14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft plans to revamp an older offering and to deliver a new software package designed especially for partner companies. Come May 24th, 2010, members of the Microsoft Partner network will be able to take advantage of two new Microsoft Action Pack subscriptions. The Redmond company will introduce Microsoft Action Pack Development and Design, and will make available an evolved variant of the current Microsoft Action Pack Subscription, rebranded as the Microsoft Action Pack Solution Provider.
“Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) provides Registered Members of the Microsoft Partner Network with internal-use, full-version software, online technical support and sales resources to help you meet your sales goals, stay competitive, and grow your business. Use Action Pack to effectively promote, install, and build solutions that use Microsoft products and technologies,” the company stated.
The overhauling of the old Microsoft Action Pack Subscription, now with expanded benefits, means that the software giant has also bumped up the price. While partners where paying $299 plus tax, for a one-year subscription for the Microsoft Action Pack ($498 and tax – if they wanted the media shipped to them), they will now have to pay $329 plus tax for the download, and $ 429 plus tax, per year for the Action Pack Solution Provider.
“Expanded benefits, include: TechNet for Microsoft Action Pack Solution Provider Subscription (TechNet For Action Pack) offering evaluation licenses for full-version Microsoft software, and access to the Microsoft TechNet Library and TechNet community Managed Forums. Visibility in Microsoft customer directories. The opportunity to recruit the most-qualified students with next-generation talent. Sales skills training. Access to quarterly support webinars,” Microsoft stated.
Action Pack Solution Provider offers products such as Exchange Server 2010 Standard, Office Communications Server 2007 R2, Office Communicator 2007 R2, Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate, Windows Web Server 2008 R2, Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise.
By comparison, Microsoft Action Pack Development and Design comes with Office Professional Plus 2010, Windows 7 Professional, Windows Server 2008 R2 (Enterprise and Web), Exchange Server 2010 (Enterprise), SQL Server 2008 R2 (Enterprise), SharePoint Server (Enterprise), Windows Small Business Server (Standard), Microsoft Dynamics CRM Workgroup, and Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS).
Additional benefits associated with Action Pack Development and Design were: “three MSDN for Microsoft Action Pack Development and Design subscriptions1 (licensed per user): Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Professional, Microsoft Expression Web, the latest version of the Windows and Windows Server operating systems, and Microsoft SQL Server for development and testing,” Microsoft stated.