Going down to New Orleans

So, the Worldwide Microsoft Partner Conference has come around and 7global will be represented by my colleague Mike Williams. As Worldwide Partner of the Year Finalists I have to admit we're looking forward more than usual to the Conference.


At the 2009 EMEA Hosting Roundtable. From left to right: Pascal Walschots (Microsoft), Mike Williams (7global), Paul Doherty i.e. me (7global).

Mike's no stranger to Microsoft events and he will be contributing to The Cloud's Silver Lining with updates on what's hot, what's not, who he's met and any titbits of news which you'll find useful. Whatever happens Mike will be ferreting out info which will benefit our customers and partners over the following week. We'll be paying particular attention to Hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Azure, BPOS as well as the Software + Services marketplace and hosting in general

No doubt they'll be descriptions of Bourbon Street, jambalaya and red wine as well.

So- watch this space!

Microsoft Worldwide Partner Award Finalists Again.

Now the press embargo, to which I have slavishly adhered, has been lifted I can now say 'whooohoo' without fear of being hunted down by the Microsoft PR leopards.

To be honest, it's really good to have got this one again, as after last year's success I thought it would be difficult to repeat.

I had some great help from partners and clients in putting the entry together which always helps and, focusing as I did on our Hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM Platform I had a great story to tell.

Interesting Managed Hosting Report

An interesting report on managed hosting from the analyst Quocirca. Describes 7global, as well as the competition (whom I would steer well clear of if I were you) and our different approaches to managed hosting. Definitely worth a read.

A graphic illustration of the graft that goes into the EMEA Hosting Club. Takes me a week to recover.

Microsoft EMEA Hosting Club Feedback

Got back (eventually- I won't bore you with delayed flight stories) from Nice and the 10th EMEA Hosting Club Executive Roundtable. It was, as always, an extremely useful trip. My colleague, Mike Williams, and I managed to hook up with a number of old friends and industry peers and had a good catch up. Highlights were:

• Intelecom. Nice Unified Comms solution. Shame the mike (microphone, rather than my colleague) kept falling off during the session
• Genesis. Our competitors, but a good presentation which was pleasantly frank
• Martha Béjar, Corporate Vice President, Communications Sector. Good to have some senior people telling us like it is
• Workshops. I was in David Ednie's session. He's a clever guy, very knowledgeable and a great facilitator. Swears like a true aussie ;-)
• Serge's attention to detail. Serge Khayat is the Senior Marketing Manager for the hosting team and has superb attention to detail
• The violinists. Enough said.

A great event, nicely put together.

We're off to Nice

Off to Nice next week for the 10th Microsoft EMEA Hosting Club Executive Roundtable. Looks like a good lineup and some interesting content. Just have to dodge my collegues' ire about being in the south of France. If I hear one more 'holiday' gag. They're hard work!

Events, dear boy, events (caidence)

Just come back from the last of our events with Qgate, held in Microsoft's Cardinal Place London offices. Another great presentation from Jason Nash (as usual) and some blinding ones from the Qgate boys. Very good indeed. A good audience, some bloody hard questions, and some excellent conversations. A day well spent.

Been very busy so some slack blogging I know. Will get my mojo back when I get my breath back. :-)