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• IN-DEPTH: Get More Value from a Cloud Storage Gateway
• Redmond Channel Partner Update by Scott Bekker
  • Microsoft Pinpoint Heading for a Million Leads?
  • PACs to Microsoft: Give Us Roadmaps!
  • iPad 2 Expanding Beyond Apple Fanboy Territory
  • Is Microsoft's OEM-First Attitude Hurting It in Mobile?
• WEB EXCLUSIVE: How Much To Join the Microsoft Partner Network?
• More News
  • Microsoft Launches Long-Term Licensing Program
  • Microsoft Announces MED-V, App-V Updates
• UPDATED: The 2011 Microsoft Product Roadmap

IN-DEPTH: Get More Value from a Cloud Storage Gateway
By Jason Mattox

A cloud storage gateway is software that runs on hardware or in a virtual machine that moves data out to one of the many storage-as-a-service providers. CSGs exist as a holding tank in your LAN until data is moved to your cloud storage vendor. By residing within the LAN, CSGs enable local writes to execute as fast as possible without relying on a slower WAN connection between you and the cloud to write your data.

Regardless of how you deal with the local data, CSGs are an up-and-coming technology you will want to check out. There are several strong advantages to using CSGs with image-based backup. Check out our overview of cloud storage gateways and the key features you should look for.

• Read "Get More Value From a Cloud Storage Gateway."

Redmond Channel Partner Update
By Scott Bekker
sbekker@rcpmag.com

Microsoft Pinpoint Heading for a Million Leads?
A recurring theme in any channel program is how many leads a vendor can provide its partners. In the Microsoft channel, partners have complained for years that the Solution Finder didn't do much for them. They've often said the same of its replacement, Pinpoint, which launched as a beta in July 2008 and in full two years ago. (Microsoft is still in the process of transferring all partner listings from Solution Finder to Pinpoint.)

In a Microsoft Partner Network Interactive Leadership Forum with 500 partners last week, Microsoft executives shared progress numbers that suggest the company's steady focus on Pinpoint is starting to pay dividends for partners. "This year we set ourselves a fairly aggressive target to generate 700,000 leads for partners through Pinpoint. We're very pleased with the progress. We're expecting to exit our financial year above that," said Karl Noakes, general manager of partner strategy and programs in the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group.

According to a chart that Noakes referred to in the forum, Pinpoint delivered 270,000 prospects to partners in fiscal year 2010 (July 2009-June 2010). So far, the lead-generation directory has produced 642,000 prospects to partners this fiscal year with several months remaining. Going forward, the projections get more ambitious... Read the rest.

PACs to Microsoft: Give Us Roadmaps!
Microsoft wrapped up meetings with Partner Advisory Councils last week and heard strong demand for roadmaps, both product-related and Microsoft Partner Network program-related, Microsoft executives said.

Microsoft Corporate Vice President Jon Roskill of the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group tweeted about the feedback on Wednesday: "We wrapped up the PAC with report outs and while clear we have work to do (roadmaps etc) much progress on Cloud vs. last year."

More than 100 partners from around the world attended the PAC sessions in Redmond during the first half of last week... Read the rest.

iPad 2 Expanding Beyond Apple Fanboy Territory
Initial sales estimates from Wall Street analysts are in, and it looks like the Apple iPad 2 sold out within a few hours Friday evening. A story on Fortune's Web site has the details.

What's more interesting to the Microsoft partner community is the way the device is breaking out of the Apple ecosystem and getting into the PC user base... Read the rest.

Is Microsoft's OEM-First Attitude Hurting It in Mobile?
There's an interesting take on Ars Technica today called "The carriers are not your customers: the Windows Phone 7 update mess." Peter Bright suggests that Microsoft's history of treating partners well is hampering it badly in the smartphone market... Read the rest.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: How Much To Join the Microsoft Partner Network?
By Scott Bekker

One thing many would-be Microsoft resellers or solution providers wonder when they think about joining the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) is how much it will cost to join. It's a simple question with a unique answer for each of the roughly 400,000 existing members of the program.

But there is a short answer: The MPN costs $0, $329, $429, $1,850 or $3,800 to join, depending on how deeply a firm wants to engage in Microsoft's program. In this RCPmag.com exclusive, we unpack the source for each of these joining amounts, along with the benefits that each level of financial commitment delivers, so you can determine where your firm will get the most bang for its buck.

• Read "Microsoft Partner Network Cost: How Much To Join the MPN?"

More Features on RCPmag.com

• Consolidation in the Microsoft Channel
• 23 Intriguing iPad Apps for Microsoft Partners
• Windows 7 Notebooks Taking Aim at Tablets
• 12 Notable Windows 7 Notebooks

News From RCPmag.com

• Microsoft Launches Long-Term Licensing Program
• Microsoft Announces MED-V, App-V Updates

UPDATED: The 2011 Microsoft Product Roadmap

Don't miss RCP's guide to what's coming down the Microsoft product pipeline this year! The 2011 Microsoft Product Roadmap has the latest details on recent product milestones and news, including:

• Internet Explorer 9 (updated March 9)
• Visual Studio LightSwitch (updated March 8)
• Windows Small Business Server 2011 (upated March 4)

Check out our 2011 Product Roadmap to catch up on the latest developments of these and other Microsoft products!