For members of the Microsoft Partner Network

Apr 12, 2010 11:36 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft is offering no less than 100 Zune HD 16GB devices to the first 100 qualifying in the Office 2010 Demo Challenge. The Microsoft Partner Network offers a range of advantages to company partners, the latest of which involves the key to entering into the Office 2010 Demo Challenge. According to the software giant, only U.S. small and medium-sized Microsoft business partners that have an Office 2010 demo they want to share will be able to participate in the competition. Members of the Microsoft Partner Network will need to put together demonstrations illustrating Office 2010 and Microsoft Online Services in Better Together scenarios.

In this regard, Microsoft expected demos that would showcase how to: “Save your customers money: show how Microsoft Online Services dramatically simplify IT management, travel costs, etc. Solve a business problem: show how Online Services + Office enable access to information on the go (Office Mobile, Outlook Mobile, Outlook Web Access, Offline access to SharePoint online files). Help your customer work better with others: show how the ability to initiate communications from within Office applications transforms how one connects with appropriate individuals in real time,” the company noted.

The Sweepstakes go live on April 15, 2010 and submissions will be accepted until June 15. The Microsoft Office 2010 Demo Challenge is only opened to representatives of Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) that own a valid MPN ID and that are US residents.

All demos will need to be at least 10-15 minutes long and be submitted as WMV or Silverlight files. The first 100 qualified entries will nick participants 100 Zune HD devices. But, at the same time, Microsoft will offer additional prizes, including five $1,000 Visa Gift Cards, and a Grand Prize consisting of: a Toshiba 42-inch LCD TV, a Dell Inspiron Media Center PC, a Lenovo K320 Laptop, a Lenovo TPAD Netbook and an Xbox 360 Elite Video Game Entertainment System. The complete Grand Prize package is estimated at $3,008.

“Build your demo by following these requirements! Feature 2 of 4 products in the Business Productivity Online Suite (I.e. Live Meeting, SharePoint Online, Exchange online, Office Communications Online); include 4 new features in Office 2010; demo must be 10-15 minutes in length; record your demo as a WMV file; submit an outline and script for your demo; demo audience is a customer with 200 seats or less,” Microsoft added.