Charting Microsoft

March 2007 Tang pointed out that XML developers demsak recalled, and when he entered the relationship with Microsoft overload.

Independent programmers has been a long-term Microsoft MVP since 2003, and enjoy the developers user groups and online forums. But when he encountered what appears to be a gap in the XML capabilities in Visual Studio 2005, he relationship with Microsoft played a notch.

"XML editor, is greatly enhanced in Visual Studio 2005, but One feature, I have like to see is the so-called XPath, it is basically an implementation of XML Query, they just do not have the time to slide, "recalled demsak, they describe the" night of Music "on the characteristics of the missing forums and news groups. "I happened to be lucky, and I have been engaging Joshua Allen LEE, who is Microsofts original blog." March 2006, has participated in demsak Visual Studio industry partners (vsip) plan, which is dedicated to the development and construction of integrated third-party add-ins, plug-ins and products in Visual Studio. And life has not been the same ever since.

"Joining the vsip Basically, it is introduced to a new group at Microsoft - Development Kit Teacher ", d emsak said. "Opened my eyes to a whole new field, I have not paid sufficient attention, they have achieved some interesting life for many." For help Microsoft on Microsoft developers, competitors or industry observers, they will tell you the same thing: Microsoft has thrived, in part through the breadth and depth of its developer support . Record video from the serious to active Developer Forum, the company routinely came to the market with more - better - Development Support and Documentation than their peers.

Over the years, Microsoft has expanded this effort with a difficult selection process, services and resources provide everything from discounted license and upgrade support to the three direct links with Microsofts developers, product managers and evangelists.

In the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscribers is the most famous example. Available in a range of levels, MSDN subscribers can offer discounts software, pre-paid support incidents and access to online resources, such as online forums.

Microsoft has also undergone a change, a wide range of developers - IT-oriented programming. These range from product trials comment on the ongoing partnership certification to sector-specific programs concentrated in the film market (that is, independent software developers) or driving development of a product (such as Vista or exchange), through initiatives such as a Innovation.

Simply from the volume of options can be overwhelming, said people Eveline Xu, Senior Marketing Manager , the United States ISV marketing and sales capacity incubator Microsoft. "If you are not used to navigating through what we have put together, can be kind of hard to find what you are looking for." She played single mandate, as an independent software developers to provide a deep discount, Visual Studio and other products for the nascent commercial software vendors. "You can develop to a shop to sell their products," she says. "You get five permits the development of all the products for about 375 US dollars. You can renew once. Basically, you get 15,000 yuan value of the software, for 375 bucks. " Catch? You must in the business of selling software.

"This is an independent software developers, but the ISV in the software that is a the companys sales exceed zero dollars per year, "Xu. "A lot of [new] company had no income, but we give them two years to the end of that, if you have a product that customers have a win, you can automatically apply to become managing partner of the ISV, once you have you get all kinds of free things from Microsoft, such as training, to help build business.

"These are great people, Amazon.com, and they have set up a great software for internal use, but now they can create a revenue stream by selling it to other stores, such as. " To ride the train beta One of the best ways to get familiar with the development team a new tool or technique is to expose them to pre-release software. Microsoft offers a wide range of testing a large number of unqualified accreditation reviews, but the real trick is to close to the ground floor. Management programs like landing, and enter access technology preview (TAP) developers to provide better opportunities to earn track, and Microsoft product team. But you must have a history with Microsoft to win the scene.

Trial early access to these activities need to work? From Sri Lanka, the President and Chief Executive of the Mimosa Software Limited, the manufacturer of backup and archiving solutions for Microsoft Exchange. "Overnight, you will not only become a managing partner, the real day-to-day interaction, you have Microsoft." [Click image to enlarge] Microsoft offers four levels of access to pre-release software, widely available from the beta test version, by invitation only program fall to the ground and ascend and exclusive technology uses Plan (TAP).

Sri Lanka, and the early pre-release The software helps these properties to better adjust their products with Microsoft. It also opened many doors and the software giant. Andrew Cheng Kar-foo brust is a Microsoft Regional Director, Visual Basic, and the MVP of the new technology twentysix New York, New York City-based software consultancy. He found that the more exclusive pre-release programs (specific tower and Ascend) to provide better opportunities to gain more opportunities, the product ships. He said that Tajikistan-review process, these restrictions to the most qualified management and the close co-operation partners, and come to the fore.

"Those who tend to provide a truly unique support, you get direct feedback and access channel members of the team said: "brust. "Under normal conditions, even after the termination procedures and product water after release, these immigration is often very open." Mining and inherit the throne, and can carry a lot of management overhead, however, including regular meetings, Microsoft will cooperate with the report findings. And setbacks factors and the software is not close to being completed.

More extensive pre-release software, such as floor can also pay dividends - especially if you can provide a good proof-of-concept development on the upcoming. Eligible for such a program, and Microsoft may be early adopters shovel funds to the development efforts.

"If you are in the consulting business it is a bad thing, and said:" brust. "If you are in the consulting business, you will find that it has not been you very much, and may pay two weeks time, you often only one week." Climbing ladders It is not surprising that many potential tied partnership benefits Microsoft programs - formal, ongoing contacts between Microsoft and third-party vendors. Many independent software developers feel they have arrived, they reach the standards, access to Certified Partner status, while others drive toward Gold Certified Partner recognition, and strive to win greater support, market access and image.

Partners are naturally proud of their position in the forefront. "When we started the company, we joined the MSDN, we have to pay the fees, we recognize that the benefits, and said:" Ailunpierxun, Director of Business Development, in these properties. "Really Please note that we do not have parachutes, from the highest level of management ISV, we won." Earned it means long road trip from the MSDN registered members to Certified partners to Gold Certified Partner. This means that qualifying through meet specific measure in a variety of disciplines and ability. Brust said that the recent new client application development capabilities have opened the door for many enterprise development shops.

"Now, it is there, which makes it easier to many people in the application development business to obtain state certification or gold [certification] position, "he said.

It is not always the case. Mike galich, Chief Executive collaborative enterprise software vendors insors integrated communications company said, finding resources, and using procedures will be an arduous task.

"From the CEO spot, saying I will be 250,000 or budget 2.5 million US dollars head to sort all of this, and determine the benefits - of the event-driven ideology, seems to have been eliminated, said: "galich.

Simplified, the Microsoft Partner Program, can now be repaid substantial in the form of face-to-face contact with key representatives of Microsoft, the pre-paid support incidents, and generous licensing conditions. Nevertheless, as with the pre-release program, partners, the status of the trouble.

"There is a certain amount of protection to safeguard your status, monitoring, when things expiry , the tracking and monitoring procedures .... This is a somewhat like filing your taxes, "said brust. "Of course, there is a fee." Roy said: - lucky, she co-founder and chief technology officer, These performance, management of the company: "This is a science, to a point, and beyond it into an art." Personal charisma first choice is to package, which any registered members of the partner program, can be invited to join the production license for the desktop and server products for many up to 10 users. Actions affecting the packet gurock Dennis, a German entrepreneurs in the work and mandate, as an independent software developer plans to launch his small firms.

"As far as I know, there is no development tool kits in action, so MSDN Subscribe needed development companies, but action pack, the future will always be our favorite partner program [lit] if we can not join the mandate for independent software developers, "gurock said.

What other options are available, a small shop or a small number of departments and even fewer dollars? -- So lucky to ambitious development track, and maintain inventory, which he called "the guerrillas, especially the grass-roots way" to enter the Microsoft.

"Watching the public face of Microsoft and tracking, it is a great way, if you have not a component of the management plan. [Companies] is not the police blog. Cable vs. blog will be, so to speak, they will tell you about the meeting, they will tell you about the summit meeting as developers, "De lucky.

Microsoft work for you.

not overestimate the discount: deep discounts from the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN), authorization and other programs is good, but indirect participation can dilute cash subsidies.

track your things: must master in your contacts, in order to avoid missing the welfare, support incidents.

build personal relations: no matter what, after the hosts on MSDN, or contributed to the technical insight into Microsoft blog discussions, the relationship between open the door.

look before you leap: Many Microsoft invited only to the procedural requirements of the customers investment. It can take a certain amount of time, labor and money to stay with the process.

I want to say one word to you¡­¡­ blog: ", and the technology-focused in your field is always a great thing, and said:" Roy - lucky, she co-founder and technology Director, in the performance of these software companies must be proactive, you can see that.

All development, such as politics, is local: Tang demsak, Microsoft Visual Studio and the MVP of industry partners, and urges developers to participate in local user groups and regions MSDN sessions, said they are a "great way to get" feedback " projects.

demsak agreed, and pointed out that Microsoft is redoubling its efforts to focus on industry blog. "If you want to catch the attention of [their], it is a way out. I found that, from the marketing point of view, perhaps the most blog value of the money out. " You will not get an argument from Ceyhan roxe. As a group product manager at Microsoft in the development sector, roxe watching blog on the scene of the explosion, in the Microsoft. He said that the informal contacts, including blog, a forum on MSDN and local events such as lectures on MSDN around the United States, to pay a dividend for Microsoft and developers. He urged the developers to participate in it.

"I do think there are many folks in the development community does not take into account the heart transfer, Microsoft has been in this direction more transparent, "roxe said.

A development shop can be a good starting point to encourage one or more than one, coding, the MVP of income status, and Microsoft in a key area.

"They may set aside a few hours a week working with Microsoft may not be what will affect the bottom line now, but has a good chance of the bottom line, in the future, said: "demsak. "Microsoft, it will definitely be open more doors, you, because they know who is mvps is typical." The good news is that in the playoffs, the plan is lightweight compared to the more formal cooperative partnership. Every year, Microsoft review of the existing work mvps and reaffirmed their status, if they are still active with their industry. Blog posts, news groups and Microsofts interactive forums, public speaking and published articles are all good ways to stay in ring-inch and demsak said mvps can, in fact, enjoy a more direct route to the company than Microsoft, they are going out. to obtain Gold Certified Partner designation.

"The most valuable player in the things you normally more people in Redmond. Gold [certification level], especially if its a regional center type, it could be more than one region contact "and demsak said.

Plan stands in the playoffs, as an example, for one-way developer relations is happening changes in the Microsoft. In short, the key is to get a higher level of access and support, can be summed up in interpersonal relationships.

"This kind of cliche, and said:" brust ", but the best way to get Microsoft to help you is help them, if you now to help educate [its] products, and it has not had the opportunity to help, [companies] are willing to help you in a special way. "