REDMOND, Wash. ? July 5, 2011 ? Today, more and more businesses rely on devices to interact with end users and customers. The retail and hospitality industry, for example, provides a unique opportunity for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to create compelling and engaging point of service (POS) devices ? including digital signage, cash registers, self-service kiosks and fuel pumps ? that offer a differentiated user experience.To better help OEMs and retailer and hospitality organizations take advantage of this opportunity, today Microsoft announced the general availability of Windows Embedded POSReady 7.Windows Embedded POSReady 7, previously released in community technology preview at this year’s National Retail Federation 100th Annual Convention & Expo, provides retail and hospitality businesses with enhanced transaction processing that increases customer satisfaction, loyalty and staff productivity while reducing in-store operational costs. In addition, Windows Embedded POSReady 7 delivers the power of the Windows 7 platform to specialized POS devices, providing rich immersive user experiences that attract and engage customers with eye-catching graphics and a familiar interface.Furthermore, devices running on Windows Embedded POSReady 7 will be fully supported by Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011, the recently launched solution that extends the capabilities of System Center Configuration Manager 2007 to help control and organize enterprise devices running on Windows Embedded POSReady 7, among others. With this capability, enterprise IT professionals are provided with one simple system that can make simultaneous updates across the enterprise.Windows Embedded POSReady 7 launches with support from many global partners, including IBM, NEC Infrontia, Touch Dynamic, Fujitsu, NCR and HP. Key features of Windows Embedded POSReady 7 include the following:Support for Windows Touch multigesture touch interfaces to provide users with intuitive graphics Windows Media Player 12 for a seamless multimedia experience on POS devicesAppLocker, a simple and flexible mechanism that allows administrators to specify exactly what is allowed to run on their POS devicesEnhanced security features through BitLocker, BitLocker To Go and Encrypting File System for increased encryption of internal hard disks, local folders, and external thumb drives and hard disks, giving IT administrators greater protection of highly important data from unauthorized users or external attackersTo learn more about the GA of Windows Embedded POSReady 7 and other Windows Embedded news check out the Windows Embedded POSReady 7 and Windows Embedded retail and hospitality Web pages, as well as Twitter.
Showing posts with label Microsoft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Microsoft. Show all posts
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Make the Journey Part of the Vacation With Microsoft Streets & Trips
REDMOND, Wash. —June 27, 2011 —With summer vacation season upon us, many Americans are searching for vacations that will excite the imagination but won’t max out the credit card. Answer? Road trip! Microsoft Streets & Trips and Jamie Jensen, author of “Road Trip USA,” are encouraging everyone to hop on board, turn the key and visit some of the country’s great national parks. Yellowstone, Yosemite and Glacier are some of the names that come to mind when people think about national parks — yet dozens more offer rich wildlife and stunning scenery. More than 280 million people visited national parks last year and, best of all, many parks are within a day’s drive of most metropolitan areas. Planning a road trip to a nearby national park is a great way to stretch the summer vacation budget and create a one-of-a-kind adventure that the entire family will enjoy and remember.“Being open to the unexpected, serendipitous encounter is what makes a road trip a memorable experience, instead of just another long drive,” Jensen said. “Visiting a national park in your own backyard this summer is not only a budget-friendly way to vacation, but the national parks are packed with the unexpected, and they make for a great destination that will please everyone in the car.”It’s Not Just a Drive, It’s an AdventureTo generate excitement among vacationers and help them prepare for their own adventures to the national parks, Microsoft Streets & Trips is hosting Cruisin’ the National Parks Trivia Sweepstakes. All questions will be based on the national parks, and participants will have a chance to win Visa gift cards. The contest starts June 27, 2011, and runs through Labor Day with a new trivia question posted every Tuesday. Those interested can visit http://www.microsoft.com/streets/explore to review full Official Rules and join in on the fun. From there, travelers can go to the Streets & Trips Facebook page to share their stories and photos from the road. For every person who likes the Streets & Trips Facebook page, Microsoft Corp. will donate $1 to the National Park Foundation.1Best Tips for Hitting the RoadAfter traveling more than 400,000 miles, Jensen has volumes of road trip tips to help travelers make the most of their time at some of America’s most beautiful attractions. Before hitting the road, Jensen recommends using trip-planning software, such as Microsoft Streets & Trips, to plan the trip. Before even leaving home, the whole family can take part in planning the trip to help provide an enjoyable ride for everyone involved. Travelers can calculate mileage, fuel costs and arrival times — a perfect way for families to stay on top of expenses this summer. Once on the road, travelers can use Streets & Trips on their laptop — without an Internet connection — for stops such as ATMs, gas stations, casinos and wineries.Jensen also recommends the following cost-saving tips to help travelers keep their vacation budgets in check this summer:Slow down and save. The slower you drive, the safer you are. Besides giving you more time to appreciate your surroundings, obeying speed limits and taking it easy on the accelerator can also help stretch those precious gallons of gas in your fuel tank. Close the windows, crank the air conditioning. It makes sense that driving slowly and steadily will improve your gas mileage, but it may surprise you to know that driving with the air conditioner on is more economical than rolling down the windows to keep cool. Open windows increase drag, making your engine work harder and burning more fuel. Be safe. Before you hit the road, give your car a full safety check — oil, brakes, washer fluids, spare tires, everything. Even little things are worth fixing. Also, remember to pull together an emergency kit, with first-aid supplies, plastic jugs of drinking water, a blanket, a flashlight and maybe an extra, fully charged cellphone, just in case.Consider camping. There’s no easier and cheaper way to get away from it all than to go camping. Well-maintained campgrounds in beautiful settings in the national parks cost only a few dollars a night. Besides saving hundreds of dollars on hotels, you can save even more because you usually cook your own food when camping.Share the ride. You can cut your driving costs in half, or better, by sharing the expenses with another driver. Traveling with a friend or extended family member may also increase your fun. Inviting a grandparent or older friend along can have many advantages, including an unexpected one: People older than 62 or anyone with a disability, plus as many as three adults traveling with them, are admitted for free to all the national parks.AvailabilityMicrosoft Streets & Trips is available for an estimated retail price of $39.95.2 Consumers can give Streets & Trips a test drive by downloading a free 60-day trial version at http://www.microsoft.com/streets/explore.Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.1 Up to $5,000.2 Estimated retail price. Actual retail price may vary.Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.
Microsoft Awards Top Performing Partners at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference
LOS ANGELES — July 13, 2011 — Today, at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) 2011 in Los Angeles, Microsoft Corp. honored the strongest performing Microsoft Dynamics partners for demonstrating significant customer impact by developing and delivering innovation solutions that help customers drive their businesses forward.“This is the time of year when we get together to recognize and celebrate the achievements of the top Dynamics partners,” said Doug Kennedy, vice president, Microsoft Dynamics Partners. “As a partner-centric business, the success of Microsoft Dynamics is directly dependent upon the expertise, commitment and performance of our partners. The quality and depth of the our channel is envied in the marketplace; therefore, the annual Microsoft Dynamics award winners are clearly an elite set of partners — the best of the best. On behalf of Microsoft, I thank our award winners and congratulate them for their achievements this past year and for their dedication and support of Microsoft Dynamics applications.”At WPC 2011, 12 Microsoft Dynamics partners were recognized with the Microsoft WPC 2011 Awards. More than 397 partners worldwide submitted nominations for their solutions, and award winners and finalists were selected from this group based on their innovative use of Microsoft Dynamics to deliver strategic and valuable solutions that meet diverse customer needs. The Microsoft WPC 2011 award recipients are as follows:Microsoft Dynamics CRM Solution of the Year: proMX GmbHMicrosoft Dynamics CRM Partner of the Year: Hitachi ConsultingMicrosoft Dynamics Cloud Business Excellence: Zero2Ten Inc.Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace Solution Excellence: InsideView Inc.Microsoft Dynamics ERP ISV: Schouw Informatisering BVMicrosoft Dynamics ERP Partner of the Year: XAPTMicrosoft Dynamics Manufacturing Partner of the Year: Scalable Data Systems Pty Ltd.Microsoft Dynamics Distribution Partner of the Year: Accenture | AvanadeMicrosoft Dynamics Retail Partner of the Year: IGNIFYMicrosoft Dynamics Professional Services Partner of the Year: Client ProfilesMicrosoft Dynamics Financial Services Partner of the Year: VeriParkMicrosoft Dynamics Public Sector Partner of the Year: Rock Solid Technologies Inc.Out of thousands of partners, Microsoft also honored 12 resellers with the 2011 Microsoft Dynamics Regional Reseller of the Year award, and 8 independent software vendors (ISVs) were awarded the 2011 Microsoft Dynamics Regional ISV of the Year award. In addition, select top performers were honored from the Microsoft Dynamics channel, including Logica Sverige AB, named the Microsoft Dynamics Outstanding Reseller of the Year, and Veripark, named the Microsoft Dynamics Outstanding ISV of the Year. Several key criteria were considered when selecting Microsoft Dynamics Certified Partners for this special recognition, including outstanding sales performance, thorough technological expertise on Microsoft Dynamics products and services, a consistently high level of customer satisfaction, and feedback from Microsoft team members. The performance-based Microsoft Dynamics Regional Partner of the Year award recipients are as follows:Reseller AwardsMicrosoft Dynamics Outstanding Reseller of the Year: Logica Sverige ABMicrosoft Dynamics Reseller of the Year for Asia Pacific: Avanade Asia Pte LtdMicrosoft Dynamics Reseller of the Year for Canada: BDO Dunwoody LLPMicrosoft Dynamics Reseller of the Year for Central and Eastern Europe: GMCS Verex Microsoft Dynamics Reseller of the Year for France: Absys Cyborg SAMicrosoft Dynamics Reseller of the Year for Germany: COSMO CONSULT GmbH Microsoft Dynamics Reseller of the Year for India: Godrej Infotech LimitedMicrosoft Dynamics Reseller of the Year for Japan: Yokogawa Solutions Corporation Microsoft Dynamics Reseller of the Year for Latin America: MSBS Business Solutions LTDAMicrosoft Dynamics Reseller of the Year for Middle East and Africa: Columbus IT (Middle East) FC-LLC Microsoft Dynamics Reseller of the Year for United Kingdom: 2e2 UK LimitedMicrosoft Dynamics Reseller of the Year for United States: Sonoma Partners, LLCMicrosoft Dynamics Reseller of the Year for Western Europe: Columbus IT Partner A/SISV AwardsMicrosoft Dynamics Outstanding ISV of the Year: VeriparkMicrosoft Dynamics ISV of the Year for Asia Pacific: Sable Systems Pty LtdMicrosoft Dynamics ISV of the Year for Canada: Second Foundation Consulting Inc.Microsoft Dynamics ISV of the Year for Central and Eastern Europe: Bonair S.A. Microsoft Dynamics ISV of the Year for France: 3LI Business SolutionsMicrosoft Dynamics ISV of the Year for Germany: Modus Consult AG Microsoft Dynamics ISV of the Year for Latin America: Mekano Consulting S.A.Microsoft Dynamics ISV of the Year for United States: Demand Management, Inc.Microsoft Dynamics ISV of the Year for Western Europe: Dynamics Software B.V.During the recognition ceremony, a select group of Microsoft Dynamics partners were named to the Inner Circle for Microsoft Dynamics and the Microsoft Dynamics President’s Club. Inner Circle for Microsoft Dynamics represents an elite group of the most strategic Microsoft Dynamics partners from around the globe with sales achievement that ranks them in the highest echelon of the Microsoft Dynamics global network of partners. These partners are recognized for their exceptional overall company performance in delivering valuable solutions to Microsoft Dynamics customers. Microsoft Dynamics President’s Club honors high-performing Microsoft Dynamics partners with a commitment to customers reflected in their business success and growth.A list of the Microsoft WPC 2011 and Regional Partner award winners and finalists can be found online at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/wpc/docs/DynamicsPartnerAwards.docx.A list of the 2011 Inner Circle for Microsoft Dynamics award winners can be found online at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/wpc/docs/DynamicsInnerCircle.docx.A list of the 2011 Microsoft Dynamics President’s Club award winners can be found online at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/wpc/docs/DynamicsPresidentsClub.docx.About Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner ConferenceMicrosoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference provides Microsoft’s partner community with access to key marketing and business strategies, leadership, and information regarding specific customer solutions designed to help partners succeed in the marketplace. Along with informative learning opportunities covering sales, marketing, services and technology, the Worldwide Partner Conference is an ideal setting for partners to garner valuable knowledge from their peers and from Microsoft. More information can be found at http://www.digitalwpc.com and on the Partner Network home page at http://microsoftpartnernetwork.com.About Microsoft Dynamics Microsoft Dynamics CRM and ERP solutions empower your people to be more productive and your systems to last longer and scale as your business grows, while enabling you to derive the insights necessary to respond quickly in an ever-changing world of business.About MicrosoftFounded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.
Microsoft Dynamics Partners Fuel Business Growth by Embracing Change
LOS ANGELES — July 12, 2011 — More than 15,000 partners at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2011 (WPC), currently taking place in Los Angeles, have gathered to discuss business innovation and change — and, more precisely, the change that fuels progress. Much of what’s being discussed this year comes in the form of cloud computing. 
While businesses consider the implications and benefits of the cloud, many partners, including value-added resellers and independent software vendors (ISVs), must evolve and transform their business models to thrive among this change. Over the past 18 years, the Minneapolis-based consulting firm PowerObjects has grown from a humble, two-person operation to a multimillion-dollar company. PowerObjects’ chief operating officer, Jim Sheehan, attributes the company’s prosperity to a number of factors, but one stands out in particular: “The key to our success was that we stopped being everything for everybody and focused on becoming the best at one thing,” says Sheehan. “And that one thing is Microsoft Dynamics CRM.”While PowerObjects originally began working with the on-premises version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, the company has been able to successfully transition its business to reselling Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, the cloud-based solution. “By partnering with Microsoft, we have access to a flexible computing model that lets us ramp up applications that we could never have supported in our own datacenter. Our cloud practice has become a standalone business for us. Because everything happens faster in the cloud, we’re able accelerate the sales process and deliver solutions at a much more rapid pace, while also having more options to solve problems for our customers,” says Sheehan. PowerObjects is one of many Microsoft partners embracing the cloud. Since the global launch of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online in January 2011, nearly 50 percent of Microsoft Dynamics CRM partners have committed to selling the online solution, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers are now choosing the online version instead of the on-premises option more than 50 percent of the time. “Making sure the transition to the cloud is smooth for partners is a big priority for Microsoft,” says Doug Kennedy, vice president, Microsoft Dynamics Partners. Recently, executives released the Microsoft Dynamics Cloud Partner Profitability Guide, which gives partners a 36-month roadmap for transitioning to a cloud-based business model. At WPC, an addendum will be incorporated for ISVs, which covers the considerations an ISV should make when transitioning to the cloud and includes sample pricing and licensing models to show the financial impact over a five-year period.
Jim Sheehan, chief operating officer for PowerObjects, says the secret to his company’s success has been narrowing its focus. The company works exclusively in Microsoft Dynamics CRM.The cloud isn’t the only change partners are embracing. In 2009, the Microsoft Business Solutions group announced changes would be made to its partner network to encourage partners to take full advantage of a steady growth in demand for vertically specific enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management solutions. These changes included new, more robust requirements for partners to achieve Gold and Silver certification and updated Microsoft Dynamics-specific training focused on marketing, sales, project management and solution delivery, in addition to existing technical training. The training is offered through the Microsoft Dynamics Partner Academy and, since July 2010, more than 3,000 partners have been trained at Partner Development Centers located around the world, with an average satisfaction score of 8.02 out of 9.These adjustments are designed to provide partners with a sustainable model for delivering repeatable solutions to specific industries by increasing their ability to scale and helping them to be more productive. Kennedy says the dialogue at WPC is centering on these strategies and incentives, as well as on educating partners about what’s yet to be rolled out. For example, beginning Jan. 1, 2012, partners will have the opportunity to receive greater compensation for focusing on vertical specialization — they will be directly rewarded for growth, in addition to total revenue. “By helping our partners transition to a model of delivering vertical solutions, we can help them drive more demand, be more profitable and, ultimately, grow their business,” Kennedy says.Partners who have started implementing these changes are already reaping the rewards. “The more stringent requirements for Gold certification will help us differentiate ourselves in the marketplace,” says Jeff Geisler, CEO of InterDyn Socius. Socius provides highly customized business management software solutions for the distribution, manufacturing, not-for-profit, professional services, and healthcare and human services industries, with locations in Ohio, Kansas City and California. “Specializing in specific industries means we’re serving the client in a deeper way,” says Geisler. “We now have knowledge not just of the software, but of the clients’ business and messaging process. We’re much more familiar with their industry as a whole.” This approach has resulted in a higher win rate and a more efficient sales process.“The new Microsoft Partner Network is about refining what Microsoft offers partners, and its program exceeds the offerings of most other vendors,” says Geisler. “We believe that the Microsoft Dynamics partner program will help us continue to improve as our company grows into new areas, such as the cloud. We anticipate the cloud will be a bigger part of our business, and we’re doing a lot of planning around what the cloud will mean for our clients.”For Microsoft Dynamics partners, these changes amount to new ways of looking at their business and how they’re moving forward. Partners such as PowerObjects and Socius, who have embraced these changes as opportunities, are successfully growing their businesses. “When partners are growing, customers are growing and Microsoft Dynamics is growing,” says Kennedy. “We’re committed to fueling that growth with the right products and resources to ensure our partners are optimized for the future.”
While businesses consider the implications and benefits of the cloud, many partners, including value-added resellers and independent software vendors (ISVs), must evolve and transform their business models to thrive among this change. Over the past 18 years, the Minneapolis-based consulting firm PowerObjects has grown from a humble, two-person operation to a multimillion-dollar company. PowerObjects’ chief operating officer, Jim Sheehan, attributes the company’s prosperity to a number of factors, but one stands out in particular: “The key to our success was that we stopped being everything for everybody and focused on becoming the best at one thing,” says Sheehan. “And that one thing is Microsoft Dynamics CRM.”While PowerObjects originally began working with the on-premises version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, the company has been able to successfully transition its business to reselling Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, the cloud-based solution. “By partnering with Microsoft, we have access to a flexible computing model that lets us ramp up applications that we could never have supported in our own datacenter. Our cloud practice has become a standalone business for us. Because everything happens faster in the cloud, we’re able accelerate the sales process and deliver solutions at a much more rapid pace, while also having more options to solve problems for our customers,” says Sheehan. PowerObjects is one of many Microsoft partners embracing the cloud. Since the global launch of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online in January 2011, nearly 50 percent of Microsoft Dynamics CRM partners have committed to selling the online solution, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers are now choosing the online version instead of the on-premises option more than 50 percent of the time. “Making sure the transition to the cloud is smooth for partners is a big priority for Microsoft,” says Doug Kennedy, vice president, Microsoft Dynamics Partners. Recently, executives released the Microsoft Dynamics Cloud Partner Profitability Guide, which gives partners a 36-month roadmap for transitioning to a cloud-based business model. At WPC, an addendum will be incorporated for ISVs, which covers the considerations an ISV should make when transitioning to the cloud and includes sample pricing and licensing models to show the financial impact over a five-year period.Jim Sheehan, chief operating officer for PowerObjects, says the secret to his company’s success has been narrowing its focus. The company works exclusively in Microsoft Dynamics CRM.The cloud isn’t the only change partners are embracing. In 2009, the Microsoft Business Solutions group announced changes would be made to its partner network to encourage partners to take full advantage of a steady growth in demand for vertically specific enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management solutions. These changes included new, more robust requirements for partners to achieve Gold and Silver certification and updated Microsoft Dynamics-specific training focused on marketing, sales, project management and solution delivery, in addition to existing technical training. The training is offered through the Microsoft Dynamics Partner Academy and, since July 2010, more than 3,000 partners have been trained at Partner Development Centers located around the world, with an average satisfaction score of 8.02 out of 9.These adjustments are designed to provide partners with a sustainable model for delivering repeatable solutions to specific industries by increasing their ability to scale and helping them to be more productive. Kennedy says the dialogue at WPC is centering on these strategies and incentives, as well as on educating partners about what’s yet to be rolled out. For example, beginning Jan. 1, 2012, partners will have the opportunity to receive greater compensation for focusing on vertical specialization — they will be directly rewarded for growth, in addition to total revenue. “By helping our partners transition to a model of delivering vertical solutions, we can help them drive more demand, be more profitable and, ultimately, grow their business,” Kennedy says.Partners who have started implementing these changes are already reaping the rewards. “The more stringent requirements for Gold certification will help us differentiate ourselves in the marketplace,” says Jeff Geisler, CEO of InterDyn Socius. Socius provides highly customized business management software solutions for the distribution, manufacturing, not-for-profit, professional services, and healthcare and human services industries, with locations in Ohio, Kansas City and California. “Specializing in specific industries means we’re serving the client in a deeper way,” says Geisler. “We now have knowledge not just of the software, but of the clients’ business and messaging process. We’re much more familiar with their industry as a whole.” This approach has resulted in a higher win rate and a more efficient sales process.“The new Microsoft Partner Network is about refining what Microsoft offers partners, and its program exceeds the offerings of most other vendors,” says Geisler. “We believe that the Microsoft Dynamics partner program will help us continue to improve as our company grows into new areas, such as the cloud. We anticipate the cloud will be a bigger part of our business, and we’re doing a lot of planning around what the cloud will mean for our clients.”For Microsoft Dynamics partners, these changes amount to new ways of looking at their business and how they’re moving forward. Partners such as PowerObjects and Socius, who have embraced these changes as opportunities, are successfully growing their businesses. “When partners are growing, customers are growing and Microsoft Dynamics is growing,” says Kennedy. “We’re committed to fueling that growth with the right products and resources to ensure our partners are optimized for the future.”Microsoft Office Division to Make Announcement
NEW YORK — June 20, 2011 — Microsoft Corp. will announce news from its Office Division live from New York via webcast on June 28 from 10 to 11 a.m. EDT:Microsoft Announcement When: Tuesday, June 28, 10–11 a.m. EDTWhat: News from the Microsoft Office Division detailing the latest on Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft’s next-generation cloud service.Who: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will share the news.Where: Live via webcast at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/office/online/Default.aspxFor more information, press only:Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, (503) 443-7070, rrt@waggeneredstrom.comNote to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.
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