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Microsoft NFR Sold to Customers – By Microsoft
Posted: 2:14 am
February 4th, 2006
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This is as followup to the original software piracy plea for help I made earlier this week. I wanted to update you on the events that took place yesterday as this has seriously upset our generally quiet Orlando Microsoft Partner community. You are not going to believe what happened with this client:

Ok now I have seen everything. A follow-up call to client made my jaw drop to the floor.

Sometime yesterday, client called Microsoft spoke with someone about what he needs. Somehow the rep at Microsoft got this DOCTOR pointed in the direction of the ACTION PACK subscription which would give him SQL. Client says he is all signed up and waiting for it to come.

This guy is in no means an IT provider. He is a doctor. He runs an urgent care center, and has a second center being constructed a few miles away, and plans to use the ACTION PACK to run everything.

How the hell did that happen?

I have a meeting with him at noon on Monday. Who wants to join me?

Thanks,
Judd Spence

Now just in case you misread any of that: The customer (medical practice) called Microsoft and they sold him the Action Pack, the software collection given under NFR to the Microsoft Partners to get familiar and build their business on Microsoft software. This targets software consultants, software developers, network infrastructure engineers. Suffice to say that my Microsoft contacts were shocked this could happen and they followed up with both the client and Judd Spence to help resolve this.

I have assurances from several high profile Microsoft members that they have had several meetings regarding this issue this week and will have more next week. I’m happy they are showing concern and will keep you updated on what happens next. As usual, if you are a Microsoft partner and you have a comment on how Microsoft can help improve the Small Business channel partner experience, please provide feedback here.

6 Comments

Anonymous |

Define apathy.

And this is from a company that expects its partners to be their police but they turn around and sell Action Pack to anybody that calls.

I’m just glad I’m not in consulting anymore.



ScottC |

Should this be our backup strategy then? If the customer does not take the single SKU offer, doesn’t like the SA, doesn’t want to pay for a XP Home to XP Pro upgrade…. Action Pack?

Perhaps I’ve misread, but it seems to me that Microsoft validated what we all knew: That it doesn’t take a technology partnership in order to get the Action Pack.

Vlad, why bother even trying to offer Microsoft software if even Microsoft is going to undercut me?



KP |

This is just ridiculous. Instead of pointing that customer to a local Small Business Specialist partner they go and sell direct to them.

Just peachy.



Disappointed Microsoft Partner |

I would like to see some proof of this sir because it sounds a little surreal. I believe it but I want to see it. I’m tired of being the only one telling people to go legit while it seems that everyone is selling illegal. It happened to me too, the action pack thing. I just thought it was an error but obviously not. I think Microsoft piracy has lost all credibility.



Anonymous |

Way to go, thanks Bill. Make money on Action Pack and cut out the partners in the process.



Squire |

Hi there..
Nice blog..
Mine is a sci/Tech blog.. if you’re interseted we can link each other on our sites..

Keep posting.. I’ll read your blog often .

Cheers.








 

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