Software+Services is the next logical step in the evolution of software development and represents an exciting growth opportunity for ISVs.By leveraging the Software+Services model, you can expand service offerings and generate new revenue streams.   Explore numerous options to fit your business by:Add...

If you are working on incorporating Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 into your products, Metro is here to help.  The program is accepting early adoption project nominations.Metro Connect provides a  structured approach for driving early adoption of the technologies.  We are specifically looking for partners...

A new Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4 Training Kit has been released.  This is a downloadable version of our training content used in Metro training workshops and includes 17 presentations, 21 demos and 26 hands-on labs.  The February preview adds content for Office, SharePoint and Application...

Updated pricing has been announced for the Windows Azure platform AppFabric.  AppFabric helps developers connect cloud and on-premises applications.  Based on feedback from the CTP process, we made the pricing simpler and more predictable.  Service Bus is priced at $3.99 per connection-month, and Access...

Metro for Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4 is open for nominations. We are specifically looking for partners and customers that are willing to adopt one or more of these features prior to RTM + 180 days:Visual Studio 2010Applications developed using the new features in Visual Studio Pro 2010.NET...

Retail pricing has been announced for Office 2010.Office 2010 will be offered in four versions, to make it easier to choose a version of Office that’s best for you – Office Home and Business, Office Professional, Office Home and Student and Office Professional Academic.Here’s a chart that outlines the...

Discounts for MIX10 are now available for Metro participants.  MIX10 is a three-day conference for web designers and developers building the world’s most innovative web sites.MIX10 will be held March 15-17, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.  The Metro team is providing a custom offer to select Metro participants...

Visual Studio 2010 and TFS 2010 virtual machines are now available.These VMs includes everything you need to learn and demonstrate the ALM capabilities of Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2, with the exception of lab management.The VMs are available in the virtualization platform of your choice (Hyper-V, Virtual...

In Bob Muglia’s keynote at the PDC, Cameron Skinner presented a demo focused on some of the most exciting new features coming in Visual Studio 2010, .NET Framework 4 and the server platform.  The demo was built to align with the following release announcements:ASP.NET MVC 2 BetaWindows Identity Foundation...

The beta period for Visual Studio 2010 is being extended by adding another interim checkpoint release, a Release Candidate with a broad “Go Live” license, which will be publicly available in the February 2010 timeframe.S. Somasegar, Vice President of Developer Division, wrote in his blog post, “You...

Mark your calendars for the 2010 Microsoft BI Conference the week of June 7, 2010 in New Orleans, LA.  The Microsoft BI Conference is co-located with TechEd North America 2010.The conference will focus on the following categories:Empower Your Users.  Microsoft Excel (including PowerPivot for Excel),...

Have you seen the changes to the Pinpoint site?  With a new home page design, the addition of an applications marketplace and special sections highlighting companies and professional services, Pinpoint helps you showcase your innovations and expertise.  New features help you attract more customers and...

As another benefit for Metro participants, the Services Evangelism Team continues to deliver Live Meetings you directly via Metro.  Participants in the Windows Azure Metro Connect program are automatically invited to the events.If you are working on Windows Azure, ask your ISV Architect Evangelist to...

The roadmap of moving Windows Azure from community technology preview (CTP) to released product has been announced.  For your planning purposes, these are the key stages of the transition:At PDC 2009 on November 17, 2009, a number of new features in Windows Azure will be made available for the first...

SQL Server 2008 R2 is the next-generation information platform that is designed to deliver the following:Managed self-service business intelligence.  Expanding powerful BI tools to all users with SQL Server PowerPivot for Excel and empowering a new class of business users to build and share powerful...

Microsoft Exchange 2010 has been released to manufacturing as the first key product in Microsoft line of communications products. Exchange 2010 is part of the next wave of Microsoft Office products and is also the first Microsoft server technology to work on-premises and as an online service.  Exchange...

Microsoft is making announcements that will make a difference to developers using Visual Studio and MSDN.Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4 Beta 2 will be available to MSDN subscribers on Monday, October 19, with general availability on October 21.  The official launch of Visual Studio 2010 and...

Your customers will be looking soon to the Windows 7 Compatibility Center to determine if your application will run on their computer with Windows 7.  The Compatibility Center currently shows hardware and software that works with Vista, but will include Windows 7 applications when it becomes generally...

Be one of the first to get Windows 7 BEFORE it launches to the public on October 22.  Here’s all you have to do to be eligible to receive a copy of Windows 7.Join Front Runner.Profile your solution at: http://www.msdev.com/frontrunner.Attain application compatibility with Windows 7.Gain “Front Runner”...

Microsoft is offering a special discount for Metro Early Adoption Participants to attend this year’s Professional Developers Conference (PDC) on November 17- 19 in Los Angeles.Effective immediately, we are DOUBLING the PDC offer for Metro participants.  Specifically, for those that register with our...

Windows phones – a new brand for phones running Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system – are now available in retail stores worldwide in a broad range of styles and prices.  This new generation of phones from leading manufacturers and mobile operators offer an intuitive user interface, powerful...

Those ISV partners who are enrolled in Metro are eligible for a $500 discount if you register for PDC before October 13.Contact the PDC09 Registration Team for eligibility verification and to receive a discount code.  Contact your ISV Architect Evangelist to be enrolled in the Metro 2010 early adopter...

If you are actively working on adding business intelligence to your application or have targeted the SQL Server 2008 R2 platform, come join in the Metro program.  The Metro program will provide you close contact with product team, early training for your developers and opportunities to provide feedback...

If you have already received the Works with Windows Server 2008 logo, Microsoft will pay for your testing to achieve the Works with Windows Server 2008 R2 logo.  This is a $10,000 value.  To qualify, ISVs are required to pledge support for R2 and contact VeriTest or Wipro directly to get tested.  Contact...

If you are developing on any of the client technologies, you’re eligible to receive additional technical support, product team engagement, regular insider information and developer training.  You’ll also be on the inside track for Software Development Reviews where you are asked to help shape the coming...