MCP Monthly Flash: January 20, 2011

The MCP Flash is a newsletter for Microsoft Certified Professionals. New delivery options are available. Click here to confirm your subscription preferences.   Get the Early Bird Rate for the Microsoft Certified Career Conference Today The next Microsoft Certified Career Conference is less than one month away. Register before January 25 and receive the discounted early registration rate of US$20 (a US$50 value). No promo code is required to receive the early bird rate. On February 17, join us for an exciting, career-accelerating line-up of new speakers and sessions, including:      Cloud Computing Talent…What is it? A conversation with Chandra Prasad, one of the world's foremost authorities on cloud computing. Deep dive into the Microsoft Masters program, featuring content from official MCM training courseware. Podcasting Your Way to a Job. Podcasting is the perfect tool to open doors, build relationships, and grow your career. Michael Surkan podcasts about job searching, entrepreneurs, and the economy under his alter-ego, The Optimistic Bear. Fresh perspectives from top-notch Tech·Ed speakers, including Asli Bilgin, Joao Paulo Clementi , and Niraj Bhatt Round II of the wildly popular Are You Careerable? game show with all new content and prizes You’ll also have another opportunity to network with employers seeking Microsoft Certified talent. Beginning January 25, MCPs will need to use the promo code MCP30 to receive a specially-discounted rate of US$30. Follow us on Facebook, the Born to Learn event blog, and Twitter. Original Publication Date: 01/20/2011 Introducing Career Factor: The Life-Changing Online Reality Show Everyone has a story. The stories of challenges and obstacles on the road to career success are rarely told, but are happening to people all around us. Beginning in January 2011, Career Factor will tell the stories of nine real individuals around the world, all of them working hard to improve their careers. Follow the struggles and successes of real-life IT professionals as they work to improve their careers. Visit Career Factor to learn more. Read the full article » Original Publication Date: 01/18/2011 Events Jump-Start Your Office 2010 Training Attend an Office 2010 seminar or webcast to get started on your training. These events are hosted by experts in training and readiness: Microsoft Learning Partners worldwide. Register today. Original Publication Date: 01/20/2011 Attend a Windows Server 2008 R2 Training Event Attend a seminar or webcast on Windows Server 2008 R2 to find out what's new and jump-start your training. These events are hosted by experts in training and readiness, Microsoft Learning Partners worldwide. Register for this event today. Original Publication Date: 01/20/2011 Live Meetings for Managers: Register Now Microsoft has developed a special series of webcasts to help managers of IT professionals and developers get the most out of training and certification opportunities and optimize team performance. Moving to the Cloud Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time Virtual Training: How to Ready Your IT Staff Anywhere, Anytime Through Remote Training Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time Benefits of Virtualization Wednesday, April 20, 2011, 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time Visit the IT Manager Portal to see a full schedule of Live Meetings for Managers or to view a previous meeting on demand. Read the full article » Original Publication Date: 01/18/2011 Certification/Exams Take Advantage of the Career Pack Offer Extension Now you have even more time to save up to 20 percent and purchase packs of two to five exams on every exam purchased. If you obtained your Exam Pack voucher code before January 1, 2011, you have until June 30, 2011, to complete your exams and any retakes. If you obtain your Exam Pack voucher code on or after January 1, 2011, you have until June 30, 2011, to schedule and take your first exam. The remaining exams in any purchased Certification Pack must be taken by December 31, 2011. Take advantage of this limited-time offer. Original Publication Date: 01/20/2011 Secure a Second Shot for Your Microsoft SQL Server Certification Exam Secure a Second Shot for your Microsoft SQL Server Certification exam. Whether you are just beginning to explore the benefits of Microsoft certification, or need to pass one more exam. Read the full article » Original Publication Date: 01/19/2011 Certification Matters: Why IT Managers Should Care Read Redmond magazine's article Certification Matters: Why IT Managers Should Care. The piece includes Michael Domingo's interview with Don Field (senior director for certification at Microsoft Learning) as well as a manager's perspective on certification by Greg Shields. Original Publication Date: 01/06/2011 Manager to Manager Best Practices Jay Gattani discusses why his Microsoft Certification is important to him both as an individual and as a manager in this Manager to Manager Best Practices Video. Read the full article » Original Publication Date: 01/04/2011 Windows XP Exams: MCDST Certification Retiring Soon Exams for Visual Studio 2005, SQL Server 2005, and BizTalk Server 2006 will retire on June 30, 2011. Exams 70-271 and 70-272, which count toward the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) certification, will also retire on June 30, 2011. Several other exams, including Exchange Server 2003, retire on March 31, 2011. See the full list of planned exam retirements. Read the full article » Original Publication Date: 12/22/2010 Take Advantage of the Second Shot Offer The Second Shot offer (regular exam price plus 15 percent) allows you to retake a Microsoft IT professional, developer, or Microsoft Dynamics exam if you do not pass it on the first attempt. Register now and receive your Second Shot exam voucher. Read the full article » Original Publication Date: 12/21/2010 Microsoft Press/Books E-Book Deal of the Week: Windows PowerShell 2.0 Admin Pocket Consultant Get ready answers for using Windows PowerShell 2.0 to manage multiple clients and servers with this e-book deal of the week. Now you can download the PowerShell 2.0 Administrator's Pocket Consultant e-book for only US$11.99 when you type in code DDEDB in the discount section of the shopping cart. To receive the weekly e-book offer alerts, you must be signed up to receive the daily or weekly MCP Flash newsletter.     Original Publication Date: 01/20/2011 Training - MOC/Courseware/Exams/Clinics Increase Your Windows 7 Deployment Knowledge Today The Springboard Series Deployment Learning Portal provides a free, self-paced assessment of your Windows 7 deployment skills. After completing the assessment, you'll receive a personalized learning plan with links to help increase your Windows 7 deployment knowledge. Read the full article » Original Publication Date: 01/20/2011 Special Offers Join the Microsoft Learning Mailing list Get the full story on training and certification by joining the new Microsoft Learning mailing list. When you sign up, you'll receive periodic, single-topic email updates that highlight specific learning resources and help you make the most of new offers. Read the full article » Original Publication Date: 01/12/2011 Exclusive Offers and Resources for IT Managers Register now to receive special offers and information for managers, including exclusive event discounts, Microsoft certification exams for teams, role guidance, Live Meetings for Managers, and more. Read the full article » Original Publication Date: 01/11/2011 Monthly Edition January 2011 In This Issue » Events » Certification » Press » Training » Special Offers Resources » Born to Learn blog » MCP Web site » Special Offers for MCPs Share Your Feedback » Tell Us What You Think About This Newsletter Learning Portals » Windows 7 » Windows Vista » Windows Server 2008 » Microsoft SQL Server 2008 » Microsoft SQL Server 2005 » Visual Studio 2008 » Visual Studio 2005 » Exchange Server 2010 » Exchange Server 2007 » Microsoft Forefront » 2007 Microsoft Office System » Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 » Microsoft Virtualization Microsoft respects your privacy.  Please read our online Privacy Statement. If you would prefer to no longer receive this newsletter, please click here to unsubscribe or reply to this message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. To set your contact preferences for other Microsoft communications, see the communications preferences section of the Microsoft Privacy Statement. Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052 USA Wednesday, January 19, 2011 [+/-] Microsoft Student Newsletter - January 2011 View the mobile version | Sign up for other newsletters | Unsubscribe | Update your profile Welcome to the Microsoft Student Newsletter, offering news, tips, advice, career info, and special offers for today's students. Forward this newsletter to a friend! A Fresh Start to a New Year WebMatrix is here. Download it today and build a website in a snap. Perhaps one of your goals this year is to land an internship or job-we can help. Check out the Office Blog for resume tips, as well as the Students to Business program to find IT jobs and internships in your area. And make your entrance into the job market a grand one by getting Microsoft Certified. A student's guide to Office Check out the Office in Education blog for help with real school tasks. Don't see what you need? Leave comments on the blog or on our Facebook page to suggest future topics. Career Factor: The reality show Follow the real-life struggles and successes of Kevin Dicken, a senior at Dallas Baptist University, and others as they work to start and improve their careers in the IT world. Imagine Cup Solve This Turn your ideas into action. Take on real-world problems submitted by IGOs, NGOs and non-profits and make them part of your Imagine Cup project. Register now. Microsoft Certified Career Conference: Feb. 17 Registration is only $20 USD until Jan 24. This virtual event includes a fantastic lineup of speakers and courses. Register today. Microsoft Certification exam re-take offer Differentiate yourself from other job candidates. Save more than 50% on exams and score a free exam retake. Get Microsoft Certified. Demo: Keep track of your notes Hot Windows Phone 7 apps Studying tips from students like you Excel 25th anniversary contest: Play now Tips and tricks with Office and more See the Kinect Effect Free academic downloads from Microsoft Research Free music downloads from Windows   Bing and education  Calling IT students: Use your "Tech Talent 4 Good" Microsoft Partners to help build Haiti back up   Tech?Ed 2011: $995 USD (first 300 students) Get Office for Mac for 50 percent off Microsoft Office Professional Academic 2010 is here No-cost Microsoft Technology Associate student study guides    Follow us on Twitter Join us on Facebook Visit us on your mobile phone Explore the Student Lounge   Microsoft respects your privacy.  Please read our online Privacy Statement. If you would prefer to no longer receive this newsletter, please click here to unsubscribe or reply to this message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. To set your contact preferences for other Microsoft communications, see the communications preferences section of the Microsoft Privacy Statement. Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052 USA Tuesday, January 18, 2011 [+/-] Windows Logo Program Newsletter for January 18, 2011 Sign up for other newsletters | Unsubscribe | Update your profile The Windows Logo Program Newsletter provides up to date information about the Windows Logo Program. Did you get this newsletter from a friend? Subscribe to the Windows Logo Program Newsletter. Announcing the Windows Logo Kit 1.6 Release Schedule Windows Logo Kit (WLK) 1.6 is expected to be released to manufacturing (RTM) on approximately January 28. It will then be released to the web (RTW) within a week. WLK 1.6 will become a required kit for logo submissions effective June 1, 2011. Until that date, partners can choose to use either WLK 1.5 or WLK 1.6 for logo submissions. WLK 1.5 expires at 23:59 P.M. Pacific Time on May 31.   Obtaining a logo for Windows XP can only be done using WLK 1.5, and only until 23:59 P.M. Pacific Time on May 31. Partners can, however, obtain a driver signature for Windows XP by submitting through the "Unclassified" program in WLK 1.6. Drivers submitted through the Windows XP Unclassified category are eligible to go on Windows Update. For more information, see http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/whql/resources/news/whqlnews_120710.html. Partners are required to use Windows 7 Service Pack 1 to test their submissions 90 days after the RTM of the service pack. This is documented in Policy-0002. Edition for January 18, 2011 In This Issue: Announcing the Windows Logo Kit 1.6 Release Schedule What's New on WHDC? Windows Logo Program References • Windows Logo Program Newsletter Archives Sign up for other newsletters | Update your profile © 2010 Microsoft Corporation Terms of Use | Trademarks | Legal Information   Microsoft respects your privacy. Please read our online Privacy Statement. If you would prefer to no longer receive this newsletter, please click here to unsubscribe or reply to this message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. To set your contact preferences for other Microsoft communications, see the communications preferences section of the Microsoft Privacy Statement. Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052 USA           Monday, January 17, 2011 [+/-] Save Time and Money with Partner Benefits View this email in your browser Public Edition | January 17, 2011 Follow us:   Your Network. Your Benefits. Your Advantage. In todays marketplace, competition is fierce. But joining the Microsoft Partner Network offers you an advantage. As a member, you have access to a set of core benefits, aligned to the partner business cycle, that can help you save time and money—and help you make the most of your unique expertise. Each membership opportunity offers ways to strengthen your capabilities, better serve customers, and develop new opportunities. The deeper your commitment is to Microsoft, the more benefits you receive, and the higher their value is to your business. When you purchase a subscription or earn a competency, you get even more benefits that are tailored specifically to those membership opportunities. And if you earn additional competencies? More benefits. Benefits You Can Receive Internal-use licenses for the latest Microsoft software Business and technical training through the Partner Learning Center Customizable marketing tools and resources in the revamped Partner Marketing Center Exposure to tens of thousands of customers through Microsoft Pinpoint Developer tools, software, communities, and resources through MSDN subscriptions Access to TechNet Subscriptions, which provide similar tools and resources to IT professionals Technical advisory and incident support provided by Partner Technical Services Updates about the latest news, offers, and training, through partner newsletters Why Join? | Microsoft Partner Portal | Enroll in the Partner Network Build Your Business Bring Customers to the Cloud—Quickly Join the partner network to take advantage of Practice Accelerator for Business Productivity Online Suite –Standard. Get the tools you need to move customers to online services with the same functionality and security of on-premises environments, and with the added agility of the web. Build a Better Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Practice Get tools and resources to help you effectively deliver a solution that can reduce your customers’ hardware, software, and IT staff costs. Build New Service Offerings and Reach More Customers Sign up for the Microsoft Platform Ready for Hosters program to access software, training, support, and exclusive marketing offers. Product and Solution Center See How Internet Explorer Compares to Other Browsers Watch a side-by-side comparison that shows the performance of the Internet Explorer 9  browser against Firefox, Google Chrome, and others. Enter the SharePoint Journeys Video Contest Create a video that shows how your unique use of Microsoft SharePoint 2010 improves how people work together, and you could win a pass to SharePoint Conference 2011 in Anaheim, California. Training and Readiness Prepare Your Sales Team for the Hosted Exchange Opportunity Take advantage of Windows Phone 7 market momentum to increase your Hosted Exchange business. Help your sales team learn about the benefits of this winning combination with online sales training—available at no charge to Microsoft Partner Network members. Enroll Today and Get No-Charge Training Network members have access to hundreds of no-charge training opportunities through the Partner Learning Center. Join today and explore them for yourself. Technical Support Need Support for Your Cloud Services? Access presales support, competitive assistance, and deployment guidance when you join the Microsoft Partner Network. And take workshops for Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite and Windows Azure. Offers and Promotions Special Partner Offer: Upgrade to Expression Ultimate Step up from Microsoft Expression Studio 4 Premium to Expression Studio 4 Ultimate and gain the advantages of SketchFlow for the reduced price of US$199. Follow Us on Twitter Like Our Page on Facebook In Other News Start Growing Your Business by Subscribing to a Microsoft cloud Program Take Advantage of the Visual Studio and Expression Studio partner Offer Visit BizIntelligence.TV, the One Stop for Everything BI Go to Our Facebook Page to Tell Us What You Think about Partner Training Get the Latest Training News on Twitter You are receiving this newsletter at your request. 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