Arrow ECS IBM Group Newsletter

WebSphere Sales Mastery Test M154 to retire

Arrow partners looking to participate in Growth Through Skills should be aware of the following test retirement. The WebSphere Sales Mastery Test, M154, will retire on July 31, 2009. The associated courseware on PartnerWorld University, Selling WebSphere Solutions, will retire on June 30, 2009 allowing Business Partners 30 days to complete the no-charge test.

The new WebSphere Sales Mastery Test will be available on the same Prometric Web site starting July 1, 2009. Future communications will include the new test number. It's associated courseware is the Top Gun Virtual Learning: WebSphere Foundations. Sign up today!

Prometric Web Site

Top Gun Virtual Learning: WebSphere Foundations

Teleconferences for the July 14th IBM Storage Announcements

On July 14th IBM System Storage will be making a number of exciting product announcements. We have four teleconferences scheduled to cover the System Storage products that are being announced.

The first call, on July 7th, will be an overview of the announcement. Curtis Tearte and Susan Blocher will be presenting. This call is appropriate for everyone who sells IBM Information Infrastructure solutions. The other three calls will go into detail on the products and solutions being announced.

CALL: July 14th Information Infrastructure Launch Overview – July 7th

ABSTRACT: This teleconference will provide an overview of the IBM Information Infrastructure July 14th announcements. Learn about the new Native Replication feature being added to the IBM 7650 ProtecTIER Deduplication product line and the significant enhancements to the IBM XIV Storage System. We will also cover the new DS8000 thin provisioning feature, several new Data Center Networking products and preview SVC V5 with improved replication functions, support for iSCSI, new 2145-CF8 hardware delivering 8 Gbps FC support, larger cache, better performance and integrated Solid State Devices.

TIME: July 7; 11:00 a.m. New York
July 7; 9:00 p.m. New York

Call-in:           (888) 950-9567

Passcode:    8292960

DURATION: 1 hour
TO ATTEND: IBMers and IBM Business Partners

PartnerWorld url: http://www.ibm.com/partnerworld/wps/servlet/ContentHandler/tsee070709tr

CALL: Native Replication for ProtecTIER Deduplication Solutions – July 8th

ABSTRACT: The session will discuss the new Native Replication feature being added to the IBM 7650 ProtecTIER Deduplication product line. Learn how this powerful new feature enables customers to greatly improve their Disaster Recovery capabilities by leveraging ProtecTIER Deduplication and low cost replication to electronically transport backup data to an off-site location.

TIME: July 8; 11:00 a.m. New York
July 8; 9:00 p.m. New York

Call-in:           (800) 857-9744

Passcode:    4519462

DURATION: 1 hour

TO ATTEND: IBMers and IBM Business Partners

PartnerWorld url:
http://www.ibm.com/partnerworld/wps/servlet/ContentHandler/tsee070809tr

CALL: XIV Product Announcement Sales Teleconference – July 9th

ABSTRACT: Attend this announcement teleconference and learn about the significant enhancements to the IBM XIV Storage System - storage reinvented with an architecture designed to handle today's high-end open systems disk requirements. This session will cover a sales overview of the new announcements for XIV and is open to IBM sellers and BPs. There will be a live question and answer session following the presentation.

TIME: July 9; 11:00 a.m. New York
July 9: 9:00 p.m. New York

Call-in:           (888) 947-9959

Passcode:    9660609

DURATION: 1 hour

TO ATTEND: IBMers and IBM Business Partners

PartnerWorld url:
http://www.ibm.com/partnerworld/wps/servlet/ContentHandler/tsee070909tr

CALL: July 14th Announcement: DS8000, Data Center Networking and SAN Volume Controller (SVC) – July 10th

TIME: July 10; 11:00 a.m. New York

July 13; 9:00 p.m. New York

Call-in:           (888) 566-6352

Passcode:    6022475

DURATION: 90 minutes
TO ATTEND: IBMers and IBM Business Partners

PartnerWorld url:
http://www.ibm.com/partnerworld/wps/servlet/ContentHandler/tsee071009tr

TCONow! for Disk Training Sessions for BP.

In today's economic environment, we need to demonstrate the value of our IBM Storage solutions. The TCONow for Disk tool, can help you evaluate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Return On Investment (ROI) advantages an IBM offering can provide over a competitor's offering, for Mid-range Disk (DS4/5000) and Enterprise Disk (DS8000).

With TCONow for Disk tool you can show the financial value proposition of IBM's Mid-range and Enterprise Disk products, present the client the complete cost of "business as usual" and help you protect margins by showing our customers the economic benefit they get, without the need to discount.

To help you better understand this tool, we have scheduled training sessions that you are invited to assist. Pre-registration is required (You will receive a calendar invitation after registration.)

Pre-registration for the TCONow for Disk training sessions.
Two identical one-hour sessions will be held, please select the one what better fits your local schedule.

TCONow! Training for IBM Business Partners
Date/Time: June 18, 2009, 8:00 pm ET
Registration: Go to the following link http://ibmstg.na3.acrobat.com/storages061809e/event/registration.html to register for this session

TCONow! Training for IBM Business Partners
Date/Time: June 19, 2009, 11:00 am ET / 10:00 am CT
Duration: 1 HR
Registration: Go to the following link http://ibmstg.na3.acrobat.com/storages061909e/event/registration.html to register for this session

Before the Session.
The" Information Infrastructure: Improving Storage Economics" sales kit contains Storage economic-oriented material, information and TCO/ROI tools for value selling, including TCONow for Disk.
BP http://www.ibm.com/partnerworld/wps/servlet/ContentHandler/SSinfoinfraImproStoEco.Skit

By selecting the DS8000 or DS4/5000 platforms you will find useful value selling information on these products, including the link to download the tool, enablement material, help contacts and more.

Please have TCONow for Disk software (CIOView player) installed in your computer with the link below.
BP https://www-304.ibm.com/jct09002c/partnerworld/wps/servlet/mem/ContentHandler/tstotcocomptool113005

Additional questions.
Please contact Ulises Zavala (ulises@mx1.ibm.com)

CRN picks ND8.5 over Exchange 07

Great news for Arrow Lotus partners. CRN's review of ND 8.5 vs. Exchange 07 is in. The verdict -- close call but Lotus wins! Exchange won on feature set and performance while Notes/Domino took installation and interoperability. The tiebreaker is cost, swaying CRN's overall recommendation to Lotus. Ease-of-deployment, superior integration with Web 2.0 tools and serious savings are all key messages that this review independently reinforces.

Read the full article in CRN.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the IBM System x EXAct and Blade Business Partner Investment Programs (but were afraid to ask)

The IBM EXAct and Blade programs have been around for a number of years yet the majority of IBM Business Partners do not participate in either one. Admittedly, there are some requirements (educational and revenue) required for participation.  However, it's not uncommon for a Solution Provider to have "met" these requirements without realizing it.  This is truly unfortunate since the exclusive rebates afforded by IBM for each and every EXAct (High-End 4-socket server) or Blade server sold remain unclaimed.

Business Partners can participate in one or both programs as long as they meet the conditions of each.  The general requirements of the IBM EXAct and Blade programs are essentially the same:

    1) EXAct sales reported by the Reseller to IBM of at least $150K (Bid Index value) during a period encompassing the current calendar quarter, plus the previous two consecutive quarters.  The same applies for the Blade program.  

    2) Once approved, reported sales of EXAct product during the calendar year of  $300K or more (Bid Index value).  For Resellers approved during the year, the first year revenue requirement is pro-rated.  The same applies for the Blade program

    3) Purchase of a qualifying EXAct demonstration system in advance of receiving approval for participation in the program.  The same applies for the Blade program

    4) Identification of Arrow ECS as the primary distributor.  As with all System x products, participation in either the EXAct or Blade programs does not restrict where our Solution Providers can purchase System x, but it does provide the exclusive rebate when they purchase from Arrow ECS.

In addition to above, there are also education requirements for each program.  Some are required upon program participation approval, while for others a 6-month grace period is afforded.  It's important to note that a single individual can satisfy both the sales and technical requirements.  For a complete listing please reference IBM announcement 509-504.

In summary, if your company is actively selling IBM EXAct and/or Blade Servers and you are already invested in System x sales and technical certification and you have a High-End or Blade demo unit then you should definitely look into participation.  A few reasonably-sized deals during the measurement period (a maximum span of 9 months) might push you over the revenue threshold.  Arrow ECS would be happy to assist you in determining your current stance relative to the revenue requirements.

Back by Popular Demand! IBM Certification Promotion July 1

Some good news for Arrow Partners working to get ready for software ValueNet or Growth Through Skills. IBM has a certification (includes mastery tests) promotion starting July 1.  

Back by popular demand! The Professional Certification Program from IBM is launching the Take It Again (TIA) voucher program for 2009. Under the Take It Again program, you may purchase specially priced vouchers that allow you to retake an exam for no additional costs. The TIA retake opportunity can provide an added level of confidence in your testing success, as you pursue the IBM certification you value. TIA vouchers will be available, worldwide, for most IBM tests.  Check it out for details!  This is an opportunity you don't want to miss!

 A Technical Sales Mastery voucher will cost a BP $100 USD.  Take It Again allows a BP to take the mastery test twice if they need to & they save $50 USD if they do need the second chance.  I don't know how much the certification vouchers will cost but the information will be on the site by July 1.  These vouchers must be used at an Authorized Prometric Test Center.

This announcement was posted on IBM's Certify Web site.   There is also a right-nav graphic, that links to the announcement, on both the Certify home page and the Member Site.  The direct URL to the Announcement Page is: http://www.ibm.com/certify/news/tia_20090611.shtml

View this photo

New ISS Certification and Prep Courseware are now available.

Acquiring and validating skills to identify and meet client requirements is essential. Clients want to know they are working with highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals. IBM ISS training can help you demonstrate your expertise in information security through knowledge and implementation experience of IBM's industry leading technologies. These courses are modularized and comprehensive and will provide what you need to know to prepare for the certification exams.

The IBM ISS Sales Mastery courseware is designed to enable a primary sales advisor on information security

and the IBM ISS security solutions portfolio. The Business Partner representative desiring to become a Sales Advisor for the IBM ISS portfolio must meet prerequisites to be qualified for certification.

The IBM ISS Technical certification courseware is designed to enable a primary technical resource for information security with an understanding of the IBM ISS security solutions portfolio. The Business Partner representative desiring to become a Technical Advisor must meet prerequisites to be qualified for certification.

 

IBM ISS courseware can be found on IBM PartnerWorld University in the Services College at the following URL:

http://www-304.ibm.com/services/weblectures/dlv/Gate.wss?handler=Login&sequence=1&customer=partnerworld&offering=svcs&action=index

 

Sales Assessment Link

http://www-03.ibm.com/certify/mastery_tests/samM50.shtml

 

Technical Assessment Link

http://www-03.ibm.com/certify/tests/sam530.shtml

Webcast about Leverage Collaboration Tools on June 23rd

Attend this webcast on June 23rd to Learn how to leverage collaboration tools.

More details here:
http://arrowecsmidmarket.typepad.com/ibmgroupnewsletter/2009/06/attend-this-webcast-on-june-23rd-collaborating-doing-more-with-less.html

The New Power Equation

The New Power Equation: Delivering an Energy Efficient Dynamic Infrastructure - the prefect FREE briefing for you and your customers.

Learn more here:

http://arrowecsmidmarket.typepad.com/ibmgroupnewsletter/2009/06/the-new-power-equation-delivering-an-energy-efficient-dynamic-infrastructure-.html

Modification to the IBM Information Infrastructure – Information Security with Encryption Solution Offering (309-543)

IBM has modified this End User Incentive by making changes to eligible solutions and adding new ones effective June 9, 2009. Due to revisions made to the packaging of encryption management software, in order to implement encryption key management, IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Management software is required and must be ordered separately, outside the terms of this offering.

Download 309-543_Modification_IBM System Storage Information Infrastructure Information Security with Encryption Solution Offering_Cust