|  |  | | Microsoft Partner Network Newsletter | March 16, 2010 | | You are receiving this newsletter as a benefit of your organization's partnership agreement with Microsoft. | Working Together. Creating Opportunities. Realizing Potential.
We're excited to share the latest announcements about the launch of the new competencies and subscription offerings in May and advanced competencies in October.
Catch our March 17 webcast where you'll hear about: - The new network membership areas—communities, subscriptions, competencies, and advanced competencies.
- The unique opportunities each membership area can represent to you and your customers.
- Great new subscriptions specially designed for solution providers, developers, and Web designers.
- Why you'll want to attain an advanced competency, beyond demonstrating the strongest capabilities and commitment.
This issue is packed with information about how the network is changing. Start familiarizing yourself with what's coming, now. Then mark your calendar to watch the March 17 webcast to learn more. 
|  | | Partner Learning Center | Microsoft Partner Portal | Update Your Profile | Relationship Options and Benefits
| The question for Microsoft partners is simple: What adds value to your business? You can engage with the Microsoft Partner Network in four ways: by participating in communities, as a subscriber, or by attaining a competency or an advanced competency. Each represents a progressively deeper level of expertise and commitment—and offers a wider range of opportunities to learn and share best practices, drive innovative solutions, and grow your business.
|  | Community and Quick Starts
Whether you're an established partner or brand new, all members of the Microsoft Partner Network are valuable contributors to a vibrant and growing ecosystem. Connect in real time through the Microsoft Partner Network Community.
| Subscriber
A new Microsoft Partner Network subscription, Microsoft Action Pack Development and Design, will be available on May 24, 2010. Designed with developers and Web designers in mind, Action Pack Development and Design will provide a range of benefits, including:
- Hands-on experience to build prototypes with some of the most current Microsoft products, along with internal-use software licenses to run your business—all for a very low price.
- Ten hours of design support, including development, architecture, and deployment guidance.
- Online technical and sales training courses to sharpen your skills and become more valuable in the marketplace.
- Marketplace visibility to tens of thousands of potential customers, across multiple Microsoft customer directories, including Microsoft Solution Finder and Microsoft Pinpoint.
| Also on May 24, 2010, the current Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) will be renamed to Microsoft Action Pack Solution Provider to better reflect the partners who would benefit most from it. In addition to internal-use software, training, Online Technical Community support, and other benefits, subscribers to Action Pack Solution Provider will receive: - A TechNet subscription to help you plan for and evaluate new technology and solve technical problems fast.
- A direct view into critical and emerging technology and business trends with exclusive monthly research analyst Web seminars.
- Marketplace visibility to reach tens of thousands of potential customers, across multiple Microsoft customer directories, including Solution Finder and Pinpoint.
| Finally, on May 21, 2010, the Empower for ISVs program will be discontinued. If you are eligible, you will be able to order a new subscription or renew your subscription until May 21. If you have subscribed or renewed your subscription before May 21, you will maintain your benefits until your expiration date.
| Competency
The current competency and specialization structure will be simplified to align with solutions that solve your customers' business challenges. Partners who have earned competencies demonstrate a strong market-proven capability within a business solution area that addresses specific customer demands.
| Starting May 2010, you will see the following changes: - Specializations consolidated into new competencies that address new technology solutions and how customers make purchasing decisions.
- Technical certification requirements updated to match current product offerings.
| You will retain your current competencies until it is time for you to renew your membership in the Microsoft Partner Network. If you re-enroll after May 2010, you will need to achieve one of the new competencies to avoid any disruption of benefits, so prepare to attain these new competencies now.
| Advanced Competency
Advanced competencies, a new network membership opportunity available to partners in October 2010, will provide partners the highest level of Microsoft Partner Network benefits that surpass the cost of qualification, including channel incentives and eligibility for a Microsoft contact who can help you create and support your development and sales efforts.
| Partners with advanced competencies will represent organizations (and associated individuals) who have demonstrated the highest, most-consistent capability and commitment within a specific business solution area. Achieving an advanced competency will strengthen your relationship with Microsoft—and with your customers. Requirements may include advanced certifications, sales quotas, assessments, customer references, and customer satisfaction measurement.
| In October 2010, partners with advanced competencies can: - Differentiate your business by showcasing that your solution went through a rigorous and auditable approval process, and by focusing on advanced competencies that feature emerging technologies to show your commitment to new technology deployment skills.
- Receive 100 internal-use licenses of the latest Microsoft desktop, operating system, and server software to run your business.
- Distinguish your advanced expertise with a Microsoft Partner Network advanced competency logo.
- Better understand what drives customer satisfaction and loyalty and get customer insights that can help you drive profitability through the Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Index—a fast and effective survey solution.
| Review the advanced competency benefits and requirements.
| You can start attaining new competencies in May 2010, and advanced competencies in October 2010. To be eligible for advanced competency benefits, you will need to meet the associated requirements before your re-enrollment date. In October 2010, all Gold Certified and Certified designations will be retired.
| Thank you for your continued participation in the Microsoft Partner Network and for your support in delivering Microsoft technologies to our mutual customers.
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Microsoft Partner Network Resources
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