Some additional information, a Q&A, on the Microsoft Partner Network Small Business Competency – Microsoft SMS&P Partner Community Blog – By Eric Ligman – Site Home – MSDN Blogs:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mssmallbiz/archive/2012/05/02/some-additional-information-a-q-amp-a-on-the-microsoft-partner-network-small-business-competency.aspx
Question: Right now you have the Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community (SBSC). What does the Small Business competency mean for SBSC now and moving forward?
- Answer: The current Small Business Specialist Community (SBSC) program will continue to exist and support SBSC partners for a 12 month grace period after the Small Business competency launch. During this grace period, both the Small Business Specialist Community (SBSC) and the Small Business competency will reside side-by-side, and SBSC partners will continue to benefit from the SBSC program and branding. After the grace period, the Small Business Specialist Community will transform into a Microsoft Partner Network partner-to-partner community. There will be no requirements to join the community and the current SBSC benefits will go away as well. In other words, the Small Business competency will be the Microsoft Partner Network offering for Small Business starting 12 months after its launch.
Read the whole post but there’s the gist.
After a year the SBSC is dead.
Microsoft you are insane. You just killed off the small business partner community. The only firms I see wanting a Small Business competency are Geek Squad. Even the medium sized firm folks will go after the more sexy compentencies.
I’m so bummed. I have to go from spending $329 per year to a WHOPPING $1,850. My God! Let’s not forget the fees for taking the additional exams as well.
At least you can get some consolation in the fact that in 12 months, Best Buy won’t likely exist anymore and you’ll have less competition. 😉
Always an upside!….
Remember: the New World Economy ™ is where big business is pricing THEMSELVES out of the market, and the survivors will be the nimbler smaller businesses that can weather the storm. Once the corporate dust settles, you won’t see any giants left.
Time to move to Linux then, as it’s official now that MS have their head in the Clouds!
When will Microsoft get their head out of the cloud, or stop taking whatever drugs that make everything cloudy? I am paying $3,888 a year to be a Mid Market Gold Partner, and never seem to get anything more special then the SBSC partners, as all we focus on is the SMB market. Watching the webcast this week about migrating to the new requirments I think the next renewal will be for Silver or basic. I guess if I jump on their cloud high I will need to take even more tests. Can’t I just skip the Microsoft cloud drugs? What does my money go to anyways?
Lyle Epstein
Frustrated Partner