Microsoft and IBM are battling for hearts and minds in the channel, wooing independent software vendors (ISVs) and resellers who will help them win customers in the lucrative small to mid-sized business (SMB) market.

IBM Knows the Meaning of “Partner” Opinion: Just like you can tell what type of character someone really has by the way he or she treats a waiter or waitress, you can also tell what type of channel partner a big-time manufacturer will be if you look at the way it treats its ISV partners. IBM Changes Terms, Loses Partners IBM decides to change terms with staff-augmentation suppliers; suppliers change minds about whether to work with IBM; EDS allies with Cognizant to expand its access to offshore programmers. IBM Shortens Staffing List; Wipro Gets into Embedded Linux IBM shifts contract for staffing to Analysts International after Keane leaves the picture, as study shows HR is the fastest-growing BPO segment. Meanwhile, Wipro joins Empower in an effort to sell Linux devices.

Microsoft Posts How-To on Working with RSS in Vista Microsoft has posted the first installment of a blog to advise developers on creating Web pages and RSS feeds that work correctly with IE 7 and Windows Vista. Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0 Breaks Apps Microsoft has found situations where applications written to .Net Framework 1.1 break when run against 2.0 and so is recruiting users to have their apps tested for compatibility. Do Microsoft’s Vista Hardware Guidelines Meet the Mark? The first full-fledged beta of the next version of Windows is performing so-so on existing PC hardware. Microsoft Delivers the ‘Other’ Longhorn Beta 1 It's not just the first beta of Windows client that is going to testers today. Microsoft also is delivering on Wednesday the first beta bits of its Longhorn Server product, due to ship in 2007.

VARView VARs Could Have Critical Role In IBM’s Global Data Governance Council Opinion: IBM's new Data Governance Council is designed to help end-user companies identify and protect sensitive information. But the council also gives VARs the perfect opportunity to get closer to decision makers at both IBM and its customers.	Vaughan-Nichols You Can’t Turn a Horizontal Reseller into a Vertical One Opinion: Microsoft can claim that it controls the horizontal and the vertical, but it doesn’t. No one can.

Longhorn to Be Christened ‘Windows Vista’ IBM Nabs 18 Big Outsourcing Contracts ‘Critical’ Kerberos Flaws Could Open Networks to Attack Oracle-on-Microsoft Shops Face Double Patching Delight IBM Launches Public-Sector Program for Partners Ballmer: Microsoft Wants a Bigger Piece of the Software, Services Pie You Can’t Turn a Horizontal Reseller into a Vertical One Digest: News from Microsoft, Shavlik Technologies, Secure Elements VARs Could Have Critical Role In IBM’s Global Data Governance Council Microsoft Partners Question Microsoft’s Vertical Push Microsoft Seeks to Decouple the ‘MB’ From SMB Microsoft Set to Detail New Vertical, Horizontal Sales Strategies Microsoft to Detail Its New Sales Matrix Microsoft Skips to 3.0 for CRM Microsoft’s Channel Focus Appeals to ISVs VARs Partner to Extend Managed Services Microsoft’s Turn in the Indemnification Mill Microsoft Indemnifies Its OEM Partners Against IP Attacks Channel Finds Relief in Microsoft Promise MS Patch Train Drops Off ‘Critical’ IE Fix IBM Tivoli Creating Channel Opportunities HP, Lenovo Bring Out Dual-Core Business PCs With Partners Like Microsoft, Who Needs Enemies? Secrets to Hiring Technical Talent How To: Hiring Technical Staff Resellers Aim at R&D; Role for Customers Microsoft Overloads the Patch Process IE 7.0 Leaves Windows 2000 Users Out in the Cold Microsoft Changes Course: New Standalone IE for XP Planned All Eyes Turn to Microsoft at RSA Security Powwow Microsoft Preps a Unified ID Management Suite Chicken Swimsuit Model Hides Nasty Worm Attackers Could Bypass XP SP2 Security Mechanisms Tivoli Gains Steam With Candle Acquisition All Eyes Turn to Microsoft at RSA Security Powwow Microsoft Preps a Unified ID Management Suite Microsoft Plots Fixes to IE Browser Microsoft Points Out ‘High-Priority’ Patches Suppose IBM-Lenovo Deal Doesn’t Happen Updated Microsoft Won’t Bundle MSN Desktop Search with Windows Microsoft to Rename XP Reduced Media Edition New Virus Attack Technique Bypasses Filters IBM to Acquire Application Service Provider Corio MySQL Bot Attack Thwarted… For Now IBM Refreshes Notes, Domino, Workplace MySQL ‘Bot’ Attacks Windows Systems Microsoft, Let Go of My NT! Microsoft to Make Windows Anti-Piracy Program Mandatory Is IBM’s Lenovo Deal in Trouble? IBM Unveils New Low-Cost OpenPower Server Microsoft’s Live Communications Server 2005 Latest MSN Messenger Worm Can Hijack System Info IBM Looks to ‘Nocona’ to Cool Off Blade Servers Lenovo Must Invest to Keep IBM Brand’s Lure Microsoft’s Exchange Roadmap Takes Another Turn Notes, Domino Take Stage Microsoft Persists in Backing MVP Program XOsoft Adds Support for AIX Microsoft’s Top 10 Milestones for 2005 Microsoft Reverses Plan, Will Patch Media Player Solutions Sought for VOIP 911 Tech Duo Prescribes Solution for Doctors Tools Up Visual Studio Ante So Now Will You Install SP2? Beware of Third-Party IE Patches? Microsoft Offers Olive Branch to XP Counterfeit Users New IE Exploit Spoofs Web Sites IE Exploit Targets Banner Ad Servers IBM Workplace Changes in Store IBM Targets Financial, SMB Verticals with New Workplace Solutions Cash-Strapped Customers Laud IBM Partner InfiniTec Microsoft, Dell Ink $500M Deal with Air Force New Sober Worm on the Loose Two More IE Holes Surface Vintela: Microsoft’s Secret Unix/Linux Weapon? Microsoft Makes a Play for Novell Users XP SP2 Flaw Warning Sparks Debate on Disclosure Microsoft to Update IE Before Longhorn? Maybe So Windows Server ‘R2’ Details Begin to Leak HP, IBM Bundles Target SMBs New Version of MyDoom Worm in Zero-Day Attack Microsoft Settles with Novell, CCIA Trade Group Is IBM the Grid King in Financial Services? Sun, IBM Lead Pack in High-End Utility Computing IBM Preps High-End Power5 Servers Serious IE Hole Opens PCs Up to Attacks Microsoft Has Its Eye on Small Retailers Microsoft Gives a Heads-Up on Security Fixes MS Office 12’s Secrets Begin to Trickle Out Microsoft to Take On Intuit with Office Small-Biz Release New IE Flaw Spoofs URLs MS Office 12’s Competition: Its Older Versions and Linux Suites Microsoft Stays Pricing Course IE Exploit Lets Attackers Plant Programs on SP2 Microsoft Stays Pricing Course Open-Source, Proprietary Systems Can Work Together Building a Safer PC Mainframes Make Their Comeback PC Makers Seize the Reins of XP SP2 Security Microsoft Eases Rules on Selling Media Center New Microsoft Office Servers on the Way Mainframes Make Their Comeback Reseller Selling Standalone Windows Media Center Software IBM Beefs Up WebSphere App Server Platform Microsoft Stretches Reach of Digital Entertainment SP2 Preload Nets Mixed Reseller Reactions HP, Microsoft Take Tech on the Road Microsoft’s Upgrade Mandate for SP2 Perks Ruffles Few Feathers Microsoft: Upgrade to XP or Else! IBM Enhances Transaction Monitoring Tool IBM Exec Outlines PeopleSoft Deal Microsoft Probes Flaw in ASP.NET Microsoft to Muscle Deeper into VOIP? Microsoft Fixes Vexing XP SP2 Incompatibility Microsoft to Offer New Windows Flavor for Retail Market IBM Scales the Vertical Industry Microsoft Targets Second RFID Pilot at SMBs New Bagle Variant Raises Alarms Microsoft Won’t Downgrade LARs Impaled on the Longhorns of a Dilemma IBM Scales the Vertical Industry Complaints Rise Over Microsoft Money Update Windows JPEG Exploit Ventures into the Wild Reverse Migration: From Linux to Windows Microsoft Changes Its Tune on Porting SP2 Fixes Microsoft Beefs Up Enterprise Licensing Programs Moving from NT to Samba Power5 Revs IBM’s Linux-Only Server Line Notes, Domino Upgrade to Tighten Workplace Ties Patch Problems May Force Users to SP2 Microsoft Targets Continuity with Data Protection Server Microsoft Set to Release Virtual Server 2005 Microsoft Sets New Deadline for SP2 Automatic Rollout Microsoft Overhauls Longhorn Drivers for Usability, Connectivity Windows NT to 2003 Migration: The Final Steps IBM Brings NAS Gateway 500 to Entry Level IBM Debuts Low-End Storage Controllers More Longhorn Fallout; More Technologies Delayed First Steps from NT to Server 2003 Microsoft to Gut Longhorn to Make 2006 Delivery Date Cuts to Longhorn Don’t Faze IT Managers IBM Adds New Power5 iSeries Server x86 64-Bit Server Space Heats Up Getting Ready to Make the NT 4 Server Jump WinFS Axed from Longhorn Client, Server Allchin Defends Longhorn Decision to Microsoft Employees Getting Your XP Systems Ready for SP2 Should You Put Windows XP SP2 Deployment on Autopilot? Microsoft Preps for the Next SP2 Wave Winternals Offers SP2 Safety Belt Microsoft Devising Tech Support Program To Battle Linux Windows XP SP2 Has a Dangerous Hole Users Delay SP2 Rollouts IT Admins Not ‘Trusting’ SP2 Security IBM Readies Software for Real-Time Reports Bugs, Exploits Dog XP SP2 Microsoft Pushes Back Automatic Delivery of SP2 Microsoft Updates Its Mainframe Connectivity Server Redmond, We Have a Problem Here: XP SP2 Microsoft Lists Apps Affected by XP SP2 A Few Bumps on the Road to Windows XP SP2 Microsoft Releases Security-Focused Windows XP SP2 Update IBM Business Group Drives High Growth Don’t Toss That Personal Firewall IT Managers: Windows XP Update Not a Priority IBM Not Threatened by Sun’s Novell Gambit How to Negotiate With Microsoft Microsoft Reinvents Desktop Graphics in Windows Longhorn IBM, HP Map Linux Migration Plans IBM Readies Dual-Core PowerPC New IBM Unit to Target Emerging Markets Microsoft to Offer Free 64-Bit Windows Upgrade to Some Customers Boo Hoo Hoo for Victims of XP SP2 Microsoft Reveals Product, Business Plans IBM’s ‘Rational’ Move Paying Off Microsoft Sales Chief: ‘Facts’ Show that Windows Trumps Linux Financial Exec Says Microsoft’s Fiscal Picture Bright Microsoft Readies Next Round of IE Patches Windows Server SP1, 64-Bit Editions On Hold Until 2005 MyDoom Attacks Microsoft.com Through Back Door Microsoft Releases First Service Pack for Office 2003 Microsoft, Apple Sued over Software-Updating Tech Updated: Microsoft, Lindows Settle Trademark Dispute Microsoft Delays Delivery of Two New Patching Systems Two Critical Fixes Top MS List for IE, Outlook Express Bugs IBM Introduces New Lotus Workplace Tools IBM Simplifies Autonomic Computing Microsoft’s Burgum Takes Partner Heat Resellers Looking Beyond IE IBM Unveils Power5 Unix Servers Adaptec Picks Up RAID Tech from IBM Can IBM Workplace Displace Microsoft Office in the Channel? Microsoft Preps ‘Windows Marketplace’ IBM Helps ISVs Grid-Enable Apps MS Software Assurance Versus Red Hat Network IBM Ramps Up SMBs’ Linux Incentives HP, IBM Lines Focus on SMBs Microsoft: Expect 1 Billion Windows PCs by 2010 Apple Makes a Play for NT Orphans Microsoft to Sink $850 Million into SMB Division Analysts: Ballmer’s Pep Talk Underrates Linux Users Balk at Software Assurance Microsoft Reveals Business Solutions Partner Changes Microsoft’s Win Called Nail in Antitrust Coffin Updated: Some NT Customers Are Willing to Make Big Upgrades Financial Institutions Mixed on NT 4.0 Demise NT 4 Is Ending, So Now What? False Alarm: No Extensions to NT 4.0 Support

MICROSOFT RESOURCE CENTER

Help boost your sales with BONUS PACKS. Let BONUS PACKS help you sell more PCs—with up to $1,200 in valuable products and services. Visit Buy Local Partner site >> Join the Microsoft Empower program for ISVs. A relationship with Microsoft allows you to compete with the big dogs. Learn more about resources, tools and training. Get the documentation >> Test your licensing I.Q. and get a smart offer. Take Microsoft’s brief Windows® Licensing Pop Quiz and receive a free Windows Licensing Kit – only five questions. Take the quiz now! >>

Free Hands-On Training Lab Find out how key features of SBS 2003 can help you open up a new line of revenue. Register now >> SBS 2003 Sales Reference Card This handy reference card contains features at a glance, sales objection handling, pricing guidelines & more. Get it now >> Microsoft Empower for ISVs rewards your big idea with big benefits and support. Access key development tools at a low cost to help you develop that idea into an innovative application. Learn more >>

 

FREE WHITE PAPER Changing Business for the Better: A Practical Guide to BPM This paper provides an overview of the benefits of BPM technologies and identifies the characteristics of BPM solutions that lead to successful BPM process-centric integration projects. Download this free white paper to learn more! >> brought to you by IBM

Attention Microsoft Solution Providers! Want to gain a competitive edge? Try Microsoft Watch – FREE! Each week you receive: Microsoft News and Insider Information Expert Analysis Code Names of Upcoming MS Products Year-Ahead Calendar, updated monthly Click Here to sign up now for your FREE 14 Day Trial to Microsoft Watch.

 

Topic Center Index
Business Market Share B2B Compliance Competitors Procurement Contracts	Licensing Software Licensing Licensing Requirements Site License Microsoft Licenses Certified	Information Technology OEM Custom PC IT Sales
Companies Intel IBM Microsoft Cisco Ingram Micro more…	Channels Distribution Channel System Integration Service Providers Turnkey Integration	Resellers Channel Resellers IT Resellers News VAR Microsoft Reseller Computer Reseller
Software Software Publisher Software Vendors Software Distributor	Management Supply Chain Management Customer Service

Add up to $1,200 of value with the new BONUS PACKS. HP PartnerONE: The key to increasing your margins. HP Compaq nc6129 Business Notebook. $1149 Smart Buy HP xw8200 workstation. Smart Buy price $1549. ProLiant DL360G4p server: HP Smart Buy price $1647 Microsoft files new anti-piracy lawsuits. Learn more. New offers with Windows Genuine Advantage.