I just can't seem to find any takers for the Bing tattoos I bought back from WPC.....so contact me if you're keen.
While we were travelling recently I was suprised to see such alot of people using Bing in airport lounges and hotel foyers. I'm still not sure it works for me as a regular search engine though.
Aussie Microsoft Developer Evangelist has put together the ultimate comparison tool - BlindSearch, a blind test for search engine results.
Having spent quite a bit of time on online advertising projects, one thing I noticed right away is that there isn't any localisation in the tool, but we'll let Mr Kordahi off seeing as he's put this together in his spare time for a bit of fun.
Still it's interest to play with and test your search engine prejudices against the results.
You can catch more of Michael Kordahi's antics at his blog delicategenuisblog.com
Kinda hoping he'll do a demo at APC, I really enjoyed the one he did last year. He's also running the web content track at TechEd.
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Get the juice on the new Microsoft Partner Network
Microsoft's Aussie Partner Program team are on the road again, holding a series of sessions about the new Microsoft Partner Program.
They're holding sessions in major centres around Australia where you can learn more and also ask your questions of those in the know. Here's the details:
Date & Locations:
August 17: Victoria, Melbourne - http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423237&Culture=en-AU
August 18: Perth, WA - http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423242&Culture=en-AU
August 19: Adelaide, South Australia - http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423238&Culture=en-AU
August 20: Canberra, ACT - http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423239&Culture=en-AU
August 25: Brisbane, QLD - http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423241&Culture=en-AU
August 26: Sydney, NSW – http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423245&Culture=en-AU
August 31: Gold Coast, QLD - http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423243&Culture=en-AU
You can also learn more at Microsoft Partner Portal.
There are some details of the new Partner Network which are being fleshed out by Microsoft who are doing a great job of consulting with partners to get their feedback and incorporate some suggestions into the program.
I'm particularly excited about Customer Satisfaction coming to the fore in the new program, and the compentencies becoming easier for SMB clients to understand and navigate.
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
They're holding sessions in major centres around Australia where you can learn more and also ask your questions of those in the know. Here's the details:
Date & Locations:
August 17: Victoria, Melbourne - http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423237&Culture=en-AU
August 18: Perth, WA - http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423242&Culture=en-AU
August 19: Adelaide, South Australia - http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423238&Culture=en-AU
August 20: Canberra, ACT - http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423239&Culture=en-AU
August 25: Brisbane, QLD - http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423241&Culture=en-AU
August 26: Sydney, NSW – http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423245&Culture=en-AU
August 31: Gold Coast, QLD - http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032423243&Culture=en-AU
You can also learn more at Microsoft Partner Portal.
There are some details of the new Partner Network which are being fleshed out by Microsoft who are doing a great job of consulting with partners to get their feedback and incorporate some suggestions into the program.
I'm particularly excited about Customer Satisfaction coming to the fore in the new program, and the compentencies becoming easier for SMB clients to understand and navigate.
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
Using Underpants for Economic Measurement
There's been some very positive news coming out of the markets the last few days suggesting that the global recession may be over.
However my favourite story about commentators and economic indicators were in today's Business Spectator by my favourite man with numbers, Alan Kohler. You can also catch his always amusing daily market report on the ABC TV evening news.
Here's an excerpt from the article:
"More and more economists are now pronouncing that the cycle has turned, although it’s hard to know whether this is circular logic – that they are responding to the market and the market responding to them.
The New York Times points out this morning that Alan Greenspan has been known to watch sales of men’s underpants as a good economic indicator – they’re usually extremely consistent, but when sales dip, and men decide to stick with their old tatty ones for a while longer, he knows the economy is in real trouble. In this recession the dip has been very small apparently, and is now over."
So, how are you finding the market? We're definately seeing a change in buying attitudes, with a large amount of new and intense enquiry over the last few weeks.
But more importantly, when did you last buy new underpants?
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
However my favourite story about commentators and economic indicators were in today's Business Spectator by my favourite man with numbers, Alan Kohler. You can also catch his always amusing daily market report on the ABC TV evening news.
Here's an excerpt from the article:
"More and more economists are now pronouncing that the cycle has turned, although it’s hard to know whether this is circular logic – that they are responding to the market and the market responding to them.
The New York Times points out this morning that Alan Greenspan has been known to watch sales of men’s underpants as a good economic indicator – they’re usually extremely consistent, but when sales dip, and men decide to stick with their old tatty ones for a while longer, he knows the economy is in real trouble. In this recession the dip has been very small apparently, and is now over."
So, how are you finding the market? We're definately seeing a change in buying attitudes, with a large amount of new and intense enquiry over the last few weeks.
But more importantly, when did you last buy new underpants?
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Get Ready to Sell Windows 7
Microsoft announced last week that Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 have both gone RTM as at 22 July 2009.
This is great news and the team here at Directions are getting ready to sell Windows 7 to eager customer.
Windows 7 will be generally available to customers around the world on October 22, and Windows Server 2008 R2 will be generally available on or before that date. Windows 7 will be generally available to customers around the world on October 22, and Windows Server 2008 R2 will be generally available on or before that date. Windows 7 will be generally available to customers around the world on October 22, and Windows Server 2008 R2 will be generally available on or before that date. You can learn more on the Microsoft PressPass site.
So now is the time to plan your strategy to make the most of the Windows 7 launch in your business. There are some great marketing materials coming out of Microsoft which can be easily adapted to suit your market. Its great to see that Microsoft are supporting the product with an excellent PR campaign and some great advertising.
How is your business planning to take Windows 7 to market?
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
This is great news and the team here at Directions are getting ready to sell Windows 7 to eager customer.
Windows 7 will be generally available to customers around the world on October 22, and Windows Server 2008 R2 will be generally available on or before that date. Windows 7 will be generally available to customers around the world on October 22, and Windows Server 2008 R2 will be generally available on or before that date. Windows 7 will be generally available to customers around the world on October 22, and Windows Server 2008 R2 will be generally available on or before that date. You can learn more on the Microsoft PressPass site.
So now is the time to plan your strategy to make the most of the Windows 7 launch in your business. There are some great marketing materials coming out of Microsoft which can be easily adapted to suit your market. Its great to see that Microsoft are supporting the product with an excellent PR campaign and some great advertising.
How is your business planning to take Windows 7 to market?
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
WPC and Microsoft Partner Network: Whats It All About?
Now that I'm finally recovered from jetlag and the thrills of cancelled flights, long delays and plane food, I'm looking forward to blogging on my personal highlights from WPC.
For now, you can check out keynotes and other stuff on Digital WPC.
As you’ve probably heard, one of big announcements at WPC was about the changes to the Microsoft Partner Network and you can find out more details of these announcements on Digital WPC or by visiting the Partner Portal.
At the moment, not all of the details have been revealed and internally at Microsoft there is some fine tuning going on, based on Partner feedback and feedback from Microsoft subsidiaries.
Over the coming months, Sarah Arnold and Inese Kingsmill from Microsoft will be coordinating roadshows for partners to learn more about the changes to the Partner Network. Stay tuned for further details on those events.
In the meantime, you can subscribe to Sarah's blog or ask Sarah a question using the Live Messenger plug in on her blog.
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
For now, you can check out keynotes and other stuff on Digital WPC.
As you’ve probably heard, one of big announcements at WPC was about the changes to the Microsoft Partner Network and you can find out more details of these announcements on Digital WPC or by visiting the Partner Portal.
At the moment, not all of the details have been revealed and internally at Microsoft there is some fine tuning going on, based on Partner feedback and feedback from Microsoft subsidiaries.
Over the coming months, Sarah Arnold and Inese Kingsmill from Microsoft will be coordinating roadshows for partners to learn more about the changes to the Partner Network. Stay tuned for further details on those events.
In the meantime, you can subscribe to Sarah's blog or ask Sarah a question using the Live Messenger plug in on her blog.
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
Monday, July 27, 2009
SMB Track Annoucned for Microsoft Australian Partner Conference
With WPC now behind us for another year, this year's Australia Partner Conference is now approaching fast. If your still unsure about whether you should attend, I'd encourage you to review the Agenda for 2009 - which for the first time includes a special SMB track with some really practical sales and marketing sessions as well two workshops.
From Microsoft Australia:
The Australia Partner Team have worked hard to assemble a critical agenda to help you gain a competitive advantage, and deliver you the tools and business intelligence you need to compete and win in the current economy. This year’s agenda is focused on helping you - our frontline Partners - engage, grow and monetise the opportunities that Microsoft will deliver in FY10.
You can now view the Agenda overview here. Make sure you check back at the Partner Portal in the next week, as you’ll be able to customise your own agenda and preview the content!
News just released - Philip Fawcett, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft Research has been locked for the Locknote on Friday 4th September. Philip provides an amazing insight into Future Trends, New Technology and Principals of Breakthrough Technology. Not to be missed! Want to know more about Philip Fawcett, click here to find out!
New to this years conference – We have an entire stream allocated to Enterprise / Corporate Accounts, Public Sector & SMB customer segments! Specific ISV, Hosting, S+S sessions are also targeted in this years agenda! Take a closer look here.
Secure your place – register today!
ENDS
I hope to see you there!
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
From Microsoft Australia:
The Australia Partner Team have worked hard to assemble a critical agenda to help you gain a competitive advantage, and deliver you the tools and business intelligence you need to compete and win in the current economy. This year’s agenda is focused on helping you - our frontline Partners - engage, grow and monetise the opportunities that Microsoft will deliver in FY10.
You can now view the Agenda overview here. Make sure you check back at the Partner Portal in the next week, as you’ll be able to customise your own agenda and preview the content!
News just released - Philip Fawcett, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft Research has been locked for the Locknote on Friday 4th September. Philip provides an amazing insight into Future Trends, New Technology and Principals of Breakthrough Technology. Not to be missed! Want to know more about Philip Fawcett, click here to find out!
New to this years conference – We have an entire stream allocated to Enterprise / Corporate Accounts, Public Sector & SMB customer segments! Specific ISV, Hosting, S+S sessions are also targeted in this years agenda! Take a closer look here.
Secure your place – register today!
ENDS
I hope to see you there!
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
Monday, July 13, 2009
WPC09 New Orleans - Jazzed To Be Here!
New Orleans is a great city for a partner conference, southern hospitality, great weather and some of the best eating I've experienced in a long time.
Each year WPC is a great opportunity to catch up with other partners and Microsoft execs on a kind of level playing field. Everyone is playing away and a sense of openness of communication generally prevails, making for some genuinely interesting exchanges of ideas.
The agenda for this years WPC has been restructured significantly and I'm finding it much easier to navigate the content that I'm looking for. For me, last years agenda was really disappointing with alot of subject/content mismatch.
As always in this industry, change dominates and its a reminder of why we have chosen to make our careers and businesses in this industry - its dynamic, exciting and we get the buzz of being a conduit for innovation and productivity in the community.
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
Each year WPC is a great opportunity to catch up with other partners and Microsoft execs on a kind of level playing field. Everyone is playing away and a sense of openness of communication generally prevails, making for some genuinely interesting exchanges of ideas.
The agenda for this years WPC has been restructured significantly and I'm finding it much easier to navigate the content that I'm looking for. For me, last years agenda was really disappointing with alot of subject/content mismatch.
At Monday's keynote Allison Watson (Corporate VP, Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group) announced the new Microsoft Partner Network and outlined the transition that will take place from the current Microsoft Partner Program over the next 18 months or so. Already there are some interesting consipiracy theories about exactly what shape this will take and what it will mean for partners in the SMB space and for the Small Business Specialist program. I'm looking forward to sitting down with Sarah Arnold later today, where Wayne Small and myself will be getting more details and raising some of the questions coming out of the user groups and wider SMB community. I'm looking forward to bringing further information to you.
I've also got a number of meetings to attend in my new role as SBSC PAL and I'm anxious to find out more about the role and how I can assist partners and Microsoft to get more value out of working together and to navigate some of the fantastic opportunity being driven my many innovative products Microsoft will be brining to market over the next few years.As always in this industry, change dominates and its a reminder of why we have chosen to make our careers and businesses in this industry - its dynamic, exciting and we get the buzz of being a conduit for innovation and productivity in the community.
Keira McIntosh is the General Manager at Directions Technology - an Australia owned small business providing managed and reliable IT Support in Brisbane. You can also find her on Twitter and Linked In.
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