Connect: Solution Accelerators: "SharePoint Capacity Planning Tool:
The SharePoint Capacity Planning Tool is a set of free models of Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (WSS) and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS) which allow you to explore the necessary infrastructure based on usage requirements. This tool uses the System Center Capacity Planner 2007 (SCCP) as an engine to provide for data collection, visualization, simulation and report writing. The tool can be used in pre-sales and feasibility study of a deployment project to give you a rough estimate of hardware requirements."
Thursday, December 27, 2007
System Center Capacity Planner 2007 Overview
Download Capacity Planner 2007
Microsoft System Center Capacity Planner 2007 helps size and plan deployments of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 by providing you with the tools and guidance to deploy efficiently while planning for the future by allowing for "what-if" analyses in the following ways:
•
Help to ensure the success of Microsoft Exchange 2007 Plan the correct amount of infrastructure needed for a new application to meet service level goals.
•
Infrastructure planning and optimization: Plan ahead for IT purchases, to optimize cost.
•
Proactive performance planning: Helping an organization meet their service level goals consistently, now and in the future.
•
Performance analysis and predictive reporting: Automatically report performance trends and bottlenecks to manage current and future performance issues.
System Center Capacity Planner 2007 is designed to help you create a system architecture model for deploying a Microsoft server application, such as Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Capacity planning models for Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, and Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 are coming soon. A typical system architecture model consists of the following information:
•
Topology: Site locations, types of networks, network components, and network characteristics (bandwidth, latency)
•
Hardware: Server distribution and characteristics, server and network mapping
•
Software: Server role and service mapping, file and storage device mapping
•
Usage profiles: Site usage and client usage
After you create a model, you can run a simulation that provides a summary and details about the performance of the application and its supporting components.
http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/sccp/overview/default.mspx
Microsoft System Center Capacity Planner 2007 helps size and plan deployments of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 by providing you with the tools and guidance to deploy efficiently while planning for the future by allowing for "what-if" analyses in the following ways:
•
Help to ensure the success of Microsoft Exchange 2007 Plan the correct amount of infrastructure needed for a new application to meet service level goals.
•
Infrastructure planning and optimization: Plan ahead for IT purchases, to optimize cost.
•
Proactive performance planning: Helping an organization meet their service level goals consistently, now and in the future.
•
Performance analysis and predictive reporting: Automatically report performance trends and bottlenecks to manage current and future performance issues.
System Center Capacity Planner 2007 is designed to help you create a system architecture model for deploying a Microsoft server application, such as Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Capacity planning models for Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, and Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 are coming soon. A typical system architecture model consists of the following information:
•
Topology: Site locations, types of networks, network components, and network characteristics (bandwidth, latency)
•
Hardware: Server distribution and characteristics, server and network mapping
•
Software: Server role and service mapping, file and storage device mapping
•
Usage profiles: Site usage and client usage
After you create a model, you can run a simulation that provides a summary and details about the performance of the application and its supporting components.
http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/sccp/overview/default.mspx
The Impact of Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 in CPM
The Impact of Microsoft OfficePerformancePoint Server 2007 in CPM
25 October 2007
Neil Chandler
Gartner RAS Core Research Note G00152133
Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 provides a compelling, low-cost option to the rapidly growing CPM suites market. Finance and IT staff, as well as vendors and system integrators, must decide how to treat with this new entrant.
Overview
PerformancePoint Server (PPS) will create disruption in the corporate performance management (CPM) suites market now that it is generally available and as Microsoft continues to improve the product's execution capability.During the next five years, Gartner believes Microsoft will be one of the three or four leaders in this market.
Key Findings
Gartner expects that PPS will have an ongoing, significant impact on the CPM suites market and already has had a partial impact. Many smaller vendors have been acquired, and some clients have stalled purchases, awaiting general availability.
Microsoft is likely to take three to five years to become one of the leaders in the CPM suites market. Initially, PPS will gain the most traction with those customers already committed to a Microsoft business intelligence (BI) stack.
The initial release of PPS has broad coverage of the key components of a CPM suite, except profitability modeling. With low pricing and Microsoft BI stack integration, it will appeal to the enterprise and midmarkets.
Microsoft has invested heavily to ensure that a global base of partners and system integrators has committed to PPS. Early adopters should expect to take a pioneering approach in early developments as they discover the true extent and capabilities of the product.
Recommendations
Users with Microsoft-centric BI investments, especially those that are also Microsoft Office SharePoint Server users, should include PPS in their CPM evaluations. They should also consider upgrading to the latest versions of underlying Microsoft technology to fully exploit PPS.
Customers that plan to implement PPS using external consultants must ensure that their chosen system integrators have sufficient implementation and support skills. Check during the selection phase that the partner can demonstrate deep domain expertise, cite successful references and has appropriate product certifications.
PPS is a full CPM suite and will require organizations to follow a formal implementation approach and plan as part of an overall BI strategy. Users of legacy spreadsheet applications should not underestimate the time scales, design complexity and necessary skills required.
What You Need to Know
Microsoft Office PPS will have a significant impact in the CPM suites market during the next five years. Gartner expects the product to grow in revenue and for Microsoft and its extensive partner community to increase execution capability that will rank PPS among the market-leading solutions by 2011. The first release is aimed at enterprise-sized customers, and as a CPM suite, it is competitive from a functionality and price perspective with the established market offerings, although its financial consolidation capabilities are weaker than some competitors, and it lacks out-of-the-box profitability management functionality.
Organizations that are replacing Excel-based custom solutions or those that have a strategic commitment to SQL Server and SharePoint Server should consider PPS for CPM as a core component of their BI and performance management (PM) frameworks. However, users must verify that any service partners chosen to implement PPS can demonstrate adequate implementation and support capabilities.
Return to Top
Analysis
After a long-running Community Technology Preview (CTP) — a beta program with nearly 10,000 downloads — Microsoft launched PPS on 19 September 2007. PerformancePoint is Microsoft’s latest and broadest entry into the world of CPM, and the first release of the product offers a solid array of CPM functionality (see "Understanding CPM Applications"). PPS comprises:
Scorecarding/Dashboard — New application functionality incorporating Business Scorecard Manager 2005 functionality previously available stand-alone, and ProClarity dashboard server functionality
Analytics — Excel 2007 and ProClarity v.6 functionality
Planning/budgeting/financial reporting/financial consolidation — A new server-based application
Uses a SQL Server 2005 relational database and multiple analysis service models to store data and, optionally, SharePoint Server 2007 for Web-based delivery
Microsoft FRx customers on a current support plan will be offered a new financial report writer, PerformancePoint 2007 Management Reporter, scheduled for release in early 2008. This application can function as an independent financial report writer working against a general ledger application where data integration is available. It will also be available as a component of PPS and will be capable of developing financial and management reports based on a special-purpose financial reporting PPS model. Customers that use Microsoft FRx will have access to a migration utility that will support migrating report “building blocks” to Management Reporter. Microsoft Forecaster-like functionality will be incorporated into future releases of PPS.
The CPM market is fairly mature but rapidly growing (see "Market Share: CPM Suites Software, Worldwide, 2006, Composite View") and is focused around some fundamental business challenges, such as linking strategy to execution, understanding financial performance and enterprise planning. Most of the effort to implement a CPM solution is primarily in services, and, in this respect, PPS is on a par with the complexity and implementation time scales of other CPM suite market offerings. As with other CPM solutions, PerformancePoint contains workflow functionality to manage the key business processes related to CPM, but it has no out-of-the-box capability to integrate into a wider end-to-end business process platform.
Return to Top
Technology Issues
PPS will have a higher impact for Microsoft-centric organizations, for example, the analysis and scorecarding functionality in PPS can use pre-existing SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services cubes and can incorporate pre-built Reporting Services Reports into PPS dashboards and scorecards, although to deploy PPS for planning will require users to build new models — incorporating existing data — rather than using pre-existing cubes. PPS enables those organizations to standardize more of the necessary BI/PM infrastructure on a single supplier capable of fully leveraging the power of its Microsoft BI platform.
The same can be said of Microsoft's' primary competitors, such as Cognos/Applix, SAP/OutlookSoft (which also announced its intention to acquire Business Objects/Cartesis) and Oracle/Hyperion. All these vendors combine BI and CPM in their portfolios, yet these solutions continue to be focused on different buyer groups (for example, IT vs. finance) and in unrelated activities (for example, reporting vs. planning).
Additionally, Microsoft already has a large share of the traditional/legacy PM customers that have implemented their solutions in Excel. The extensive use of Excel in PPS makes it an attractive solution for those customers that want to replace spreadsheet-based systems. However, PPS is not alone in leveraging Excel in its CPM offering, and there are many alternatives, such as Clarity Systems, SAP/OutlookSoft/Business Objects and SAS, that all have Excel-centric budgeting solutions. Furthermore, PPS has tight integration into SharePoint Server, along with the other capabilities from the rest of the Microsoft BI platform, further justifying the portal role for SharePoint Server. This makes PPS attractive to those organizations with a commitment to SharePoint Server. However, the reverse is also true. Those clients not wishing to use the latest versions of a Microsoft infrastructure may derive fewer benefits, although Microsoft states that PPS will work with commonly available Microsoft versions, including SQL Server 2005, Excel 2003 and the free version of SharePoint that ships with Windows Server 2003.
Furthermore, PPS is a version 1 product, and although well-proven via its CTP program and with a series of successful references, be prepared to expect "teething" issues. Early adopters should expect to discover and push the product capabilities. Gartner recently spoke to several PPS CTP program references and found that they have successfully deployed planning and financial consolidation solutions involving, for example, hundreds of budgeting users, complex intercompany-based consolidations and multiple generally accepted accounting principles reporting.
Return to Top
Commercial Issues
PPS will have a significant impact for some customers because of its relatively low retail price point of $20,000 per server, $195 per client access license (referred to as CAL) and $30,000 per external connector (for companies that enable CPM beyond the immediate enterprise). The CAL provides user access to the entire CPM suite, including scorecard, analytics, planning, budgeting, forecasting, (management) consolidation and financial reporting. This is consistent with other CPM suites from a functional perspective.
Given this lower CAL price, as compared with other products (typically in the $1,000 to more than $1,500 range), Microsoft will encourage organizations to buy more seats and increase enterprise deployments of CPM, as well as other types of PM (for example, operational planning and customer analytics). However, customers should ensure that they recognize a total cost for the solution that may involve additional licenses of other Microsoft products, including Office, SharePoint Server or SQL Server 2005, and because of limited referencability, it is not yet fully clear exactly how many servers are required to support a production PPS implementation. Bear in mind that the other CPM solutions that Microsoft competes with may also require you to purchase additional licenses of portal, database and desktop software.
PPS will come into consideration for many organizations looking for a low-cost replacement for established CPM solutions. Microsoft is increasing the overall awareness of the capabilities of PM applications such as CPM. This generates new opportunities for Microsoft and its competitors. Microsoft has a strong presence in the IT departments of small to midsize enterprises, and during the last five years has steadily increased its penetration of the large enterprise market. However, PPS is marketed as an enterprise-class solution, and CPM is a solution targeted at the office of finance, where traditionally Microsoft’s presence has been weaker, although some of its partners are well-established providers in the office of finance. It is also the domain of some strong competition, such as SAP/OutlookSoft/Business Objects and Oracle/Hyperion.
If Microsoft can target the enterprise space and at the same time make PPS compact and digestible enough for the small to midsize markets, then it will gain a significant market share. Although PPS is targeted at Tier 1 enterprises, its pricing model will also make it attractive to mid-market companies, and it includes the budgeting and planning functionality these companies want and need. Competition is fierce, and Microsoft will initially be hindered by a limited supply of qualified direct and indirect sales, support and implementation specialists. Furthermore, PPS provides data-level integration to Microsoft's own mid-market financial application — Microsoft Dynamics AX (formerly Axapta) — with built-in capability to easily incorporate Dynamics AX metadata and actuals data into the core PPS models.
Gartner believes that the price of PPS undercuts the market-leading products and will be difficult to ignore. Many customers, especially those using Excel for the CPM solutions, will evaluate PPS as a replacement. Assuming Microsoft is able to establish a sufficient base of skilled resources during the next three to five years, expect PPS to establish a top five share in the CPM suites market.
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Vendor Landscape
Microsoft is a late entrant into an already consolidating market that has seen a number of pure-play CPM suite providers acquired by larger and stronger BI and enterprise applications vendors such as SAS, Infor (GEAC and MIS AG), SAP (Business Objects, OutlookSoft and Pilot Software), Oracle (Siebel, PeopleSoft and Hyperion) and Cognos (Adaytum, Frango and Applix). Hence, Microsoft will compete with other financially strong vendors that also have strong global execution capability. Those remaining pure-play providers are adding deep functionality (for example, profitability management, financial governance and strategy management) not available or strong in the current release of PPS or are extending their solutions with industry-specific domain expertise (for example, Cognos performance blueprints).
PPS contains broad functionality that competes well with most CPM suite offerings, particularly in the areas of financial reporting; planning, budgeting and forecasting; and scorecarding. However, although PPS provides management and statutory consolidation capability, its initial version would be unlikely to challenge Hyperion, Business Objects and others in complex, consolidation-led CPM deals. PPS does not package profitability modeling and activity-based management in this release, although, with the modeling, rule engine and Excel integrations, it should be possible to build this capability.
Some of those vendors have developed their solutions based on a Microsoft BI stack, such as SAP/OutlookSoft/Business Objects and Infor/MPC, and are now coming into direct competition with PPS. Recent history has shown that Microsoft's entry into other BI-related areas/products (for example, reporting services and analysis servers, such as ProClarity) has had the biggest impact on those vendors that built their product lines exclusively on Microsoft's platform. Other CPM vendors will need to demonstrate that they are different and worth the premium that they will continue to charge.
Many vendors will improve functional offerings (such as analytic applications to support other areas of PM, such as sales PM) and will need to "verticalize" their products. Those CPM vendors that have built products on top of a Microsoft platform will have further reason for concern and will need to ramp up efforts to increase differentiation over PerformancePoint. Vendors need to decide whether to continue to embrace a Microsoft-centric stack and compete against PPS or to change their architecture and strategy. Vendors may also find that their supporting partners are vulnerable to switching their allegiance to Microsoft. Additionally, Microsoft may well find favor with new software vendors looking to OEM a BI/PM as part of their solution, particularly in the emerging PM space.
Return to Top
Service Issues
Microsoft recognized the need to offer some direct capability to win business with PPS. During the past year, the company has steadily recruited a core team of R&D and execution specialists to help it win business in large enterprises. Outside of this direct capability, Microsoft is relying on system integrators (SIs) and value-added resellers. Microsoft has worked hard to grow an internal core capable of driving the product strategy and targeting key large enterprise accounts.
Microsoft has invested heavily to engage many SIs and partners to provide services, and it looks promising that these partners are taking the opportunity provided by PPS seriously, including Accenture, Atos Origin, Avanade, BearingPoint, Business & Decision, Capgemini, Fujitsu, Getronics, Hitachi Consulting, HP, Infosys, INS, LogicaCMG, Satyam Computer Services, Siemens, Solver, Tata Consultancy Services, Thorogood, Unisys and Wipro. These partners enhance Microsoft’s geographic presence, numbers of skilled resources and additionally provide domain or industry expertise.
Because services are a large component of a CPM implementation — typically approaching two to five times the license fee — the cost of ownership will now appear to be severely weighted toward services, given the lower pricing for PerformancePoint. We do not see the amount of services effort required to implement the Microsoft solution as radically different from the average. As a result, most services will appear to be extremely expensive, and there will be downward pressure on professional services and SIs to reduce prices and total billing. However, it is key that these partners not only take on the sales and marketing messages, but continue to train and nurture a critical mass of skilled implementation and support staff in PPS.
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© 2007 Gartner, Inc. and/or its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction and distribution of this publication in any form without prior written permission is forbidden. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Gartner disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. Although Gartner's research may discuss legal issues related to the information technology business, Gartner does not provide legal advice or services and its research should not be construed or used as such. Gartner shall have no liability for errors, omissions or inadequacies in the information contained herein or for interpretations thereof. The opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
25 October 2007
Neil Chandler
Gartner RAS Core Research Note G00152133
Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 provides a compelling, low-cost option to the rapidly growing CPM suites market. Finance and IT staff, as well as vendors and system integrators, must decide how to treat with this new entrant.
Overview
PerformancePoint Server (PPS) will create disruption in the corporate performance management (CPM) suites market now that it is generally available and as Microsoft continues to improve the product's execution capability.During the next five years, Gartner believes Microsoft will be one of the three or four leaders in this market.
Key Findings
Gartner expects that PPS will have an ongoing, significant impact on the CPM suites market and already has had a partial impact. Many smaller vendors have been acquired, and some clients have stalled purchases, awaiting general availability.
Microsoft is likely to take three to five years to become one of the leaders in the CPM suites market. Initially, PPS will gain the most traction with those customers already committed to a Microsoft business intelligence (BI) stack.
The initial release of PPS has broad coverage of the key components of a CPM suite, except profitability modeling. With low pricing and Microsoft BI stack integration, it will appeal to the enterprise and midmarkets.
Microsoft has invested heavily to ensure that a global base of partners and system integrators has committed to PPS. Early adopters should expect to take a pioneering approach in early developments as they discover the true extent and capabilities of the product.
Recommendations
Users with Microsoft-centric BI investments, especially those that are also Microsoft Office SharePoint Server users, should include PPS in their CPM evaluations. They should also consider upgrading to the latest versions of underlying Microsoft technology to fully exploit PPS.
Customers that plan to implement PPS using external consultants must ensure that their chosen system integrators have sufficient implementation and support skills. Check during the selection phase that the partner can demonstrate deep domain expertise, cite successful references and has appropriate product certifications.
PPS is a full CPM suite and will require organizations to follow a formal implementation approach and plan as part of an overall BI strategy. Users of legacy spreadsheet applications should not underestimate the time scales, design complexity and necessary skills required.
What You Need to Know
Microsoft Office PPS will have a significant impact in the CPM suites market during the next five years. Gartner expects the product to grow in revenue and for Microsoft and its extensive partner community to increase execution capability that will rank PPS among the market-leading solutions by 2011. The first release is aimed at enterprise-sized customers, and as a CPM suite, it is competitive from a functionality and price perspective with the established market offerings, although its financial consolidation capabilities are weaker than some competitors, and it lacks out-of-the-box profitability management functionality.
Organizations that are replacing Excel-based custom solutions or those that have a strategic commitment to SQL Server and SharePoint Server should consider PPS for CPM as a core component of their BI and performance management (PM) frameworks. However, users must verify that any service partners chosen to implement PPS can demonstrate adequate implementation and support capabilities.
Return to Top
Analysis
After a long-running Community Technology Preview (CTP) — a beta program with nearly 10,000 downloads — Microsoft launched PPS on 19 September 2007. PerformancePoint is Microsoft’s latest and broadest entry into the world of CPM, and the first release of the product offers a solid array of CPM functionality (see "Understanding CPM Applications"). PPS comprises:
Scorecarding/Dashboard — New application functionality incorporating Business Scorecard Manager 2005 functionality previously available stand-alone, and ProClarity dashboard server functionality
Analytics — Excel 2007 and ProClarity v.6 functionality
Planning/budgeting/financial reporting/financial consolidation — A new server-based application
Uses a SQL Server 2005 relational database and multiple analysis service models to store data and, optionally, SharePoint Server 2007 for Web-based delivery
Microsoft FRx customers on a current support plan will be offered a new financial report writer, PerformancePoint 2007 Management Reporter, scheduled for release in early 2008. This application can function as an independent financial report writer working against a general ledger application where data integration is available. It will also be available as a component of PPS and will be capable of developing financial and management reports based on a special-purpose financial reporting PPS model. Customers that use Microsoft FRx will have access to a migration utility that will support migrating report “building blocks” to Management Reporter. Microsoft Forecaster-like functionality will be incorporated into future releases of PPS.
The CPM market is fairly mature but rapidly growing (see "Market Share: CPM Suites Software, Worldwide, 2006, Composite View") and is focused around some fundamental business challenges, such as linking strategy to execution, understanding financial performance and enterprise planning. Most of the effort to implement a CPM solution is primarily in services, and, in this respect, PPS is on a par with the complexity and implementation time scales of other CPM suite market offerings. As with other CPM solutions, PerformancePoint contains workflow functionality to manage the key business processes related to CPM, but it has no out-of-the-box capability to integrate into a wider end-to-end business process platform.
Return to Top
Technology Issues
PPS will have a higher impact for Microsoft-centric organizations, for example, the analysis and scorecarding functionality in PPS can use pre-existing SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services cubes and can incorporate pre-built Reporting Services Reports into PPS dashboards and scorecards, although to deploy PPS for planning will require users to build new models — incorporating existing data — rather than using pre-existing cubes. PPS enables those organizations to standardize more of the necessary BI/PM infrastructure on a single supplier capable of fully leveraging the power of its Microsoft BI platform.
The same can be said of Microsoft's' primary competitors, such as Cognos/Applix, SAP/OutlookSoft (which also announced its intention to acquire Business Objects/Cartesis) and Oracle/Hyperion. All these vendors combine BI and CPM in their portfolios, yet these solutions continue to be focused on different buyer groups (for example, IT vs. finance) and in unrelated activities (for example, reporting vs. planning).
Additionally, Microsoft already has a large share of the traditional/legacy PM customers that have implemented their solutions in Excel. The extensive use of Excel in PPS makes it an attractive solution for those customers that want to replace spreadsheet-based systems. However, PPS is not alone in leveraging Excel in its CPM offering, and there are many alternatives, such as Clarity Systems, SAP/OutlookSoft/Business Objects and SAS, that all have Excel-centric budgeting solutions. Furthermore, PPS has tight integration into SharePoint Server, along with the other capabilities from the rest of the Microsoft BI platform, further justifying the portal role for SharePoint Server. This makes PPS attractive to those organizations with a commitment to SharePoint Server. However, the reverse is also true. Those clients not wishing to use the latest versions of a Microsoft infrastructure may derive fewer benefits, although Microsoft states that PPS will work with commonly available Microsoft versions, including SQL Server 2005, Excel 2003 and the free version of SharePoint that ships with Windows Server 2003.
Furthermore, PPS is a version 1 product, and although well-proven via its CTP program and with a series of successful references, be prepared to expect "teething" issues. Early adopters should expect to discover and push the product capabilities. Gartner recently spoke to several PPS CTP program references and found that they have successfully deployed planning and financial consolidation solutions involving, for example, hundreds of budgeting users, complex intercompany-based consolidations and multiple generally accepted accounting principles reporting.
Return to Top
Commercial Issues
PPS will have a significant impact for some customers because of its relatively low retail price point of $20,000 per server, $195 per client access license (referred to as CAL) and $30,000 per external connector (for companies that enable CPM beyond the immediate enterprise). The CAL provides user access to the entire CPM suite, including scorecard, analytics, planning, budgeting, forecasting, (management) consolidation and financial reporting. This is consistent with other CPM suites from a functional perspective.
Given this lower CAL price, as compared with other products (typically in the $1,000 to more than $1,500 range), Microsoft will encourage organizations to buy more seats and increase enterprise deployments of CPM, as well as other types of PM (for example, operational planning and customer analytics). However, customers should ensure that they recognize a total cost for the solution that may involve additional licenses of other Microsoft products, including Office, SharePoint Server or SQL Server 2005, and because of limited referencability, it is not yet fully clear exactly how many servers are required to support a production PPS implementation. Bear in mind that the other CPM solutions that Microsoft competes with may also require you to purchase additional licenses of portal, database and desktop software.
PPS will come into consideration for many organizations looking for a low-cost replacement for established CPM solutions. Microsoft is increasing the overall awareness of the capabilities of PM applications such as CPM. This generates new opportunities for Microsoft and its competitors. Microsoft has a strong presence in the IT departments of small to midsize enterprises, and during the last five years has steadily increased its penetration of the large enterprise market. However, PPS is marketed as an enterprise-class solution, and CPM is a solution targeted at the office of finance, where traditionally Microsoft’s presence has been weaker, although some of its partners are well-established providers in the office of finance. It is also the domain of some strong competition, such as SAP/OutlookSoft/Business Objects and Oracle/Hyperion.
If Microsoft can target the enterprise space and at the same time make PPS compact and digestible enough for the small to midsize markets, then it will gain a significant market share. Although PPS is targeted at Tier 1 enterprises, its pricing model will also make it attractive to mid-market companies, and it includes the budgeting and planning functionality these companies want and need. Competition is fierce, and Microsoft will initially be hindered by a limited supply of qualified direct and indirect sales, support and implementation specialists. Furthermore, PPS provides data-level integration to Microsoft's own mid-market financial application — Microsoft Dynamics AX (formerly Axapta) — with built-in capability to easily incorporate Dynamics AX metadata and actuals data into the core PPS models.
Gartner believes that the price of PPS undercuts the market-leading products and will be difficult to ignore. Many customers, especially those using Excel for the CPM solutions, will evaluate PPS as a replacement. Assuming Microsoft is able to establish a sufficient base of skilled resources during the next three to five years, expect PPS to establish a top five share in the CPM suites market.
Return to Top
Vendor Landscape
Microsoft is a late entrant into an already consolidating market that has seen a number of pure-play CPM suite providers acquired by larger and stronger BI and enterprise applications vendors such as SAS, Infor (GEAC and MIS AG), SAP (Business Objects, OutlookSoft and Pilot Software), Oracle (Siebel, PeopleSoft and Hyperion) and Cognos (Adaytum, Frango and Applix). Hence, Microsoft will compete with other financially strong vendors that also have strong global execution capability. Those remaining pure-play providers are adding deep functionality (for example, profitability management, financial governance and strategy management) not available or strong in the current release of PPS or are extending their solutions with industry-specific domain expertise (for example, Cognos performance blueprints).
PPS contains broad functionality that competes well with most CPM suite offerings, particularly in the areas of financial reporting; planning, budgeting and forecasting; and scorecarding. However, although PPS provides management and statutory consolidation capability, its initial version would be unlikely to challenge Hyperion, Business Objects and others in complex, consolidation-led CPM deals. PPS does not package profitability modeling and activity-based management in this release, although, with the modeling, rule engine and Excel integrations, it should be possible to build this capability.
Some of those vendors have developed their solutions based on a Microsoft BI stack, such as SAP/OutlookSoft/Business Objects and Infor/MPC, and are now coming into direct competition with PPS. Recent history has shown that Microsoft's entry into other BI-related areas/products (for example, reporting services and analysis servers, such as ProClarity) has had the biggest impact on those vendors that built their product lines exclusively on Microsoft's platform. Other CPM vendors will need to demonstrate that they are different and worth the premium that they will continue to charge.
Many vendors will improve functional offerings (such as analytic applications to support other areas of PM, such as sales PM) and will need to "verticalize" their products. Those CPM vendors that have built products on top of a Microsoft platform will have further reason for concern and will need to ramp up efforts to increase differentiation over PerformancePoint. Vendors need to decide whether to continue to embrace a Microsoft-centric stack and compete against PPS or to change their architecture and strategy. Vendors may also find that their supporting partners are vulnerable to switching their allegiance to Microsoft. Additionally, Microsoft may well find favor with new software vendors looking to OEM a BI/PM as part of their solution, particularly in the emerging PM space.
Return to Top
Service Issues
Microsoft recognized the need to offer some direct capability to win business with PPS. During the past year, the company has steadily recruited a core team of R&D and execution specialists to help it win business in large enterprises. Outside of this direct capability, Microsoft is relying on system integrators (SIs) and value-added resellers. Microsoft has worked hard to grow an internal core capable of driving the product strategy and targeting key large enterprise accounts.
Microsoft has invested heavily to engage many SIs and partners to provide services, and it looks promising that these partners are taking the opportunity provided by PPS seriously, including Accenture, Atos Origin, Avanade, BearingPoint, Business & Decision, Capgemini, Fujitsu, Getronics, Hitachi Consulting, HP, Infosys, INS, LogicaCMG, Satyam Computer Services, Siemens, Solver, Tata Consultancy Services, Thorogood, Unisys and Wipro. These partners enhance Microsoft’s geographic presence, numbers of skilled resources and additionally provide domain or industry expertise.
Because services are a large component of a CPM implementation — typically approaching two to five times the license fee — the cost of ownership will now appear to be severely weighted toward services, given the lower pricing for PerformancePoint. We do not see the amount of services effort required to implement the Microsoft solution as radically different from the average. As a result, most services will appear to be extremely expensive, and there will be downward pressure on professional services and SIs to reduce prices and total billing. However, it is key that these partners not only take on the sales and marketing messages, but continue to train and nurture a critical mass of skilled implementation and support staff in PPS.
Return to Top
© 2007 Gartner, Inc. and/or its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction and distribution of this publication in any form without prior written permission is forbidden. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Gartner disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. Although Gartner's research may discuss legal issues related to the information technology business, Gartner does not provide legal advice or services and its research should not be construed or used as such. Gartner shall have no liability for errors, omissions or inadequacies in the information contained herein or for interpretations thereof. The opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Microsoft's FIRST Business Intelligence Newsletter!
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Welcome to the first edition of the Microsoft Business Intelligence Newsletter! The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you informed and up to date on the latest news, resources, customer success stories and events related to Microsoft Business Intelligence. We hope that you find it to be a valuable resource and we encourage you to share it with your co-workers and peers who are interested in business intelligence. The newsletter is published every other month, so you can expect the next issue in early February. Happy Holidays and we hope you enjoy the newsletter!
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Microsoft Positioned in Leaders Quadrant of Latest Magic Quadrant for Data Warehousing
Microsoft® has been positioned in the Leaders quadrant of the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data Warehouse Data Management Systems, 2007.* Read the full report.
The OLAP Report: Preview of PerformancePoint Server 2007
Microsoft prepares its assault on the planning and consolidation market. "There is now no doubt that Microsoft is deadly serious about taking a very big bite out of the performance management market." Read the full report.
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Experience the features and functionality of SQL Server in your environment. See Microsoft Office 2007 in action and experience the new BI functionality. Learn how Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 provides a complete set of performance management capabilities in one product.
Download the latest SQL Server 2008 CTP
Access the November Community Technology Preview (CTP) for SQL Server 2008. SQL Server 2008 November CTP has several key innovations, from new Report Designer to prescriptive design interface for SQL Server Analysis Services along with several more. Download the latest CTP release here.
Customer Success
Energizer Taps Into the Power of Microsoft Business Intelligence
With numerous sales regions in approximately 20 countries throughout Europe, Energizer needed a comprehensive business intelligence solution that could provide more effective business planning and forecasting abilities. Energizer built a BI solution that streamlined the business planning process, improved the quality and consistency of source data, and enabled in-depth analysis of corporate performance. Read the full case study.
Credit Card Company Runs Business with Mission Critical BI Solution
PREMIER Bankcard needed to enhance performance and scalability for its 10-terabyte data warehouse and its 1.5-terabyte online transaction processing (OLTP) databases. The Microsoft BI solution has provided the company with a number of benefits including a better view of corporate performance, enterprise-grade scalability, and easier database management. Read the full case study.
Partners
Learn more about becoming a Microsoft Business Intelligence partner
Microsoft makes it easy for you to become a business intelligence (BI) partner. There are two specializations that cover distinct components: a Business Intelligence specialization within the Data Management competency and a Performance Management specialization within the Information Worker competency. These specializations are designed to provide partners with training, guidance, communication, and skill certification on the entire Microsoft Business Intelligence offering.
Find a Microsoft BI Partner to help you reach your BI goals
Visit the NEW Microsoft BI Partner Directory. You'll be able to search for Microsoft BI partners around the world who can help you with specific applications, or provide specific industry knowledge and expertise.
Events
Take part in the SQL Server 2008 Launch!
SQL Server 2008 will be launching on 2/27/2008 along with Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008. This will be the one of the largest Microsoft product launches, with broad outreach to our IT Professionals and Developer audience. You can learn more about the products and participate in the launch through several online events from the portrait gallery, Student Film competition and registration for an event close to you. Get involved in the February 27th launch by visiting the Heroes Happen Here site.
Learn more about PerformancePoint Server - Take a Training class in January Hitachi Consulting is offering a series of public trainings in January on PerformancePoint Server.
•
January 7-10, 2008: Seattle, WAhttp://netdesk.com/CourseInfo/Outlines.aspx?CourseId=hc550
•
January 7-10, 2008: London, UKDeepak.khurmi@pygmalion.com
•
January 14-17, 2008: Chicago, ILhttp://www.imginc.com/Pages/default.aspx
•
January 28-31, 2008: Atlanta, GAhttp://www.unitedtraining.com/CourseInfo/Outlines.aspx?CourseNumber=HC550
For general questions, contact Hitachi Consulting at 206-268-9124 or via e-mail at bitraining@hitachiconsulting.com.
Upcoming Webcasts
Register for upcoming Microsoft BI webcasts, and learn more about our BI solutions by viewing the most recent webcast recordings.
Driving Business Performance with Microsoft Business Intelligence
Attend this webcast to understand how Microsoft is challenging our customers to "think bigger" about business intelligence, move beyond the rigid tools and applications they are using today, and utilize our integrated solution to provide an unbeatable combination of tools and applications that helps individuals, teams, and organizations reach their full potential.
Customer and Product Monitoring with Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007
Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 can help organizations improve their business performance by integrating monitoring, analysis, and planning capabilities into one application. In this session, we examine the process by which companies review, evaluate, and manage performance across products and customers. We show you how to combine diverse data sources into a coherent data model to enable monitoring and analysis of exceptions through performance dashboards. Gain an understanding of challenges faced by businesses today, the monitoring and analytic process, and see how PerformancePoint Server 2007 supports this process.
View recent Microsoft BI Webcast recordings here: http://www.microsoft.com/bi/resources/webcasts.aspx
Resources
Featured Learning: Microsoft BI Online Virtual Labs
Test the technology stack that can help you and your decision makers improve business performance at strategic, tactical and organizational levels.
Looking for More Information on SQL Server 2008?
Learn more about SQL Server 2008 with learning resources that include Academy Live Webcasts, Data Sheets, Product Overviews, Technologies, White Papers, Webcasts and more. Partners click here for more information. Customers click here for the latest information.
Visit the Microsoft Resource Center
Make your decision a whole lot easier. Get tools that can help you gain insight into creating an integrated, cost-effective Microsoft Business Intelligence (BI) solution.
Did You Receive The Business Intelligence Newsletter from a Friend? The Microsoft Business Intelligence Newsletter is full of the latest news, resources, product information and events related to Microsoft BI that we encourage subscribers to forward to friends and co-workers. If you've received this issue from someone via e-mail and would like to receive the free Microsoft Business Intelligence Newsletter bimonthly, all you have to do is subscribe.
December 2007Volume 1
In This Issue:
Product News
Customer Success
Partners
Events
Upcoming Webcasts
Resources
Resources
Visit the Microsoft Resource Center
Make your decision a whole lot easier. Get tools that can help you gain insight into creating an integrated, cost-effective Microsoft Business Intelligence (BI) solution.
Looking for More Information on SQL Server 2008?
Learn more about SQL Server 2008 with learning resources that include Academy Live Webcasts, Data Sheets, Product Overviews, Technologies, White Papers, Webcasts and more. Partners click here for more information. Customers click here for the latest information.
Learn More about Microsoft Business Intelligence
Visit the Microsoft Business Intelligence website to learn more about our solutions, products, learning opportunities and other great resources.
*The Magic Quadrant is copyrighted 2007 by Gartner, Inc. and is reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the "Leaders" quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.To cancel your subscription to this newsletter, reply to this message with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject line. You can also unsubscribe at the Microsoft.com web site. You can manage all your Microsoft.com communication preferences at this site.Legal Information.This newsletter was sent by the Microsoft CorporationOne Microsoft WayRedmond, Washington, USA98052
Sign up for other newsletters Unsubscribe Update your profile
© 2006 Microsoft Corporation Terms of Use Trademarks Privacy Statement
Welcome to the first edition of the Microsoft Business Intelligence Newsletter! The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you informed and up to date on the latest news, resources, customer success stories and events related to Microsoft Business Intelligence. We hope that you find it to be a valuable resource and we encourage you to share it with your co-workers and peers who are interested in business intelligence. The newsletter is published every other month, so you can expect the next issue in early February. Happy Holidays and we hope you enjoy the newsletter!
Check out the Latest Analyst Reports on Microsoft Business Intelligence!
Microsoft Positioned in Leaders Quadrant of Latest Magic Quadrant for Data Warehousing
Microsoft® has been positioned in the Leaders quadrant of the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data Warehouse Data Management Systems, 2007.* Read the full report.
The OLAP Report: Preview of PerformancePoint Server 2007
Microsoft prepares its assault on the planning and consolidation market. "There is now no doubt that Microsoft is deadly serious about taking a very big bite out of the performance management market." Read the full report.
Product News
Evaluate the latest Microsoft Business Intelligence Products Today!
Experience the features and functionality of SQL Server in your environment. See Microsoft Office 2007 in action and experience the new BI functionality. Learn how Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 provides a complete set of performance management capabilities in one product.
Download the latest SQL Server 2008 CTP
Access the November Community Technology Preview (CTP) for SQL Server 2008. SQL Server 2008 November CTP has several key innovations, from new Report Designer to prescriptive design interface for SQL Server Analysis Services along with several more. Download the latest CTP release here.
Customer Success
Energizer Taps Into the Power of Microsoft Business Intelligence
With numerous sales regions in approximately 20 countries throughout Europe, Energizer needed a comprehensive business intelligence solution that could provide more effective business planning and forecasting abilities. Energizer built a BI solution that streamlined the business planning process, improved the quality and consistency of source data, and enabled in-depth analysis of corporate performance. Read the full case study.
Credit Card Company Runs Business with Mission Critical BI Solution
PREMIER Bankcard needed to enhance performance and scalability for its 10-terabyte data warehouse and its 1.5-terabyte online transaction processing (OLTP) databases. The Microsoft BI solution has provided the company with a number of benefits including a better view of corporate performance, enterprise-grade scalability, and easier database management. Read the full case study.
Partners
Learn more about becoming a Microsoft Business Intelligence partner
Microsoft makes it easy for you to become a business intelligence (BI) partner. There are two specializations that cover distinct components: a Business Intelligence specialization within the Data Management competency and a Performance Management specialization within the Information Worker competency. These specializations are designed to provide partners with training, guidance, communication, and skill certification on the entire Microsoft Business Intelligence offering.
Find a Microsoft BI Partner to help you reach your BI goals
Visit the NEW Microsoft BI Partner Directory. You'll be able to search for Microsoft BI partners around the world who can help you with specific applications, or provide specific industry knowledge and expertise.
Events
Take part in the SQL Server 2008 Launch!
SQL Server 2008 will be launching on 2/27/2008 along with Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008. This will be the one of the largest Microsoft product launches, with broad outreach to our IT Professionals and Developer audience. You can learn more about the products and participate in the launch through several online events from the portrait gallery, Student Film competition and registration for an event close to you. Get involved in the February 27th launch by visiting the Heroes Happen Here site.
Learn more about PerformancePoint Server - Take a Training class in January Hitachi Consulting is offering a series of public trainings in January on PerformancePoint Server.
•
January 7-10, 2008: Seattle, WAhttp://netdesk.com/CourseInfo/Outlines.aspx?CourseId=hc550
•
January 7-10, 2008: London, UKDeepak.khurmi@pygmalion.com
•
January 14-17, 2008: Chicago, ILhttp://www.imginc.com/Pages/default.aspx
•
January 28-31, 2008: Atlanta, GAhttp://www.unitedtraining.com/CourseInfo/Outlines.aspx?CourseNumber=HC550
For general questions, contact Hitachi Consulting at 206-268-9124 or via e-mail at bitraining@hitachiconsulting.com.
Upcoming Webcasts
Register for upcoming Microsoft BI webcasts, and learn more about our BI solutions by viewing the most recent webcast recordings.
Driving Business Performance with Microsoft Business Intelligence
Attend this webcast to understand how Microsoft is challenging our customers to "think bigger" about business intelligence, move beyond the rigid tools and applications they are using today, and utilize our integrated solution to provide an unbeatable combination of tools and applications that helps individuals, teams, and organizations reach their full potential.
Customer and Product Monitoring with Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007
Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 can help organizations improve their business performance by integrating monitoring, analysis, and planning capabilities into one application. In this session, we examine the process by which companies review, evaluate, and manage performance across products and customers. We show you how to combine diverse data sources into a coherent data model to enable monitoring and analysis of exceptions through performance dashboards. Gain an understanding of challenges faced by businesses today, the monitoring and analytic process, and see how PerformancePoint Server 2007 supports this process.
View recent Microsoft BI Webcast recordings here: http://www.microsoft.com/bi/resources/webcasts.aspx
Resources
Featured Learning: Microsoft BI Online Virtual Labs
Test the technology stack that can help you and your decision makers improve business performance at strategic, tactical and organizational levels.
Looking for More Information on SQL Server 2008?
Learn more about SQL Server 2008 with learning resources that include Academy Live Webcasts, Data Sheets, Product Overviews, Technologies, White Papers, Webcasts and more. Partners click here for more information. Customers click here for the latest information.
Visit the Microsoft Resource Center
Make your decision a whole lot easier. Get tools that can help you gain insight into creating an integrated, cost-effective Microsoft Business Intelligence (BI) solution.
Did You Receive The Business Intelligence Newsletter from a Friend? The Microsoft Business Intelligence Newsletter is full of the latest news, resources, product information and events related to Microsoft BI that we encourage subscribers to forward to friends and co-workers. If you've received this issue from someone via e-mail and would like to receive the free Microsoft Business Intelligence Newsletter bimonthly, all you have to do is subscribe.
December 2007Volume 1
In This Issue:
Product News
Customer Success
Partners
Events
Upcoming Webcasts
Resources
Resources
Visit the Microsoft Resource Center
Make your decision a whole lot easier. Get tools that can help you gain insight into creating an integrated, cost-effective Microsoft Business Intelligence (BI) solution.
Looking for More Information on SQL Server 2008?
Learn more about SQL Server 2008 with learning resources that include Academy Live Webcasts, Data Sheets, Product Overviews, Technologies, White Papers, Webcasts and more. Partners click here for more information. Customers click here for the latest information.
Learn More about Microsoft Business Intelligence
Visit the Microsoft Business Intelligence website to learn more about our solutions, products, learning opportunities and other great resources.
*The Magic Quadrant is copyrighted 2007 by Gartner, Inc. and is reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the "Leaders" quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.To cancel your subscription to this newsletter, reply to this message with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject line. You can also unsubscribe at the Microsoft.com web site. You can manage all your Microsoft.com communication preferences at this site.Legal Information.This newsletter was sent by the Microsoft CorporationOne Microsoft WayRedmond, Washington, USA98052
Sign up for other newsletters Unsubscribe Update your profile
© 2006 Microsoft Corporation Terms of Use Trademarks Privacy Statement
Performance Point Server 2007 - Overview
Microsoft® Office PerformancePointTM Server 2007
Comprehensive Performance Management Delivered Through Microsoft Office
Microsoft® Office PerformancePoint™
Server 2007 is a comprehensive performance management solution that allows organizations to formulate strategy, drive execution and more effectively monitor performance though integrated monitoring, analytics, and planning capabilities.
Monitor: What is happening?
Greater visibility into critical business information allows individuals across the organization to better manage and measure performance. With Office PerformancePoint Server 2007, employees can rely on Web-based and personalized scorecards to work with information that is relevant, actionable and aligned to their organization's objectives.
Business Scorecards and Strategy Maps
Web-based and personalized performance dashboards let more employees work with information that is relevant, actionable and aligned to their organization's objectives.
Analyze: Why is it happening?
Information workers need to spend less time working for the data and more time working with information. PerformancePoint Server 2007 dashboards and analytics allow employees to easily work across the various organization's datasources. Intuitive analytical functionality such as cross-drilling and intelligent filters let users understand complex information faster, allowing them to spot trends and opportunities.
Performance dashboards and analytics
PerformancePoint dashboards and analytics provide better insight, allowing users to work with and understand complex information faster.
Plan: What would we like to see happen?
Better business performance is about consistency and agility across planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting activities. With PerformancePoint Server, organizations can rely on built-in financial intelligence, robust business modeling capabilities and strong connectivity with Microsoft Office system to bring systems, processes and people together, while enforcing secured information access across multiple divisions and geographies.
Planning, Forecasting and Budgeting in Office
Connectivity with Office allows more employees to participate in
the processes of planning, budgeting and forecasting, while relying on centrally-managed business definitions and security.
Key Features
Monitor
Analyze
Plan
|
Benefits
Enhances partnership with IT
PerformancePoint Server 2007 accommodates advanced business rules, logic, calculations and workflows, making it easy for users to define, customize, modify, and maintain their performance plans, dashboards, scorecards and analytics. Business users can perform analysis in a self-serve mode and work with information in the way they think about their business. This frees up IT to focus on critical infrastructure, security and compliance needs.
Spans across the organization
The model-driven approach in PerformancePoint Server 2007 makes it easy to create corporate-wide models across multiple business operations. By providing synchronized models up, down and across the organization, all users can easily get a consistent view of organizational performance.
Built on the Microsoft BI platform and tools
Unlike many competing performance management solutions that use disparate technologies and require costly integration, PerformancePoint Server takes advantage of the reliability, security, high performance, and scalability of Microsoft SQL Server™. In addition, PerformancePoint Server works well with the widely used and supported Microsoft Office system environment, making broad adoption possible, and enabling performance management to become cost-effective organization-wide.
System Requirements
Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 is based on the following Microsoft programs and technologies:
● Windows Server® 2003 SP1, Standard Edition, or later ● Microsoft Windows SharePoint® Services 3.0/ Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007 ● Microsoft Windows® XP Professional SP2, or later ● Microsoft Office 2003 SP2, or later ● Microsoft SQL Server™ 2005 SP2, Enterprise Edition, or later ● Windows Installer 3.1, or later ● Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 ● Microsoft Internet Information Services 6.0, or later ● ASP.NET 2.0 ● ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions 1.0 |
© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Excel, the Office logo, PerformancePoint, SharePoint, SQL Server, Windows, and Windows Server are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation or the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
10/04/07
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Seagate Recovery Services | Deleted File Recovery Software, File Recovery for Windows
Seagate Recovery Services Deleted File Recovery Software, File Recovery for Windows: "SEAGATE FILE RECOVERY for Windows is an advanced, easy to use, data recovery and undelete software application. SEAGATE FILE RECOVERY for Windows recovers files that standard undelete programs cannot read."
Hope you never need it but definitely good to know that they are there.
_________________________________________________________________________
Cavalry Storage’s Limited Warranty
http://www.cavalrystorage.com/warranty.asp
Cavalry Storage Inc manufactures Personal Disk Array, External Hard drives, and Tape Storage products. This warranty applies to all new equipments manufactured by Cavalry Storage Inc.
_________________________________________________________________________
Western Digital Service and Support services
http://support.wdc.com/partners/recovery.asp
If you utilize the data recovery services offered by the service provider named below, Western Digital will not void the warranty associated with the disk drive you purchased from a Western Digital reseller or distributor. To retain the warranty status of your drive, you should ensure that the service provider you select below provides you with written verification, on its company letterhead, that it has performed data recovery or other services on your hard drive. In all other instances, Western Digital’s warranty is void if a returned disk drive exhibits a defect attributable to misuse or tampering, improper installation, alteration or to other causes as specified in our warranty policy.
Any agreement you may reach with the service provider named below is a matter between you and the service provider. Western Digital makes no warranty, express or implied, regarding the services provided by the service provider, including but not limited to, any warranty regarding the quality or reliability of services performed by it. Your selection of the service provider is at your own risk. Western Digital assumes no liability for any loss or damages of any kind that relate to, arise out of or result from the performance of services by the service provider, including, but not limited to any loss of data contained on a Western Digital hard drive.
Hope you never need it but definitely good to know that they are there.
_________________________________________________________________________
Cavalry Storage’s Limited Warranty
http://www.cavalrystorage.com/warranty.asp
Cavalry Storage Inc manufactures Personal Disk Array, External Hard drives, and Tape Storage products. This warranty applies to all new equipments manufactured by Cavalry Storage Inc.
_________________________________________________________________________
Western Digital Service and Support services
http://support.wdc.com/partners/recovery.asp
If you utilize the data recovery services offered by the service provider named below, Western Digital will not void the warranty associated with the disk drive you purchased from a Western Digital reseller or distributor. To retain the warranty status of your drive, you should ensure that the service provider you select below provides you with written verification, on its company letterhead, that it has performed data recovery or other services on your hard drive. In all other instances, Western Digital’s warranty is void if a returned disk drive exhibits a defect attributable to misuse or tampering, improper installation, alteration or to other causes as specified in our warranty policy.
Any agreement you may reach with the service provider named below is a matter between you and the service provider. Western Digital makes no warranty, express or implied, regarding the services provided by the service provider, including but not limited to, any warranty regarding the quality or reliability of services performed by it. Your selection of the service provider is at your own risk. Western Digital assumes no liability for any loss or damages of any kind that relate to, arise out of or result from the performance of services by the service provider, including, but not limited to any loss of data contained on a Western Digital hard drive.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Jing - Created by Camtasia Studio 5
Created by Camtasia Studio 5
http://www.jingproject.com/
The concept of Jing is the always-ready program that instantly captures and shares images and video…from your computer to anywhere.
It’s something we want to give you, along with some online media hosting, to see how you use it. The project will eventually turn into something else. Tell us what you think so we can figure out what that is.
Try it, you’ll like it. Find out more in the FAQ, or on the weblog .
http://www.jingproject.com/
The concept of Jing is the always-ready program that instantly captures and shares images and video…from your computer to anywhere.
It’s something we want to give you, along with some online media hosting, to see how you use it. The project will eventually turn into something else. Tell us what you think so we can figure out what that is.
Try it, you’ll like it. Find out more in the FAQ, or on the weblog .
Monday, December 17, 2007
Balanced Scorecard Method
http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_balancedscorecard.html
The BSC method of Kaplan and Norton is a strategic approach and performance management system that enables organizations to translate a company's vision into implementation, working from 4 perspectives:
1) Financial Perspective
2) Customer Perspective
3) Business Process Perspective
4) Learning and Growth Perspective
The BSC method of Kaplan and Norton is a strategic approach and performance management system that enables organizations to translate a company's vision into implementation, working from 4 perspectives:
1) Financial Perspective
2) Customer Perspective
3) Business Process Perspective
4) Learning and Growth Perspective
4 Stages of Scorecard Competency
4 Stages of Scorecard Competency: "4 Stages of Scorecard Competency
Introduction
Corporate Performance Management (CPM - an envelope terminology encompassing best practices like the balanced scorecard, management dashboards, and various analytical frameworks) can serve as an invaluable tool to the manager and business user looking to improve the effectiveness of Business Intelligence (BI) software and technology. However, like any sound tool, CPM requires proficient implementation to maximize its true potential.
BI can certainly be implemented without CPM best practices, but much of the benefit will be missed. Implementing CPM requires the cooperation of multiple business units, often exposes weaknesses in the corporate information infrastructure and can be deemed disruptive.
When Implementing CPM best practices, there are four stages the implementation managers will face. By identifying these respective stages and taking the right step at each phase, CPM implementers can be aware of the potential pitfalls."
Introduction
Corporate Performance Management (CPM - an envelope terminology encompassing best practices like the balanced scorecard, management dashboards, and various analytical frameworks) can serve as an invaluable tool to the manager and business user looking to improve the effectiveness of Business Intelligence (BI) software and technology. However, like any sound tool, CPM requires proficient implementation to maximize its true potential.
BI can certainly be implemented without CPM best practices, but much of the benefit will be missed. Implementing CPM requires the cooperation of multiple business units, often exposes weaknesses in the corporate information infrastructure and can be deemed disruptive.
When Implementing CPM best practices, there are four stages the implementation managers will face. By identifying these respective stages and taking the right step at each phase, CPM implementers can be aware of the potential pitfalls."
SQL Server Best Practices
SQL Server Best Practices: "SQL Server Best Practices
Get the real-world guidelines, expert tips, and rock-solid guidance to take your SQL Server implementation to the next level. These SQL Server best practices draw on the extensive experience and expertise from respected developers and engineers at Microsoft, who walk you through the specifics on solving particularly difficult issues."
Get the real-world guidelines, expert tips, and rock-solid guidance to take your SQL Server implementation to the next level. These SQL Server best practices draw on the extensive experience and expertise from respected developers and engineers at Microsoft, who walk you through the specifics on solving particularly difficult issues."
Jason Morales' Microsoft BI Update v.15
Contents:
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Webcasts
Training: online and regional options
Resources: whitepapers, case studies, datasheets, webcasts, books, etc
News Links and Press Releases
Hot Topics
Business Intelligence for Everyone?
First of all, why? Business Intelligence implementations should enable business users to make better decisions quicker.
By ‘better’, we mean informed decisions supported by relevant information.
By ‘quicker’, we mean that information is more timely, more accessible and easier to understand.
Your organization will be more productive, more effective, and will grow faster when all employees are equipped to take the rights actions to succeed. When your organization’s systems and processes are aligned to enable quicker recognition and response to new trends and situations, the value of your organization rises and becomes more measurable.
What’s the value of a better decision? How does Microsoft help your organization get there?
Functionality
Microsoft Business Intelligence applications provide the necessary functionality to accommodate the critical BI needs of your organization. Your organization has a spectrum of users who each have a variety of needs, for example:
· Executives – responsible for making informed business decisions
· Analysts – responsible for understanding the data and conveying information insights to others
· Engineers – responsible for product development
· Field Agents – responsible for engaging customers
Each user applies different levels of functionality depending upon the situation – each user is a power user for some things and a casual user for others. How do you provide an application that sufficiently meets the needs of all users through the same system?
Business Intelligence does not live within one application. When BI is successful, users are compelled to act on the new insights, to dig deeper, to collaborate, to input new information, to share documentation, to respond quickly.
The Microsoft Office System offers the most complete framework to accommodate all of these functions.
Integration
It is certainly necessary to provide a platform capable of bringing a variety of data sources together so they can be accessed through a unified application. The Microsoft Platform offers market leading tools for data integration.
BUT, in order to roll out a BI initiative throughout the entire organization, the applications must integrate with the way people work every day. How does your organization’s BI application enable employees to integrate their work with the enterprise so that they can demonstrate their performance and alignment with corporate objectives?
Business Intelligence activities – such as reviewing or updating reports, analyzing data, comparing trends – only comprise an aspect of the typical day, they don’t encompass all of our daily activities.
The Microsoft Platform is designed to comprehensively integrate Business Intelligence with all of the other key activities that we perform everyday to accomplish our tasks and meet our commitments, activities like email and collaboration, workflow, search, document management, and planning.
Economics
If it’s too expensive to equip all of your users with licenses, then you need to choose who to equip. By selecting one group of users to equip and leaving other users out, organizations create major ongoing issues, such as:
· Higher IT costs - those who you don’t equip compete with your organization’s IT strategy and infrastructure by pulling information into desktop databases and applications, by developing custom processes for their team or dept. that become entrenched and difficult to integrate into the enterprise; these types of deferred costs often increase exponentially for every user group left out.
· Opportunities missed – who will be responsible for your organization’s next innovation? which clients are being overlooked? which production issues could have been caught months earlier? will extensive reconciliation cycles lead to surprises effecting our bottom line or budgets?
· Reporting Treadmills – more time is spent organizing information than understanding it, requiring higher headcounts, data latency, greater risk of error.
· Operations don’t align with Strategies – employees become overwhelmed by what they need to do and completely unaware of why they do it and how they can improve their contribution.
Some analysts note that the typical large organization owns on average 6 different BI systems – and still, more than 70% of information workers don’t use BI systems. What does this tell you about the traditional BI economic model?
Microsoft has introduced a new economic model for Business Intelligence that delivers enterprise grade BI functionality and integration at a fraction of the cost of traditional BI vendors.
*** Note: the perspective provided above has been collected from a variety of BI-related resources and discussions, but the views expressed are mine and do not represent Microsoft’s official position.
Upcoming Events
IT Executive Roadmap Tour
covering Business Intelligence (BI), Enterprise Content Management (ECM), Unified Communications (UC)
When: Jan 22 (Tue) @ 8:30am-12:30pm
Where: Winnipeg, MB
Click here to register
When: Jan 22 (Tue) @ 8:30am-12:30pm
Where: Victoria, BC
Click here to register
When: Jan 24 (Thurs) @ 8:30am-12:30pm
Where: Vancouver, BC
Click here to register
When: Jan 29 (Tue) @ 8:30am-12:30pm
Where: Calgary, AB
Click here to register
When: Jan 31 (Thurs) @ 8:30am-12:30pm
Where: Edmonton, AB
Click here to register
Performance Management Analytics – CFO Magazine Conference
When: Feb 3-5
Where: San Francisco, CA
Click here to register
Find Events & Webcasts
Upcoming Webcasts
PerformancePoint Server Demo
Click here to register:
Dec 18 @ 11am PST
Jan 15 @ 11am PST
Jan 22 @ 11am PST
SQL Server Spatial Data: Delivering Locations Intelligence
Delivered by Neudesic
When: Dec 19 (Wed) @ 11am-12pm
Click here to register
Unlock the Business Intelligence Capabilities of SQL Server
When: Jan 9 (Wed) @ 11am PST
Click here to register:
http://www.microsoft.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?CMTYSvcSource=MSCOMMedia&Params=%7eCMTYDataSvcParams%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22ID%22+Value%3d%221032361186%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22ProviderID%22+Value%3d%22A6B43178-497C-4225-BA42-DF595171F04C%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22lang%22+Value%3d%22en%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22cr%22+Value%3d%22US%22%2f%5e%7esParams%5e%7e%2fsParams%5e%7e%2fCMTYDataSvcParams%5e
Driving Business Performance with Microsoft Business Intelligence
When: Jan 14 (Mon) @ 9:30am PST
Click here to register
Customer and Product Monitoring with PerformancePoint Server 2007
When: Jan 29 (Tue) @ 11:30am PST
Click here to register
Training
PerformancePoint Server 2007 Training Sites
PPS Planning, Monitoring and Analytics, online training includes videos and workbooks
BSM & ProClarity self-paced online training
Hitachi Consulting
Business Intelligence Education Services
Solid Quality Mentors
BI Courses, including SQL 2005, PPS and ProClarity
IT Mentors
Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 Monitoring & Analytics
Premier Knowledge Solutions
ProClarity Training
SQL Server Training Courses
Online & Instructor led
Partner Program – webcasts
Business Intelligence Using PerformancePoint Server 2007 Business Modeling (Level 200)
ISV Web Seminar Series Part 1: PPS – Leveraging PerformancePoint in your BI Solution
ISV Web Seminar Series Part 2: PPS - Planning
ISV Web Seminar Series Part 3: PPS - Monitoring
Online Training Webcasts - (keyword = performancepoint)
Resources
Microsoft BI
Whitepapers
Demos
Product Evaluations
Channel 9: Business Intelligence Platform Overview
PerformancePoint Server 2007
System Requirements
Book: The Rational Guide to Monitoring and Analyzing with…
Book: The Rational Guide to Planning with…
Book: Business Intelligence with Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 (not released yet)
Book: Pro PerformancePoint Server 2007: Building Business Intelligence Solutions (not released yet)
Flash Demo: Virtual Experience
Datasheets: Overview, Monitor, Analyze, Plan, Management Reporting
Case Studies: Energizer, Oticon, Skanska, Gemplus, Capella, CompUSA
Webcast: Performance Management 101 with PerformancePoint Server 2007,
Webcast: Business Intelligence with Office PerformancePoint Server 2007
Webcast: Revenue Forecasting with PerformancePoint Server 2007
Video: PerformancePoint Server Team Video
Download PerformancePoint Server 2007 Evaluation Version (x86)
Download PerformancePoint Server 2007 Evaluation Version (x64)
Sample: Monitoring Data here
Sample: Planning Data here
Data Import Wizard for Microsoft Dynamics AX Tool here
Scorecard Migration Tool here
PPS Planning & Architecture Guide
PPS Deployment Guide
PPS Operations Guide
PPS Whitepapers
PPS Developer Portal
ProClarity
ProClarity Forum: discussion board for ProClarity technical questions
Search the Support Knowledge Base
Microsoft ProClarity Software Developer’s Kit 6.3
SQL Server 2005
Best Practices
SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence
BI Presentations
SQL Server 2005 – Learning Portal
Archived Webcasts, Virtual Labs and Podcasts
Microsoft SQL Server 2005: Scales to your growing business needs
Case Studies: Kelley Blue Book, National Aquarium, Barnes & Noble
Book: The Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit: With SQL Server 2005…
Training: SQL Server 2005 Learning Paths
SQL Server 2008
Business Intelligence
Data Warehousing
Performance Improvements for MDX in AS 2008
SQL 2008 CTP, November 2007
November CTP quick review – by Vidas Matelis
Datasheet: Business Intelligence
Whitepaper: Business Intelligence, Data Warehousing
Training: SQL Server 2008 Learning Paths
Analysis Services
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services Step by Step
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services (Paperback)
Applied Microsoft Analysis Services 2005… (Paperback)
Delivering Business Intelligence with… (Paperback)
Microsoft Technet Whitepapers
Whitepaper: Identifying and Resolving MDX Query Performance Bottlenecks in SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services
SharePoint Server 2007
SharePoint Business Intelligence
Evaluation Guide
Data Mining
SQL Server Data Mining
Webcast: Building Adaptive Applications with SQL Server Data Mining
Video: SQL Server 2008 Data Mining Enhancements
Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics-Everyone Gets It
Evaluate Microsoft Dynamics—What is Microsoft Dynamics?
Whitepaper: Evaluating Financial Management Software…Is it time for a change?
Microsoft & BI Blogs
The Microsoft PerformancePoint Team Blog
Patrick Baumgartner’s Unofficial PPS Blog
Intelligent Insight on PerformancePoint – PerformancePoint Server
Adrian Downe’s Blog – Great 7 Part Series on PPS Planning Features!
Ian Tien’s Unofficial PerformancePoint Server and Business Scorecard Manager Blog
Microsoft BI Blog – by Patrick Husting
Nick Barclay’s BI Blog –PerformancePoint Server resources
Chris Webb’s BI Blog – MDXtreme Programming
Vidas Matelis BI Blog – SQL 2005 resources
Microsoft OLAP by Mosha Pasumansky – Deep Insights into SSAS & MDX
Prologika (Teo Lachev’s Weblog) – Reporting Services insights
Direct Reports (Brian Welcker’s Weblog) - Reporting Services
The Data Puzzle – Solving the Enterprise Data Puzzle with Microsoft BI
Microsoft BI Partners
http://www.microsoft.com/bi/partners/partners.aspx
OLAP Report - summaries
Preview of PerformancePoint Server 2007
Market share analysis
SQL Server Analysis Services 2005 (Microsoft)
What is OLAP?
Commentary: Business Intelligence Competency Centers
Dimensional Relational vs. OLAP: The Final Deployment Conundrum
Analyst Reports
AMR Research: Microsoft’s Looming Impact on the Business Intelligence and Performance Management Market
Forrester Report Detail BPM Growth and Market Leadership
Gartner Research: Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 Coming Soon to a Desktop Near You
Business Intelligence Virtual Labs
Try out a business intelligence virtual lab to test out the technology stack, including:
· Analysis Services
· Excel 2007
· Business Scorecard Manager 2005 (BSM)
· ProClarity
· Report Builder
· Integration Services
· Data Mining
News Links & Press Releases
Is the newly-launched Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server suite the real deal?
Progressive Gaming to Introduce Casinolink® Enterprise Edition 3.0 at the 2007 Global Gaming Expo
Microsoft Readies SQL Server 2008
SAP Microsoft Duet has growing appeal for business users
Can You Answer These 3 Questions?
Gartner data warehouse DBMS Magic Quadrant 2007: New tools, old mantras
The Best Architecture for Business Intelligence
BI project management: Five must-have pieces of advice
Successful business intelligence secrets: BI front-end tools
Business Intelligence Roles and Responsibilities
The Road to Business-IT Alignment, Part 2
Business Intelligence and Data Delivery: Converging with SOA
High-Impact Business Intelligence Opportunities in the Financial Services Industry
Business Intelligence Consolidation Won’t Kill Innovation, Claim Execs
How Buying Changes in the New BI Landscape
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Webcasts
Training: online and regional options
Resources: whitepapers, case studies, datasheets, webcasts, books, etc
News Links and Press Releases
Hot Topics
Business Intelligence for Everyone?
First of all, why? Business Intelligence implementations should enable business users to make better decisions quicker.
By ‘better’, we mean informed decisions supported by relevant information.
By ‘quicker’, we mean that information is more timely, more accessible and easier to understand.
Your organization will be more productive, more effective, and will grow faster when all employees are equipped to take the rights actions to succeed. When your organization’s systems and processes are aligned to enable quicker recognition and response to new trends and situations, the value of your organization rises and becomes more measurable.
What’s the value of a better decision? How does Microsoft help your organization get there?
Functionality
Microsoft Business Intelligence applications provide the necessary functionality to accommodate the critical BI needs of your organization. Your organization has a spectrum of users who each have a variety of needs, for example:
· Executives – responsible for making informed business decisions
· Analysts – responsible for understanding the data and conveying information insights to others
· Engineers – responsible for product development
· Field Agents – responsible for engaging customers
Each user applies different levels of functionality depending upon the situation – each user is a power user for some things and a casual user for others. How do you provide an application that sufficiently meets the needs of all users through the same system?
Business Intelligence does not live within one application. When BI is successful, users are compelled to act on the new insights, to dig deeper, to collaborate, to input new information, to share documentation, to respond quickly.
The Microsoft Office System offers the most complete framework to accommodate all of these functions.
Integration
It is certainly necessary to provide a platform capable of bringing a variety of data sources together so they can be accessed through a unified application. The Microsoft Platform offers market leading tools for data integration.
BUT, in order to roll out a BI initiative throughout the entire organization, the applications must integrate with the way people work every day. How does your organization’s BI application enable employees to integrate their work with the enterprise so that they can demonstrate their performance and alignment with corporate objectives?
Business Intelligence activities – such as reviewing or updating reports, analyzing data, comparing trends – only comprise an aspect of the typical day, they don’t encompass all of our daily activities.
The Microsoft Platform is designed to comprehensively integrate Business Intelligence with all of the other key activities that we perform everyday to accomplish our tasks and meet our commitments, activities like email and collaboration, workflow, search, document management, and planning.
Economics
If it’s too expensive to equip all of your users with licenses, then you need to choose who to equip. By selecting one group of users to equip and leaving other users out, organizations create major ongoing issues, such as:
· Higher IT costs - those who you don’t equip compete with your organization’s IT strategy and infrastructure by pulling information into desktop databases and applications, by developing custom processes for their team or dept. that become entrenched and difficult to integrate into the enterprise; these types of deferred costs often increase exponentially for every user group left out.
· Opportunities missed – who will be responsible for your organization’s next innovation? which clients are being overlooked? which production issues could have been caught months earlier? will extensive reconciliation cycles lead to surprises effecting our bottom line or budgets?
· Reporting Treadmills – more time is spent organizing information than understanding it, requiring higher headcounts, data latency, greater risk of error.
· Operations don’t align with Strategies – employees become overwhelmed by what they need to do and completely unaware of why they do it and how they can improve their contribution.
Some analysts note that the typical large organization owns on average 6 different BI systems – and still, more than 70% of information workers don’t use BI systems. What does this tell you about the traditional BI economic model?
Microsoft has introduced a new economic model for Business Intelligence that delivers enterprise grade BI functionality and integration at a fraction of the cost of traditional BI vendors.
*** Note: the perspective provided above has been collected from a variety of BI-related resources and discussions, but the views expressed are mine and do not represent Microsoft’s official position.
Upcoming Events
IT Executive Roadmap Tour
covering Business Intelligence (BI), Enterprise Content Management (ECM), Unified Communications (UC)
When: Jan 22 (Tue) @ 8:30am-12:30pm
Where: Winnipeg, MB
Click here to register
When: Jan 22 (Tue) @ 8:30am-12:30pm
Where: Victoria, BC
Click here to register
When: Jan 24 (Thurs) @ 8:30am-12:30pm
Where: Vancouver, BC
Click here to register
When: Jan 29 (Tue) @ 8:30am-12:30pm
Where: Calgary, AB
Click here to register
When: Jan 31 (Thurs) @ 8:30am-12:30pm
Where: Edmonton, AB
Click here to register
Performance Management Analytics – CFO Magazine Conference
When: Feb 3-5
Where: San Francisco, CA
Click here to register
Find Events & Webcasts
Upcoming Webcasts
PerformancePoint Server Demo
Click here to register:
Dec 18 @ 11am PST
Jan 15 @ 11am PST
Jan 22 @ 11am PST
SQL Server Spatial Data: Delivering Locations Intelligence
Delivered by Neudesic
When: Dec 19 (Wed) @ 11am-12pm
Click here to register
Unlock the Business Intelligence Capabilities of SQL Server
When: Jan 9 (Wed) @ 11am PST
Click here to register:
http://www.microsoft.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?CMTYSvcSource=MSCOMMedia&Params=%7eCMTYDataSvcParams%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22ID%22+Value%3d%221032361186%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22ProviderID%22+Value%3d%22A6B43178-497C-4225-BA42-DF595171F04C%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22lang%22+Value%3d%22en%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22cr%22+Value%3d%22US%22%2f%5e%7esParams%5e%7e%2fsParams%5e%7e%2fCMTYDataSvcParams%5e
Driving Business Performance with Microsoft Business Intelligence
When: Jan 14 (Mon) @ 9:30am PST
Click here to register
Customer and Product Monitoring with PerformancePoint Server 2007
When: Jan 29 (Tue) @ 11:30am PST
Click here to register
Training
PerformancePoint Server 2007 Training Sites
PPS Planning, Monitoring and Analytics, online training includes videos and workbooks
BSM & ProClarity self-paced online training
Hitachi Consulting
Business Intelligence Education Services
Solid Quality Mentors
BI Courses, including SQL 2005, PPS and ProClarity
IT Mentors
Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 Monitoring & Analytics
Premier Knowledge Solutions
ProClarity Training
SQL Server Training Courses
Online & Instructor led
Partner Program – webcasts
Business Intelligence Using PerformancePoint Server 2007 Business Modeling (Level 200)
ISV Web Seminar Series Part 1: PPS – Leveraging PerformancePoint in your BI Solution
ISV Web Seminar Series Part 2: PPS - Planning
ISV Web Seminar Series Part 3: PPS - Monitoring
Online Training Webcasts - (keyword = performancepoint)
Resources
Microsoft BI
Whitepapers
Demos
Product Evaluations
Channel 9: Business Intelligence Platform Overview
PerformancePoint Server 2007
System Requirements
Book: The Rational Guide to Monitoring and Analyzing with…
Book: The Rational Guide to Planning with…
Book: Business Intelligence with Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 (not released yet)
Book: Pro PerformancePoint Server 2007: Building Business Intelligence Solutions (not released yet)
Flash Demo: Virtual Experience
Datasheets: Overview, Monitor, Analyze, Plan, Management Reporting
Case Studies: Energizer, Oticon, Skanska, Gemplus, Capella, CompUSA
Webcast: Performance Management 101 with PerformancePoint Server 2007,
Webcast: Business Intelligence with Office PerformancePoint Server 2007
Webcast: Revenue Forecasting with PerformancePoint Server 2007
Video: PerformancePoint Server Team Video
Download PerformancePoint Server 2007 Evaluation Version (x86)
Download PerformancePoint Server 2007 Evaluation Version (x64)
Sample: Monitoring Data here
Sample: Planning Data here
Data Import Wizard for Microsoft Dynamics AX Tool here
Scorecard Migration Tool here
PPS Planning & Architecture Guide
PPS Deployment Guide
PPS Operations Guide
PPS Whitepapers
PPS Developer Portal
ProClarity
ProClarity Forum: discussion board for ProClarity technical questions
Search the Support Knowledge Base
Microsoft ProClarity Software Developer’s Kit 6.3
SQL Server 2005
Best Practices
SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence
BI Presentations
SQL Server 2005 – Learning Portal
Archived Webcasts, Virtual Labs and Podcasts
Microsoft SQL Server 2005: Scales to your growing business needs
Case Studies: Kelley Blue Book, National Aquarium, Barnes & Noble
Book: The Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit: With SQL Server 2005…
Training: SQL Server 2005 Learning Paths
SQL Server 2008
Business Intelligence
Data Warehousing
Performance Improvements for MDX in AS 2008
SQL 2008 CTP, November 2007
November CTP quick review – by Vidas Matelis
Datasheet: Business Intelligence
Whitepaper: Business Intelligence, Data Warehousing
Training: SQL Server 2008 Learning Paths
Analysis Services
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services Step by Step
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services (Paperback)
Applied Microsoft Analysis Services 2005… (Paperback)
Delivering Business Intelligence with… (Paperback)
Microsoft Technet Whitepapers
Whitepaper: Identifying and Resolving MDX Query Performance Bottlenecks in SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services
SharePoint Server 2007
SharePoint Business Intelligence
Evaluation Guide
Data Mining
SQL Server Data Mining
Webcast: Building Adaptive Applications with SQL Server Data Mining
Video: SQL Server 2008 Data Mining Enhancements
Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics-Everyone Gets It
Evaluate Microsoft Dynamics—What is Microsoft Dynamics?
Whitepaper: Evaluating Financial Management Software…Is it time for a change?
Microsoft & BI Blogs
The Microsoft PerformancePoint Team Blog
Patrick Baumgartner’s Unofficial PPS Blog
Intelligent Insight on PerformancePoint – PerformancePoint Server
Adrian Downe’s Blog – Great 7 Part Series on PPS Planning Features!
Ian Tien’s Unofficial PerformancePoint Server and Business Scorecard Manager Blog
Microsoft BI Blog – by Patrick Husting
Nick Barclay’s BI Blog –PerformancePoint Server resources
Chris Webb’s BI Blog – MDXtreme Programming
Vidas Matelis BI Blog – SQL 2005 resources
Microsoft OLAP by Mosha Pasumansky – Deep Insights into SSAS & MDX
Prologika (Teo Lachev’s Weblog) – Reporting Services insights
Direct Reports (Brian Welcker’s Weblog) - Reporting Services
The Data Puzzle – Solving the Enterprise Data Puzzle with Microsoft BI
Microsoft BI Partners
http://www.microsoft.com/bi/partners/partners.aspx
OLAP Report - summaries
Preview of PerformancePoint Server 2007
Market share analysis
SQL Server Analysis Services 2005 (Microsoft)
What is OLAP?
Commentary: Business Intelligence Competency Centers
Dimensional Relational vs. OLAP: The Final Deployment Conundrum
Analyst Reports
AMR Research: Microsoft’s Looming Impact on the Business Intelligence and Performance Management Market
Forrester Report Detail BPM Growth and Market Leadership
Gartner Research: Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 Coming Soon to a Desktop Near You
Business Intelligence Virtual Labs
Try out a business intelligence virtual lab to test out the technology stack, including:
· Analysis Services
· Excel 2007
· Business Scorecard Manager 2005 (BSM)
· ProClarity
· Report Builder
· Integration Services
· Data Mining
News Links & Press Releases
Is the newly-launched Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server suite the real deal?
Progressive Gaming to Introduce Casinolink® Enterprise Edition 3.0 at the 2007 Global Gaming Expo
Microsoft Readies SQL Server 2008
SAP Microsoft Duet has growing appeal for business users
Can You Answer These 3 Questions?
Gartner data warehouse DBMS Magic Quadrant 2007: New tools, old mantras
The Best Architecture for Business Intelligence
BI project management: Five must-have pieces of advice
Successful business intelligence secrets: BI front-end tools
Business Intelligence Roles and Responsibilities
The Road to Business-IT Alignment, Part 2
Business Intelligence and Data Delivery: Converging with SOA
High-Impact Business Intelligence Opportunities in the Financial Services Industry
Business Intelligence Consolidation Won’t Kill Innovation, Claim Execs
How Buying Changes in the New BI Landscape
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Download details: 2007 Microsoft Office Add-in: Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS
Download details: 2007 Microsoft Office Add-in: Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS: "2007 Microsoft Office Add-in: Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS
Description
This download allows you to export and save to the PDF and XPS formats in eight 2007 Microsoft Office programs. It also allows you to send as e-mail attachment in the PDF and XPS formats in a subset of these programs."
Description
This download allows you to export and save to the PDF and XPS formats in eight 2007 Microsoft Office programs. It also allows you to send as e-mail attachment in the PDF and XPS formats in a subset of these programs."
Friday, December 14, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Microsoft SharePoint Products and Technologies Team Blog : Two extremely useful (and free!) SharePoint addons...
Microsoft SharePoint Products and Technologies Team Blog : Two extremely useful (and free!) SharePoint addons...: "Two extremely useful (and free!) SharePoint addons... Two 'must-have' SharePoint addon products were released earlier today. The first is a cross browser compatible replacement for the rich text editor in MOSS 2007 that was mentioned on this blog about 6 weeks ago. The second is an offline reader for WSS 3.0 and MOSS 2007 sites, which I highly recommend for staying up to date with frequently updated sites such as the SharePoint Community Portal. And yes, they are both available for free! With the release of the r.a.d.editor for MOSS, Telerik has taken into account the feedback they gathered during the beta period. In addition to the downloadable file on their website at http://www.telerik.com/sharepoint, Telerik has also published a Deployment and Customization manual as well as a Feature Comparison guide for r.a.d.editor for MOSS vs. the OOTB MOSS rich-text editor vs. the full featured r.a.d.editor for ASP.NET. Colligo Reader for SharePoint enables you to easily download content from SharePoint sites to your laptop, so you can access the content offline rather than having to copy files one by one through a browser. Reader is a client-only application, and no server modifications are required. If you want the ability to add or update SharePoint content offline, Colligo offers a full featured Contributor for SharePoint product. I look forward to seeing (and using) many more innovative SharePoint addons from our ISV partners in the coming months! "
Friday, November 30, 2007
Microsoft PPS Bootcamp Dec 4-7
I will be at the Microsoft Office in NYC for their first Bootcamp focused around PPS:
Business Intelligence: Business Productivity Infrastructure Optimization (BPIO) University technical track
12/4/2007 - 12/7/2007 (4 Days)
9:00AM-5:00PM
Microsoft Office - New York City
I will be sure to post my experiences - stay tuned!
Business Intelligence: Business Productivity Infrastructure Optimization (BPIO) University technical track
12/4/2007 - 12/7/2007 (4 Days)
9:00AM-5:00PM
Microsoft Office - New York City
I will be sure to post my experiences - stay tuned!
Metadata-Driven User Interfaces
Metadata-Driven User Interfaces: "Many business applications require the user interface (UI) to be extensible as the requirements vary from one customer to another and from one end user to another. Client-side business logic for the UI may also need customization based on individual user need. A screen layout for a user might be different from another user. This may include control position, visibility, and so forth. Or, there may be various UIs for various devices such as SmartPhones, Tablet devices, or PDAs. Client-side business logic customization also includes customizing validation rules, changing control properties, and other modifications. For example, a manager may have different options for deleting and moving files than a subordinate has. There are many techniques for enabling business applications to be extensible or customizable. Most applications solve this problem by storing customizable items such as UI layout and client-side business logic as metadata in a repository. This metadata can then be interpreted by a run-time engine to display the screen to users and to execute the client-side business logic when the user performs an action on the screen. The advantages of this approach are twofold. First, you do not need to redeploy components on the presentation layer as the customization is done in a central repository. Second, this requires only a very light client installation—that is, you only need to deploy the run-time engine to the client machine."
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Media player in MOSS 2007
Achilles Watches: Media player in MOSS 2007: "Media player in MOSS 2007 I needed to stream a video file to the client.. say as in streaming a webcast. So we needed to embed a video player in a SharePoint site. I found this link where he has explained the same. It worked for me like a dream. Add a Content Editor Web Part onto your page, and click on the Source Editor where you could input the following HTML, and update the URL value accordingly. Parameters could be added or removed according to your needs, refer to w3schools for the parameters available. "
Friday, November 09, 2007
Quote of the Day
A clever person solves a problem. A wise [intelligent] person avoids it.
Albert Einstein
Joseph Thomas (insert)
Albert Einstein
Joseph Thomas (insert)
Performance Point Server RTM
Greetings from Connect!
We are pleased to announce that Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 is now generally available.
Product Information:
Available in both 32 and 64 bit editions
Evaluation editions are available are available on the Microsoft Download Center:
32 bit edition (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6372C24F-67DD-42DD-B034-748907B23420&displaylang=en)
64 bit edition (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3ADAC793-DEF0-4BA8-A9AB-228979B8DB40&displaylang=en)
Enterprise editions are available for MSDN/TechNet subscribers under Applications within the left pane of the MSDN home page.
Enterprise editions are also available on Volume License. Learn more http://www.microsoft.com/performancepoint.
PerformancePoint Server 2007 Volume Licensing (http://www.microsoft.com/business/performancepoint/howtobuy/default.aspx)
General Volume Licensing information
(http://www.microsoftvolumelicensing.com/userights/ProductPage.aspx?pid=255)
Microsoft Connect is only for pre-generally available releases. The CTP4 Release will remain on this site until November 30th for your evaluation purposes.
Community Information
We are happy to announce the Microsoft Forums for Microsoft PerformancePoint Server, ProClarity and Master Data Management. Learn more about these new Forums by reading the announcement on the New Microsoft PerformancePoint Server 2007 Forums. (https://connect.microsoft.com/content/content.aspx?ContentID=6853&SiteID=181)
Documentation and Training
Check out the Office Developer Portal (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/office/bb660518.aspx) and TechCenter (http://technet.microsoft.com/office/performancepoint/default.aspx) for deployment and operations guides, technical whitepapers and 'how-to' help and tips.
Finally, look for the PerformancePoint Server 2007 books (http://sharepoint/sites/BISL/Documents/BookPlan.pptx)and online training webcasts (http://www.msreadiness.com/TrainingSearch.aspx?prodid=0&keyword=performancepoint) , as they should help your prospects, customers and partners get started!
If you have any questions regarding the availability of PerformancePoint Server 2007, the new Forums, documentation or training contact PPSadmim@microsoft.com.
Sincerely,
The PerformancePoint CTP Admin team Send all questions to ppsadmin@microsoft.com.
Receiving e-mail messages from programs in which you are a participant is a mandatory part of your participation on Microsoft Connect. You can end your participation in a program at any time by visiting the My Participation (http://connect.microsoft.com/myparticipation.aspx) page and choosing "Decline Participation" for that program. If you do not wish to receive non-program related e-mails from Microsoft Connect, change the contact preference you have set on Your Microsoft Connect Profile (http://connect.microsoft.com/profile.aspx). This is an unmonitored e-mail address, so do not reply to this message.
We are pleased to announce that Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 is now generally available.
Product Information:
Available in both 32 and 64 bit editions
Evaluation editions are available are available on the Microsoft Download Center:
32 bit edition (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6372C24F-67DD-42DD-B034-748907B23420&displaylang=en)
64 bit edition (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3ADAC793-DEF0-4BA8-A9AB-228979B8DB40&displaylang=en)
Enterprise editions are available for MSDN/TechNet subscribers under Applications within the left pane of the MSDN home page.
Enterprise editions are also available on Volume License. Learn more http://www.microsoft.com/performancepoint.
PerformancePoint Server 2007 Volume Licensing (http://www.microsoft.com/business/performancepoint/howtobuy/default.aspx)
General Volume Licensing information
(http://www.microsoftvolumelicensing.com/userights/ProductPage.aspx?pid=255)
Microsoft Connect is only for pre-generally available releases. The CTP4 Release will remain on this site until November 30th for your evaluation purposes.
Community Information
We are happy to announce the Microsoft Forums for Microsoft PerformancePoint Server, ProClarity and Master Data Management. Learn more about these new Forums by reading the announcement on the New Microsoft PerformancePoint Server 2007 Forums. (https://connect.microsoft.com/content/content.aspx?ContentID=6853&SiteID=181)
Documentation and Training
Check out the Office Developer Portal (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/office/bb660518.aspx) and TechCenter (http://technet.microsoft.com/office/performancepoint/default.aspx) for deployment and operations guides, technical whitepapers and 'how-to' help and tips.
Finally, look for the PerformancePoint Server 2007 books (http://sharepoint/sites/BISL/Documents/BookPlan.pptx)and online training webcasts (http://www.msreadiness.com/TrainingSearch.aspx?prodid=0&keyword=performancepoint) , as they should help your prospects, customers and partners get started!
If you have any questions regarding the availability of PerformancePoint Server 2007, the new Forums, documentation or training contact PPSadmim@microsoft.com.
Sincerely,
The PerformancePoint CTP Admin team Send all questions to ppsadmin@microsoft.com.
Receiving e-mail messages from programs in which you are a participant is a mandatory part of your participation on Microsoft Connect. You can end your participation in a program at any time by visiting the My Participation (http://connect.microsoft.com/myparticipation.aspx) page and choosing "Decline Participation" for that program. If you do not wish to receive non-program related e-mails from Microsoft Connect, change the contact preference you have set on Your Microsoft Connect Profile (http://connect.microsoft.com/profile.aspx). This is an unmonitored e-mail address, so do not reply to this message.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Troubleshooting issues with new products
What do you do when a product is so new there is barely any support available to troubleshoot issues (bugs)?
We engaging clients who are very interested in implementing Performance Point Solutions within their business framework. They have SharePoint as a portal solution but PPS as a tool has not been completely tested with SharePoint. Basic SharePoint functionality is very straight forward but custom webparts always pose the challenge...what to do?
We engaging clients who are very interested in implementing Performance Point Solutions within their business framework. They have SharePoint as a portal solution but PPS as a tool has not been completely tested with SharePoint. Basic SharePoint functionality is very straight forward but custom webparts always pose the challenge...what to do?
Thursday, October 25, 2007
New Day for BI
After much dilberation, I have made a career move and joined Solver (www.solverusa.com) as Senior Business Consultant for the East. My very good buddy and new boss Scott Stein convienced me that it is EVERYTHING BI so here I go!
I will post more details as they happen....
I will post more details as they happen....
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Bill drops me a line...
From: Bill Gates [mailto:billgates@chairman.microsoft.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 1:04 PM
To: Joseph (BI Joe) Thomas
Subject: The Age of Software-Powered Communications
Joe, I know you've been working for 20 years or more, you can remember a time when the pace of business-and life in general-was quite a bit slower than it is today. Back then we read newspapers and magazines and watched the network news to stay informed. Faxes were just becoming a common way to share written business information. A phone call might elicit a busy signal or no one would answer at all. In those days, no one expected to send documents to coworkers on the other side of the globe instantly, collaborate in real-time with colleagues in distant cities, or share photographs the very day they were taken.
These and similar advances have delivered remarkable results. The ability to access and share information instantly and communicate in ways that transcend the boundaries of time and distance has given rise to an era of unprecedented productivity and innovation that has created new economic opportunities for hundreds of millions of people around the world and paved the way for global economic growth that is unparalleled in human history.
But few people would argue that there is no room for improvement. Although we have once-unimaginable access to people and information, we struggle today to keep track of emails and phone calls across multiple inboxes, devices, and phone numbers; to remember a growing number of passwords; and to synchronize contacts, appointments, and data between desktop PCs and mobile devices. The fact is that the proliferation of communications options has become a burden that often makes it more difficult to reach people than it used to be, rather than easier.
In 2006, I wrote about how unified communications innovations were already beginning to transform the way we communicate at work. Because you are a subscriber to executive emails from Microsoft, I want to provide you with an update on the progress we're making toward achieving our vision for unified communications. I also want to share my thoughts on how rapid advances in hardware, networks, and the software that powers them are laying the foundation for groundbreaking innovations in communications technology. These innovations will revolutionize the way we share information and experiences with the people who are important to us at work and at home, and help make it possible to put the power of digital technology in the hands of billions of people around the globe who have yet to reap the benefits of the knowledge economy.
Moving Beyond Disconnected Communications
A fundamental reason that communicating is still so complex is the fact that the way we communicate is still bound by devices. In the office, we use a work phone with one number. Then we ask people to call us back on a mobile device using another number when we are on the go, or reach us on our home phone with yet another number. And we have different identities and passwords for our work and home email accounts, and for instant messaging.
This will change in the very near future. As more and more of our communications and entertainment is transmitted over the Internet thanks to email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and the emergence of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), and other protocols, a new wave of software-driven innovations will eliminate the boundaries between the various modes of communications we use throughout the day. Soon, you'll have a single identity that spans all of the ways people can reach you, and you'll be able to move a conversation seamlessly between voice, text, and video and from one device to another as your location and information sharing needs change. You'll also have more control over how you can be reached and by whom: when you are busy, the software on the device at hand will know whether you can be interrupted, based on what you are doing and who is trying to reach you.
One of the best examples of how communication is changing-and how technology is integrating the way people share experiences across devices-starts in the world of video games. With Xbox Live, the online gaming and entertainment network for Xbox 360, people can play games with friends who are in distant locations. Xbox Live also provides a comprehensive range of communications options including video chat and instant messaging, as well as text, voice, and picture messaging, all seamlessly integrated into the video game experience. With more than 7 million subscribers, Xbox Live is quickly redefining the way people access entertainment of all kinds. And it is enabling them to share experiences with each other in real time without being constrained by the limits of location.
But that's just the start. We recently launched Games for Windows - Live, which links Xbox 360 gamers with the millions of people who play games on their PCs. Now, Windows and Xbox 360 video game players can compete and communicate with each other without being constrained by the limits of devices.
The communications expectations that young people-and anybody else who has adopted the latest digital communications tools-bring to the workplace are already changing how we do business. To them, the desk phone is an anachronism that lacks the flexibility and range of capabilities that their mobile device can provide. A generation that grew up on text messaging is driving the rapid adoption of instant messaging as a standard business communications tool. Accustomed to forming ad hoc virtual communities, they want tools that facilitate the creation of virtual workgroups. Used to collecting and storing information online, they look for team Web sites, Wikis, and other digital ways to create and share information.
All of these expectations are prompting companies to adapt by implementing new communications strategies and technologies. Those that do are already seeing a wide range of benefits including significant cost savings and important productivity gains. At Microsoft, for example, we replaced our old voice mail system with Exchange Server 2007 unified messaging, a move that is saving the company $5 million annually by lowering hardware and maintenance costs. More importantly, Exchange Server 2007 provides a software solution that enables integration of traditional telephone infrastructure and VoIP with corporate messaging, calendaring, and directories. This convergence of telephony and messaging increases employee productivity and decreases the administrative workload for IT professionals.
The Next Wave of Communications Technologies
Today in San Francisco, Microsoft is launching the next wave of enterprise VoIP and unified communications products for business. Among the products we'll launch are Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007, which bring together a broad range of communications options including voice, instant messaging, and video into a single, consistent experience. Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator make it easier for employees to communicate and collaborate with each other in real-time by letting them see at a glance if the people they want to contact are available. They will also be able to initiate a conversation by email, voice, video, or instant messaging from within Microsoft Office system applications, making communication and collaboration an integral part of day-to-day work processes, rather than an interruption. In addition, when they use the new version of Office Communicator Mobile that is launching today, they will be able to stay connected using Windows Mobile-powered devices.
We're also announcing the availability of Microsoft RoundTable, an advanced video and VoIP conferencing device that provides a 360-degree view of a meeting room, along with wideband audio and video that tracks the flow of conversation between multiple speakers. With RoundTable and Office Live Meeting or Office Communications Server, meeting participants in different locations will be able to converse and share information as if they were in the same room. RoundTable also enables companies to record meetings for later use.
All of these products are important steps toward achieving our long-term vision for streamlined, integrated communications that will enable people to be more productive, more creative, and to stay in touch more easily without being limited by the device they have at hand or the network they are connected to.
A Foundation for Future Innovation
It would be hard to overstate the magnitude of the changes that are coming. Standardized, software-powered communications technologies will be the catalyst for the convergence of voice, video, text, applications, information, and transactions, making it possible to create a seamless communications continuum that extends across people's work and home lives. This will provide the foundation for new products, services, and capabilities that will change the world in profound and often unexpected ways.
This will happen not only in developed countries where access to digital technology is the norm, but also in emerging economies around the world. Currently, about 1 billion of us have a PC, just a fraction of the world's 6 billion people. As we make technology more accessible and simpler to use-often in the form of affordable mobile devices-we can extend new social and economic opportunities to hundreds of millions of people who have never been able to participate in the global knowledge economy. And as more and more of the world's people are empowered to use their ideas, talents, and hard work to the fullest, the results will be new innovations that make everyone's lives richer, more productive, and more fulfilling.
Your bud, Bill
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 1:04 PM
To: Joseph (BI Joe) Thomas
Subject: The Age of Software-Powered Communications
Joe, I know you've been working for 20 years or more, you can remember a time when the pace of business-and life in general-was quite a bit slower than it is today. Back then we read newspapers and magazines and watched the network news to stay informed. Faxes were just becoming a common way to share written business information. A phone call might elicit a busy signal or no one would answer at all. In those days, no one expected to send documents to coworkers on the other side of the globe instantly, collaborate in real-time with colleagues in distant cities, or share photographs the very day they were taken.
These and similar advances have delivered remarkable results. The ability to access and share information instantly and communicate in ways that transcend the boundaries of time and distance has given rise to an era of unprecedented productivity and innovation that has created new economic opportunities for hundreds of millions of people around the world and paved the way for global economic growth that is unparalleled in human history.
But few people would argue that there is no room for improvement. Although we have once-unimaginable access to people and information, we struggle today to keep track of emails and phone calls across multiple inboxes, devices, and phone numbers; to remember a growing number of passwords; and to synchronize contacts, appointments, and data between desktop PCs and mobile devices. The fact is that the proliferation of communications options has become a burden that often makes it more difficult to reach people than it used to be, rather than easier.
In 2006, I wrote about how unified communications innovations were already beginning to transform the way we communicate at work. Because you are a subscriber to executive emails from Microsoft, I want to provide you with an update on the progress we're making toward achieving our vision for unified communications. I also want to share my thoughts on how rapid advances in hardware, networks, and the software that powers them are laying the foundation for groundbreaking innovations in communications technology. These innovations will revolutionize the way we share information and experiences with the people who are important to us at work and at home, and help make it possible to put the power of digital technology in the hands of billions of people around the globe who have yet to reap the benefits of the knowledge economy.
Moving Beyond Disconnected Communications
A fundamental reason that communicating is still so complex is the fact that the way we communicate is still bound by devices. In the office, we use a work phone with one number. Then we ask people to call us back on a mobile device using another number when we are on the go, or reach us on our home phone with yet another number. And we have different identities and passwords for our work and home email accounts, and for instant messaging.
This will change in the very near future. As more and more of our communications and entertainment is transmitted over the Internet thanks to email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and the emergence of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), and other protocols, a new wave of software-driven innovations will eliminate the boundaries between the various modes of communications we use throughout the day. Soon, you'll have a single identity that spans all of the ways people can reach you, and you'll be able to move a conversation seamlessly between voice, text, and video and from one device to another as your location and information sharing needs change. You'll also have more control over how you can be reached and by whom: when you are busy, the software on the device at hand will know whether you can be interrupted, based on what you are doing and who is trying to reach you.
One of the best examples of how communication is changing-and how technology is integrating the way people share experiences across devices-starts in the world of video games. With Xbox Live, the online gaming and entertainment network for Xbox 360, people can play games with friends who are in distant locations. Xbox Live also provides a comprehensive range of communications options including video chat and instant messaging, as well as text, voice, and picture messaging, all seamlessly integrated into the video game experience. With more than 7 million subscribers, Xbox Live is quickly redefining the way people access entertainment of all kinds. And it is enabling them to share experiences with each other in real time without being constrained by the limits of location.
But that's just the start. We recently launched Games for Windows - Live, which links Xbox 360 gamers with the millions of people who play games on their PCs. Now, Windows and Xbox 360 video game players can compete and communicate with each other without being constrained by the limits of devices.
The communications expectations that young people-and anybody else who has adopted the latest digital communications tools-bring to the workplace are already changing how we do business. To them, the desk phone is an anachronism that lacks the flexibility and range of capabilities that their mobile device can provide. A generation that grew up on text messaging is driving the rapid adoption of instant messaging as a standard business communications tool. Accustomed to forming ad hoc virtual communities, they want tools that facilitate the creation of virtual workgroups. Used to collecting and storing information online, they look for team Web sites, Wikis, and other digital ways to create and share information.
All of these expectations are prompting companies to adapt by implementing new communications strategies and technologies. Those that do are already seeing a wide range of benefits including significant cost savings and important productivity gains. At Microsoft, for example, we replaced our old voice mail system with Exchange Server 2007 unified messaging, a move that is saving the company $5 million annually by lowering hardware and maintenance costs. More importantly, Exchange Server 2007 provides a software solution that enables integration of traditional telephone infrastructure and VoIP with corporate messaging, calendaring, and directories. This convergence of telephony and messaging increases employee productivity and decreases the administrative workload for IT professionals.
The Next Wave of Communications Technologies
Today in San Francisco, Microsoft is launching the next wave of enterprise VoIP and unified communications products for business. Among the products we'll launch are Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007, which bring together a broad range of communications options including voice, instant messaging, and video into a single, consistent experience. Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator make it easier for employees to communicate and collaborate with each other in real-time by letting them see at a glance if the people they want to contact are available. They will also be able to initiate a conversation by email, voice, video, or instant messaging from within Microsoft Office system applications, making communication and collaboration an integral part of day-to-day work processes, rather than an interruption. In addition, when they use the new version of Office Communicator Mobile that is launching today, they will be able to stay connected using Windows Mobile-powered devices.
We're also announcing the availability of Microsoft RoundTable, an advanced video and VoIP conferencing device that provides a 360-degree view of a meeting room, along with wideband audio and video that tracks the flow of conversation between multiple speakers. With RoundTable and Office Live Meeting or Office Communications Server, meeting participants in different locations will be able to converse and share information as if they were in the same room. RoundTable also enables companies to record meetings for later use.
All of these products are important steps toward achieving our long-term vision for streamlined, integrated communications that will enable people to be more productive, more creative, and to stay in touch more easily without being limited by the device they have at hand or the network they are connected to.
A Foundation for Future Innovation
It would be hard to overstate the magnitude of the changes that are coming. Standardized, software-powered communications technologies will be the catalyst for the convergence of voice, video, text, applications, information, and transactions, making it possible to create a seamless communications continuum that extends across people's work and home lives. This will provide the foundation for new products, services, and capabilities that will change the world in profound and often unexpected ways.
This will happen not only in developed countries where access to digital technology is the norm, but also in emerging economies around the world. Currently, about 1 billion of us have a PC, just a fraction of the world's 6 billion people. As we make technology more accessible and simpler to use-often in the form of affordable mobile devices-we can extend new social and economic opportunities to hundreds of millions of people who have never been able to participate in the global knowledge economy. And as more and more of the world's people are empowered to use their ideas, talents, and hard work to the fullest, the results will be new innovations that make everyone's lives richer, more productive, and more fulfilling.
Your bud, Bill
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