Changes MPN competencies for App development and ALM

In November we had some changes to the competencies of the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) program that are particularly interesting for Microsoft Partners that are doing Application (or App) development on the Microsoft platform. Equally interesting for companies that just start on the platform triggered by the release of Windows 8.
The Application platform competencies are now:

• Application Development
• Application Lifecycle Management
• Application Integration
• Data Platform
• Business Intelligence

The “old”  Web Development, Software Development, and ISV competencies have merged to become the new Application Development competency. If you want to get started with that you can take the HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript Jump Start – get a free exam voucher!  You can get a voucher for Exam 70-480 Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3 when you take the Developing Windows 8 Apps Jump Start online training. Get details (Partner log-in required).

More news for the ALM competencie:

• Visual Studio 2012 and ALM competency readiness. First, review the learning path to discover the latest sales, licensing, and technical training.
• How sell Visual Studio 2012 and attach other products: partner materials, reseller kit (Partner log-in required)
• Host customer events using launch-in-a-box kits Part 1 and Part 2. Host ALM customer events with the ‘Rise to the New Normal’ IT decision maker event-in-a-box kit  (Partner log-in required)
• Sales Specialist competency assessment (Partner log-in required) this 200-level, 45 minute sales assessment covering Visual studio 2012 can help you prepare to meet ALM competency requirements.

Windows App Day November 23rd, Antwerp

The app market is exploding, first on Apple & Android, now Windows 8 is triggering the same App explosion on the Microsoft platform. To make sure you get the necessary coaching and insight don’t miss the first Windows App Day. The agenda has 2 tracks, for App Development, User Experience and Design and is packed with national and international speakers. All of them actively working on Apps, design & the web and ready to share their learnings and best practices. Join us and get inspired!

• All About Apps: Windows 8, Windows Azure, Windows Phone and WebApps
• After the 100% app keynote we split into two tracks: one focused on UX, designers and web experts; a second one for developers.
• Feel free to switch tracks during the day to compose the schedule of your taste. Find detailed info on the sessions and our speakers on our Windows App Day page!

 Don’t miss this first Windows App Day on November 23rd!

Building Windows 8 apps on the Belgian beach. First session on July 12

If you’re a company thinking about building your first Metro apps and getting them ready to be part of the Windows 8 General Availability later this year than the summer app-a-thons at the Belgium coast are not to be missed. First one will be on July 12 and is going to be a special, seaside app-a-thon in Blankenberge.  What could be more inspiring for building great Metro-style apps than the sound of waves crashing into the beach, ice cream and a beautiful sunset!

We’re building upon the success of the coding night at the Windows 8 Developer Day and have a hackathon to build cool Metro-style apps.  So team up with your best UX or developer friend and form a killer app team, come alone or sign up with an entire group, whatever you want!

This seaside Summer App-a-thon promises to be an experience like N.O. O.T.H.E.R!   Hands on. Code. Build. Shine. Totally Windows 8. 

There will be 2 coding sessions:
1 for Day Birds from 10AM – 4PM and one for Night Owls from 6PM – 12AM. You have 3 registration options: Only the Day Birds coding session; Only the Night Owls coding session or both in case your W8 addicted . So if you’re a developer or UX designer, sign up right now to join us for an unforgettable experience!