My blast: Howdy.... Literally minutes ago – Microsoft announced a buffet of small business initiatives to kick off today's Small Business Summit event (still time to sign up for this Seattle and Web-based event at http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/small-business-summit/hub.mspx). Here’s the scoop (and we’ll have many more details in next week’s newsletter): Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 (R2) Microsoft’s SBS team has used the Small Business Summit to publicly “announce” and divulge much more information on SBS 2003 R2. Highlights include: **Green check. This is a “branding term” that represents the accumulation of functionality that checks the health of your SBS server machine, updates it, expands your e-mail store and upgrades the database functionality (SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition). **Technology Upgrade Program for new customers. Customers who purchase SBS 2003 from an OEM manufacturer (e.g. HP) or a system builder after March 1, 2006 can receive an upgrade to SBS 2003 R2 for a nominal shipping and handling fee. The upgrade process will be handled via an “upgrade media kit.” What We *Do Not* Know About SBS R2 With today’s SBS 2003 R2 announcement, there are some unanswered questions including: **What will the “Release To Manufacturing” date be? And when will the product be generally available for installation? (We’ll report on this when we learn the dates) **Pricing: What will the pricing of SBS 2003 R2 be for existing customers without software assurance? (Again – we’ll let you know when we know). Existing customers will receive a free upgrade via Software Assurance and new customers have an opportunity to participate in the Technology Upgrade Program. BEST PRACTICE: We intend to reveal more about SBS R2 at our Amsterdam conference (April 6-7, 2006) and our New York conference (May 5-6, 2006). Visit www.smbnation.com to sign up. More information on SBS R2 at: www.microsoft.com/sbshttp://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/mar06/03-14SBSummitUmbrellaPR.mspxMicrosoft Financing Offer Microsoft Finance has sweetened the honey pot with an improved financing package Small Business Specialists can use to attract new customers. For example, the minimum transaction level has been reduced from $10,000 to $3,000 and your services can be part of the package. Read what Harry had to say in Microsoft’s official press release on this financing program at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/mar06/03-14SBFinancingPR.mspx. BEST PRACTICE: Don’t’ forget a legitimate way to consummate transactions and make money is with money itself. That is, sometimes the financing deal is the source of profits in a business situation. Something to remember as a Small Business Specialist. Microsoft and BestBuy Expand Ties As readers of this newsletter know, BestBuy has aggressively entered the small business technology field both selling product (SBS 2003) and servicing customers (via it’s Geek Squad business unit). Read how the Microsoft relationship is expanding here: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/mar06/03-14BestBuyPartnershipPR.mspxAs you may recall from these pages or Harry’s workshops, BestBuy is placing three (3) Small Business Specialists in each of its 115+ business centers. BEST PRACTICE: We are planning to engage BestBuy in the fall 2006 SMB Nation conference in Redmond. You’ll learn more about how you, the Small Business Specialist, can TEAM with BestBuy on transactions. LAST CALL: AMSTERDAM EVENT!!!!! We’re tremendously excited that folks taking advantage of our “bring a friend for free” offer to attend Amsterdam in a few weeks (April 6-7, 2006). There’s still time to sign-up for this first European conference to “go and grow” your SMB consulting practice. We have attendees from over eight countries! Truly a global event. Sign up at www.smbnation.com. cheers....harrybbbbb Harry Brelsford CEO, SMB Nation www.smbnation.comPS - Did you know that our Advanced SBS 2003 book just went into a second printing! It's moving fast.....
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