November 19, 2008
Maybe you also attended the virtual launch event for The Family Von WESS AKA Windows Essential Server Solutions AKA Small Business Server 2008 and Essential Business Server 2008 last week.
Interesting though it was, I got a slightly creeped out feeling during the event. Like I was starring in one of those old Twilight Zone episodes as some hellaciously misanthropic character who screams to be left alone, only to find himself cosmically punished by being surrounded with what look like people, but is unable to communicate with any of them.
At least now I know what Second Life must be like, without ever having to actually spend any time in that sandbox of losers.
But one thing caught my eye for sure.
The Windows Mobile pavilion was touting a cool-as-ice promotion for Microsoft Partners to win a free Windows Mobile 6.1 device, with terms that couldn’t be simpler. The device being given away is the amazingly kickass Palm Treo Pro.
There are two ways to win…a giveway and a sell-and-win offer.
Giveaway
Complete 3 free online training seminars, and register to win one of 50 Palm Treo Pro devices being given away in a couple of random drawings. Each seminar completed is a separate entry. Limit on winning is 3 phones per person. Here’s a link to the full terms and conditions.
Here are the training seminars for the giveaway…
Optionally, you can earn extra chances win the giveaway (to a max of 3) by completing Partner Evidence Forms or Customer Evidence Forms. Basically, those require you to either give up your solution idea or infor on your customers. Up to you if you think a chance to win a mobile device is worth that, especially considering all of Microsoft’s recent moves to a direct sales model.
Sell-and-Win Offer
If you’re among the first 1,000 Microsoft Partners to close a sale that includes Exchange Server 2007 to an SMB customer (defined as having 5–249 seats), you can automatically receive a Palm Treo Pro.
Since the Family Von WESS AKA Windows Essential Server Solutions AKA Small Business Server 2008 and Essential Business Server 2008 both include Exchange Server 2007, they fully qualify for this offer. All you have to do is make the sale, validate it, and request your Palm Treo Pro.
Only one entry per Partner organization. Limit on winning is one phone per person. Here’s a link to the full terms and conditions.
Compared to most incentives that roll around, I think this one has a lot going for it. The device is smoking hot and runs the most current release version of Windows Mobile. The sell offer is dead simple, and prolly something you are already doing anyway.
I’d prolly stay away from the Partner and Customer Evidence Forms, but maybe that kind of thing doesn’t bother you as much as it does me.
|| posted by chris under essential business server, freebie, hardware, mobility, tech hand || comments (1) ||
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November 6, 2008
Microsoft just released an official deployment guide for implementing Windows Mobile 6 devices in an Essential Business Server 2008 environment.
Download details: Windows EBS2008 w/WM6 Deployment Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=69d1b397-86fc-46ed-afb3-b2882d324650&displaylang=en&tm
This document provides step-by-step instructions for deploying devices powered with Windows Mobile® 6 in an IT infrastructure that is based on the Windows® Essential Business Server 2008 (Windows EBS 2008) server solution.
Some errors and omission I noticed in the document…
- The only method for issuing a remote wipe command covered in the document is through the Exchange Management Console on the Messaging Server. Remote wipe of a user’s device can also be initiated by that user in Outlook Web Access.
- Certain advanced device security policy options require Enterprise CALs for Exchange. Basically anything located on either the Device or Advanced tabs of a Mailbox Policy require an Enterprise CAL. Also, these advanced options are only supported by devices running Windows Mobile 6.1, not 6.0.
- The screenshot on page 36 is from an SBS box (look at the title bar).
|| posted by chris under essential business server, it pro, mobility || comments (0) ||
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July 9, 2008
The first of my speaking engagements at Worldwide Partner Conference went smashingly well yesterday. That was the Windows Mobile keynote in room 372 BCEF talking about Mobility in Small and Medium Sized Businesses.
The room was full, and I don’t remember anyone leaving during the session at all. Despite the fact that my own Awesome Per Minute ratio was through the roof.
Of course, the reason the keynote went so well was totally thanks to the amazingly kickass job that Laura Johnson and Steve Doe did laying out the case for Mobility in small and medium-businesses.
I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to share Black Warrior Technology’s approach to Mobility and Windows Mobile in particular.
The second of my speaking engagements at Worldwide Partner Conference happens Thursday, July 10th, which is tomorrow, at 1:30p. It’ll be in room 382 ABC, which is the room across from the Green (Mobility) Lounge.
I’ll be speaking about specific examples of Black Warrior Technology’s approach to Mobility and Windows Mobile that have turned into huge wins for both our customers and our company.
Which, like the hokey-pokey, is REALLY what it’s all about!
|| posted by chris under business, hardware, mobility, nostalgia, opinion, rx, thumbs up, travel || comments (0) ||
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July 6, 2008
While checking in this morning at WPC, I did not bring a printout of the final confirmation e-mail I had received earlier this week. And I actually did that on purpose.
That e-mail contained a barcode which could be scanned at the regstration desk, and would make checking in a breeze.
But it seemed to me, at a conference with subthemes of conservation, sustainability, and responsibility…
Asking people to print even one extra sheet of paper has…well, a pretty significant impact.
So what I did instead was…
- Opened the confirmation e-mail on my Windows Mobile device
- Asked the girl at the registration desk to scan it anyway (she was mighty skeptical)
- Reveled in saving one more tree from a senseless death when the happy “boop” sound indicated that the barcode actually scanned.
It worked a treat, just like those new electronic-only boarding passes.
If you’re using Windows Mobile 6 with an Exchange 2007 server, then you already have the e-mail in HTML format. So you can just open the e-mail and position the barcode on the screen.
if you’re still using Exchange 2003 like I am, well then you should prolly know the truth about HTML e-mail using Windows Mobile 6 and Exchange 2003.
But your confirmation e-mail should contain a hyperlink to the barcode image. Click the one that has GenerateBarCode.aspx buried in it and bang…you’re in business!
You know who has this sort of stuff knocked already? Who does this kind of thing every single day for the most ordinary things?
Estonia.
This kind of stuff is old hat to Estonians, the most digital people on the planet.
|| posted by chris under mobility, rx || comments (0) ||
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June 24, 2008
It’s officially official.
I’ll be part of two sessions at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston next month!
In a stunning development that should shock no one…
Both of them have to do with mobility solutions AKA Windows Mobile.
Here are the official session codes and titles. I’ve even included links to a pair of .vcs files so you can lay the appointments in your Outlook calendar if you want.
KN010 Mobility, Productivity and Customer Connectivity for your SMB Customers - Today and Tomorrow
MOB007 Windows Mobile: BIG Revenue in Small Business
If you’re planning on attending WPC, be sure and stop by. There’s gonna be a whole of lot of reasons, ways, and means you can use Windows Mobile to grow your practice.
|| posted by chris under business, hardware, mobility, rx, travel || comments (4) ||
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