more than 250 products have been through the Windows Vista Logo program globally, representing more than 50 partners. We have nearly tripled the amount of partners and products certified in the Logo Program."

Giving us his views on Microsoft’s partner eco-system, Chad Basham, Datacom New Zealand’s business manager, Integration Solution states, "The TAP provides us with great insight into Vista and gives us an early ‘heads-up’ of the technology and benefits it will bring to our customers. We’ve used the opportunity to up-skill staff and the combination of these things allows us to have some very real conversations with our customers about Vista."

He continues, "For example, security is always a very real concern for our customers and Vista brings some great improvements in this area, especially through innovations such as a more granular User Account control and better USB port management. In addition, we also see Vista helping to reduce desktop management and deployment costs, allowing us to maintain a single OS image for different hardware and languages. Also, the application compatibility toolkit reduces the effort required for application testing. All this allows us to maintain our competitive advantage in the market place. After all, our customers are certainly watching with interest and this intense scrutiny will only increase once Windows Vista is released to the business and consumer channels."

Adam Hall, Axon Microsoft partner alliance manager adds, "As a Gold Partner for Microsoft, it is important that we understand their pending technologies in order for us to be proactive with our customers. To Axon, the benefit of early adoption is the ability to understand the new technology before it hits the market; to customize our current offerings and to be in a position to proactively consult with customers on the new technology."

"We have been installing and testing Windows Vista since Beta 1 on a variety of hardware types along with core applications. What I really love about Windows Vista is that it can effectively roll up a number of functionalities that currently require multiple products, into one product. This functionality coupled with the enhanced security features and advanced deployment capabilities makes Vista very attractive to businesses," Hall continues.

Lundin adds that with the launch of Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange Server 2007, a new set and breed of system developers will definitely be attracted. He notes that new partners will also be needed to focus on home users and consumers, and that Microsoft is working on this to identify and include them into the whole ecosystem.

In addition, he says that some countries in the Asia Pacific region are still being built up such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and there is still a need to expand partners in these emerging markets.

"We will continue to engage and connect closely with our existing partner base as well as identify partners in new and emerging areas. Above all, we want to have a clear and transparent partner ecosystem because our partners are our most important asset. I have no doubts that Vista will be a catalyst for businesses to take a look at their existing practices and many will redefine these practices so that they can transform and better-enable their ways of working." ?

By Shanti Anne Morais