Microsoft Partner Network Overview January 2011

1. Microsoft Partner Network OverviewJanuary 2011 Sharon Collins Microsoft Partner Network Marketing Manager U.S. Partner Group

2. The Microsoft Partner Network

3. Competency Benefits Silver Competency Core Benefits Gold Competency Core Benefits • Internal Use Software (25 licenses): Windows 7, Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007, Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Office SharePoint, and more. • Support Services: 20 phone-based advisory hours, unlimited deal-related and business-critical phone support, online support experience, and a five-pack of break/fix incidents. • Marketplace Prioritization: Priority listing in Microsoft customer-facing directories and use of the Microsoft Partner Network silver competency logo. • Channel Incentives • Training: Access to the Partner Learning Center. • Internal Use Software (100 licenses): Windows 7, Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007, Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Office SharePoint, and much more. • Support Services: 50 phone-based advisory hours, unlimited deal-related and business-critical phone support, online support experience, and a five-pack of break/fix incidents. • Marketplace Prioritization: Top-priority listing in Microsoft customer-facing directories and use of the Microsoft Partner Network gold competency logo. • Channel Incentives • Training: Access to the Partner Learning Center. Competency-Specific Benefits Partners with silver competencies and gold competencies are eligible for competency-specific benefits, including extra software licenses. Please refer to the appropriate competencypages or License Calculatorfor more information.

4. Requirements Summary for Silver & Gold Competencies

5. Customized MPN Transition Plans for Partners Get Your Customized MPN Transition Plan Today! • Call the Microsoft Partner Network Experts – via email (msexpert@microsoft.com) or phone (1-800-MPN-SOLVE/1-800-676-7658; just say “Expert” at the first tele-prompt). • Work with an Expert to develop a customized transition plan including: • Your organization’s status toward achieving new silver or gold competencies based on the competencies currently achieved. • Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs) • Exam requirements for those MCPs • Training and Assessments • Licensing Assessment • Sales & Marketing Assessments • Customer References/CSAT • Revenue commitment guidance, if applicable • Review benefits, training & certification promotions available • 3. Once you engage with an MPN Expert, you will receive a follow up email customized transition plan. MPN Expert Follow Up Email Customized Transition Plan

6. Appendix

7. Microsoft Partner Network: Changes Now Live Available Now! • Specializations are consolidated into new competencies. • New silver competencies and gold competencies, as well as their associated benefits, are available. • Both Microsoft Action Pack Solution Provider and Microsoft Action Pack Development and Design are available. • Microsoft Partner Network competencies launched: • Application Integration • Application Lifecycle Management • Authorized Distributor • Business Intelligence • Content Management • Customer Relationship Management • Data Platform • Desktop Platform • Digital Marketing • Enterprise Resource Planning • Hosting Platform • Identity and Security • Independent Software Vendor (ISV) • Learning • Midmarket Solution Provider • Mobility • OEM Hardware • Portals and Collaboration • Project and Portfolio Management • Search • Server Platform • Software Asset Management • Software Development • Systems Management • Unified Communications • Virtualization • Volume Licensing • Web Development • Partner Points are retired. • Partner levels (Registered, Certified, and Gold Certified) are retired. Partner levels (Registered, Certified, and Gold Certified) are retired. New business assessment requirements are available. New partner logos are available for partner use.

8. Branding Overview The Microsoft Partner Network branding will shift to identify your areas of expertise instead of your relationship level with Microsoft, allowing you to better align with the way your customers buy and clearly showcase your business focus through your logo. Microsoft competency brands: • Showcase your expertise • Are more customer-friendly • Provide more exclusivity

9. Benefits Extension Through October 31, 2011 Extending Usage Period for Gold Certified / Certified Branding (Logos) & Software Benefits To help our Microsoft Gold Certified and Certified partners more easily make the transition to the new competency membership opportunities, we are extending the period that Gold Certified and Certified partners can continue to use the partner logos and the software benefits until October 2011. This extension means that Gold Certified or Certified partners who have an active membership can retain use of their current logos and internal-use software benefits until October 2011, regardless of which membership opportunity they renew into between October 2010 and October 2011.  However, the ability to download software and obtain activation keyswill be affected depending on the membership chosen. Partner Technical Services benefits are not included in the extension. Further, to retain use of MSDN and TechNet benefits, partners must have at least one silver competency. Full Details on the Partner Portal https://partner.microsoft.com/40148776

10. Revenue Requirement for Gold Competencies Starting October 2010, partners will need to commit to delivering a minimum Microsoft revenue amount based on their respective gold competency(ies) attained. Example of how the revenue commitment will appear in the Partner Membership Center, Competency Summary page. Starting October 2010, to commit to the revenue requirement partners need to click the “Agree” link. Please refer to the gold competency revenue guidelines for details.

11. US Minimum Revenue Commitment by Competency Numbers above are represented in US Dollars.

12. Sales & Marketing Assessments | Licensing Overview Assessment • OnlineBusiness Assessmentsrequired for most competencies • Sales & Marketing Assessments • Licensing Overview Assessment • Onlinelearning pathsare available to help you prepare

13. Curriculum and Assessments by Competency Review details for the Licensing overview assessmentand the Sales and Marketing competency assessment.

14. Training and Certification Offers • Now extended into 2011! Save up to 30% when you update your certifications with Microsoft Partner Network Competency Exam Packs. You'll also get one free "Second Shot" exam retake per exam voucher. • Take advantage of valuabletraining offersfrom our learning partners to help train, certify and showcase your skills. • Use the Learning Plan Toolto identify trainings to help you prepare for your certification exams.

15. Next Steps for Partners • Be sure to visit the “Prepare for the Microsoft Partner Network” Portal Pageto get familiar with the changes to the network. • Contact a Microsoft Partner Network Expert to develop your customized MPN transition plan – via email (msexpert@microsoft.com) or phone (1-800-MPN-SOLVE/1-800-676-7658; just say “Expert” at the first tele-prompt). • Create or update your Pinpoint profile. • Get started today!