Get your own Win8 Metro App in the Windows Store

We get more and more questions from ISVs (we like to call them App Developers) about creating Metro apps on Windows 8 and getting these into the Windows Store. That’s great timing, as Microsoft offers quite some support at the moment to those who wish to develop a Metro App for the Store.

Maybe first lets provide an overview on how the Windows Store will help your business:

• Global reach as every Win8 machine (PC, tablet, …) will have the store installed
• Ease of updates. An update of your app has to be done only once, users will get the message an update is available and can choose to accept.
• No need for upfront investment in sales channels. Up until your app reaches the revenue bar of $25k, you’ll get 70%, after reaching $25k this becomes 80% of the sales revenue.
• Robust analytics for free (including demographics, reviews, referrals and usage & performance statistics)

It all starts with having a good idea for an App. Here’s how we can support you with the different stages after you got your idea pinpointed:

This is why these 3 young Belgians need your Imagine Cup Vote!!!

The Microsoft Imagine Cup brings together students from all over the world and asks them to use their creativity and passion for technology to help solve the world’s toughest problems. Back in May you could read that 2 of our Belgian teams made it to the finals in Sydney.

One of the teams “Make a Sign” created this amazing project that uses Kinect in combination with Azure to recognize sign language used by deaf people and learn people how to use it. Earlier this week the 3 students from HEPL in Liege met with minister-president Rudy Demotte of the Walloon region.
Press: On RTL TV news. In La Derniere Heure. In Le VIF.

So before you read/watch any further do this:  go to the People’s Choice Award site and vote – and then ask your friends, family and network to vote too. Then read the rest of this post and you’ll know why you did the right thing .

Congratulations to:

Julien Rousselle

Antoine Trippaers

Nicolas Bertrand

This is where you can find the full project video:

Imagine Cup 2012 – Make A Sign (Project Presentation)

How to find Visual Studio Training

Are you interested in the new possibilities Visual Studio 11 offer, the application lifecycle management or the customer value it delivers and sales opportunities it offers? Or youre just looking for a 15 minute introduction to Visual Studio 11?

Look no further, we lined up three interesting online partner trainings for you:

Visual   Studio 11 Application Lifecycle Management: Delivering Continuous Value   ‘40mins’

Visual   Studio 11: Customer Value and Sales Opportunities ‘60mins’

Visual   Studio 11: What’s New ‘15mins’

Happy training!

 

Azure business and technical events.

We see many Belgian ISV’s (both traditional software houses and new web startups) interested in the Cloud to implement a Software as a Service application delivery model on the Windows Azure Platform.

To answer the questions they have we decided to organize an informational event at the Microsoft offices in Zaventem. These events are free and you’re hereby kindly invited to join. There are two tracks: a business oriented and a technical one

Dates:

• March 6th, 14-16h (Business, register here)
• March 20th, 14-16h (Business, register here)
• March 13th, 14-18h (Technical, register here)
• March 27th, 14-18h (Technical, register here)

Business sessions: Why Software and Services makes so much sense for ISV’s.

Delivering your application in a SAAS model brings you many advantages. In this business focused session we let you discover what those reasons are … Software as a Service allows you to deploy and sell your application with less investment on infrastructure, you’re more agile to handle growing loads and you can monetize with less sales effort. Think of your application being available as a service which customers can easily find, use and pay for on a recurring base. This idea is a shift from your traditional business model. But it really makes sense. Azure is an application platform that supports you in hosting and running your application as a service. In this session we explain why and show key reference cases (Belgian and international) of companies that are running on Azure.

Technical Sessions: Getting Stared on Azure and optimize your application for the Cloud.

Azure has a lot of technology in place to build cloud applications. These sessions are targeted to the software architects and developers looking for more technical details. We explain the cloud computing concepts and dive in into the different components of the Windows Azure platform from an architectural point of view. You’ll see how the technology allows you to build an application as a service fast and easy and how Azure supports the hosting, storage, database, connectivity and scalability you need. This afternoon has two sessions:

–          How to get started …, learn the basic concepts and the high level architecture of Azure.
–          A more detailed session on how to develop, migrate, deploy and monitor the applications.

Both sessions will discuss useful best practices learned from the field.

Feel free to register (see links above) or mail me at kurt.claeys@microsoft.com for more information.

Book : Azure Case Studies 2011 by Microsoft UK

Interested in references of ISV customers using the Windows Azure Platform right now ? Check this great work of the UK Azure team. They compiled a book of 81 pages with the some of the Azure ISV references in the UK in 2011. Some really interesting ISVs showcasing their applications running live on Azure. See: http://www.koodibook.com/books/565 (switch to full screen).

This book is hosted on koodibook.com, a library of books, also running on the Windows Azure Platform.

Want to know how Azure can be of value for your business ? Want to be listed in the upcoming Belgian version of this book ? … contact me on kclaeys@microsoft.com

Prepare for the Virtual SQL 2012 Launch event!

Welcome

With over 157K downloads of the CTP3 and Release Candidates, and the Virtual Launch Event fast approaching, it’s time to brush up on everything that’s new in SQL Server 2012 and make sure you’re ready to leverage opportunities with our enhanced database platform, BI and developer tools. This update is to ensure you are aware of and can take advantage of training available now.

Below you can find:

1. Updated exam information

2. Updated Learning Paths

3. Tech 100-200 (On Demand)

4. Technical On Demand, Hands-on-labs Online

5. Developers

1. Microsoft Learning has updated exam information for SQL Server 2012. Those exams and preparatory courses with links have additional information:

Exam	Name	Course
70-461 Core	Querying Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012	10774 5 days
70-462 Core	Administering Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Databases	10775 5 days
70-463 Core	Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012	10777 5 days
70-464 DP	Developing Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Databases	10776 5 days
70-465 DP	Designing Database Solutions for Microsoft® SQL Server® SQL Server 2012
70-466 BI	Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012	10778 5 days
70-467 BI	Designing Business Intelligence Solutions with Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012

The Hands on Labs have been upgraded to Release Candidate. See the Technical section below for the replacement links.

Learning Paths

2. Updated Learning Paths – role-based to help partners find training suitable for them. The SI path has been updated with MSL’s instructor-led courses and exams.

§ SQL Server 2012 (Product)

§ System Integrators
ISVs

§ LARs

§ VARs

§ Distributors

§ Hosters

Scroll down for a list of on-demand training available now in the Partner Learning Center (PLC):

3. Tech 100-200 (On Demand)

We have three mini-course (saved searches):

1. SQL Server 2012: Technical Overview for BI Consultants

2. SQL Server 2012: Technical Overview for Database Administrators

3. SQL Server 2012: Technical Overview for Application Developers

that include the following titles:

For BI Consultants:

§ Technical Overview of New Features: SQL Server Code Name Denali

§ SQL Server: Data Discovery and Managed Self-Service BI

§ SQL Server Code Name Denali: Credible, Consistent Data

§ SQL Server Code Name Denali: Complete Data Warehousing Solution

For Database Administrators & Developers:

§ Technical Overview of New Features: SQL Server Code Name Denali

§ SQL Server Code Name Denali: Required 9s and Data Protection

§ SQL Server Code Name Denali: Blazing Fast Performance

§ SQL Server Code Name Denali: Organizational Compliance

§ SQL Server Code Name Denali: Scale on Demand

For Application Developers:

§ Technical Overview of New Features: SQL Server Code Name Denali

§ SQL Server Code Name Denali: Optimized Developer Productivity

§ SQL Server Code Name Denali: Extend Data Virtually Anywhere

4. Technical On Demand, Hands-on-labs Online

The following Virtual Hands-on-Labs in the PLC have been upgraded to Release Candidate:

§ Microsoft SQL Server 2012: Exploring Project Power View – level 200

§ Microsoft SQL Server 2012: What’s New in Datawarehousing and EIM – level 300

§ Microsoft SQL Server 2012: What’s New in Manageability – level 300

§ Microsoft SQL Server 2012: Contained Databases – level 300

§ Microsoft SQL Server 2012: AlwaysOn Availability Groups – level 400

5. Developers

SQL Server 2012 Developer Training Kit contains labs, demos, and presentations to help developers learn to develop database and BI solutions using SQL Server 2012.

Tech Days SOLD OUT

Congratulations to those who have a ticket for Techdays 2012!

You will be one of the 1300 visiting the 10th edition of BeLux biggest technical event.

 

We will be present too and look forward to meeting you!

Look for the ISV CREW T-shirts

Your feedback counts! Win your Nokia Lumia 800

 

Your feedback is valuable to us.

We kindly invite you to take our short European developer survey. We promise it won’t take more than 5 minutes.

Grab your chance now to win a Nokia Lumia 800 Windows Phone!

Thank you very much for your time & good luck.

Silver Shines

We all have our own new year’s resolutions; eat less, train more and visit the parents-in-law more often are some of the more popular choices. This year you should really add one to that list; become Silver Microsoft ISV Partner. Why should one do that? Well, it will be the only new-year’s resolution that provides you maximum benefits for a minimum input. By mid-March, most of us will be eating more, training less and let’s be honest; the parents-in-law resolution was never intended to be really executed. The benefits of the Silver ISV Partnership on the other hand, will still be available and will be at your company’s disposal for the rest of the year. Happy 2012!

So what are those benefits? (only for Silver or Gold Partners)

• Unlimited Pre-sales Microsoft technical and licensing support
• Best practices, provision of code samples, tech talks and workshops
• 5-Pack Break fix-support. After Sales support
• Save a pile of money on Microsoft licenses (you will just love this one). Check your license advantages here => click “silver ISV/software” & scroll down
• Online trainings on our latest technologies

What should one do to get this candy?

• Register your company in the Microsoft Partner Network
• Test your software on compatibility with our Windows7, Windows Server or Windows Azure Platform (downloadable free test)
• Provide 3 “customer references”/find 3 customers willing to admit they use your software
• Upgrade your company’s status to Silver ISV Partner

We created the ISV Cookbook which provides links and screenshots. Check the “How to become a Microsoft Silver ISV Partner?” on page 7 an reap the benefits!

We want to hear from you! Have your vote in the agenda for our next ISV Café event