Barbara Darrow blog: The good and bad from the Microsoft Partner Conference

By Barbara Darrow, Contributor 10 Jul 2007 | SearchITChannel.com

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July 12: Fun Facts From Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 07
*** Best Nickname: One hotel for press and analysts combined the interior look of a war zone with the façade of a parking structure. Press wags not-so-affectionately dubbed it the Baghdad Hilton.
*** Best Stealth Fact: Designated Microsoft spokespeople refused to provide price on the new embeddable version of BizTalk Server (R2). A panelist was not so reticent: The list price: $500.
*** Best Bamboozle: The setup: Microsoft COO Kevin Turner talked up a three-way simultaneous launch next February of Longhorn/Katmai/Orcas (that's Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 to those who stand on formalities.) The bamboozle: At least one third of the three products won't ship at launch time—SQL Server is on for second quarter 08 general availability.

July 11: CRM Live a partner opportunity? Kind of.

To be clear: When Microsoft says CRM Live will be totally partner inclusive, it really means partners will be an absolutly required part of the sale only during the ramp-up stage.

July 11: Microsoft packages up Biztalk Server for branch offices, offers bundle.

When Microsoft ships Biztalk Server 2006 R2 – which it has promised to do in September — it will offer a new version packaged and priced for branch offices.

Listing for $1,800 per CPU, this edition will run in the spoke offices of typical hub-and-spoke organizations, Microsoft executives said. BizTalk Server Enterprise Standard edition weighs in at $8,500 per CPU and Enterprise Edition at $35,000 per CPU.

And that's not all:

July 10: Update: Is Microsoft WinServer 2008 big-bang release a sham?

Microsoft's biggest-ever enterprise product launch appears to be more marketing ploy than a true launch.While COO Kevin Turner said Microsoft would simultaneously launch Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 together at a Feb. 27 event in Los Angeles, that news does not override previously announced product timetables, other execs said Tuesday afternoon.

July 10: Microsoft intros Windows Server, SQL Server, Visual Studio 2008, preps big-bang rollout for Feb. 27

Folks discounted an earlier report that Microsoft would sync up its gigantic Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio Server 2008 launches into a single "platform release" but that's exactly what it's going to do.

July 10: Microsoft Live services pricing is aggressive; surprise, surprise

Microsoft, true to its volume sales heritage, will offer its upcoming hosted CRM Live service for as little as $39 per user per month.

July 8: Five hot spots to watch at this week's Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference

Here, from a completely non-scientific survey of several Microsoft partners – both the "classic" and Microsoft Business Solutions varieties — are the five hot spots to watch at the annual Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference.

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