1. Introducing Competitive Sales Assistance….. Pre-Sales Technical Support – Now expanded with Competitive Sales Assistance Driving greater competitive wins for partners January 2005

2. What is Competitive Sales Assistance? Telephone-Based Pre-Sales Technical Support (TPTS), already available for over 20 months, has been extended to include competitive sales information. Telephone-Based Pre-Sales Technical Support (TPTS), already available for over 20 months, has been extended to include competitive sales information. Partners will have access to direct, telephone-based support designed to provide: Partners will have access to direct, telephone-based support designed to provide: Information helpful in answering competitive pre-sales questions, whether they are technical in nature, or pertain to business value or business issues. Information helpful in answering competitive pre-sales questions, whether they are technical in nature, or pertain to business value or business issues. An unlimited number of calls to Microsoft support professionals who can help you understand the Microsoft value proposition in a competitive opportunity. An unlimited number of calls to Microsoft support professionals who can help you understand the Microsoft value proposition in a competitive opportunity. Access to competitive content to help support you in your engagements with your customers. This content will be in the form of white papers, discussion guides, case studies, and customer- ready presentations. Access to competitive content to help support you in your engagements with your customers. This content will be in the form of white papers, discussion guides, case studies, and customer- ready presentations. Assistance in locating other competitive information and resources. Assistance in locating other competitive information and resources.

3. Who is providing Competitive Sales Assistance? Vision Delight every partner in every country by providing timely and precise services that help our customers realize their full potential. GPSD Call Centers, currently providing Telephone-Based Pre-Sales Technical Support (TPTS) to Partners today, are expanding their service to encompass competitive sales. GPSD has 13 locations world-wide delivering support in ten languages Overall VSAT for today’s support = 75%Overall VSAT for today’s support = 75% Over 260 support professionals worldwide Over 260 support professionals worldwide 5 weeks Technical Training 5 weeks Technical Training Previous work experience in non-MS Previous work experience in non-MS technologies technologies 2.5 weeks competitive training 2.5 weeks competitive training CompHot Partner Extension Project will provide: CompHot Partner Extension Project will provide: Telephone based Competitive Hotline Experience Telephone based Competitive Hotline Experience Language Support Language Support Access to information & resources Access to information & resources Escalation opportunity for deeper resource support Escalation opportunity for deeper resource support

4. Competitive Sales Assistance Benefits Includes: Includes: Information helpful in answering competitive business and technical questions Information helpful in answering competitive business and technical questions Technology and competitive information for bid proposals Technology and competitive information for bid proposals Assistance in trouble-shooting technical issues for Microsoft solutions being evaluated for proposals Assistance in trouble-shooting technical issues for Microsoft solutions being evaluated for proposals Microsoft solutions to apply to specific customer needs Microsoft solutions to apply to specific customer needs IT Competitive Comparisons IT Competitive Comparisons Escalations (where appropriate) to product groups and subject matter experts Escalations (where appropriate) to product groups and subject matter experts Out of Scope: Out of Scope: Joint proposal writing Joint proposal writing On-site support On-site support Proof of Concept funding Proof of Concept funding Joint customer calls Joint customer calls Post sales support incidents Post sales support incidents

5. Additional Resources for Deeper Support Needs Professional Support Incidents Professional Support Incidents All Certified Partners receive a 5 pack of Professional Support Incidents to assist with Post Sales Support All Certified Partners receive a 5 pack of Professional Support Incidents to assist with Post Sales Support Partner Advantage Partner Advantage Offered in two cost-effective plans: Offered in two cost-effective plans: Standard includes phone-based access to product support, online resources, and proactive services at a fixed price. Standard includes phone-based access to product support, online resources, and proactive services at a fixed price. The Plus Plan, a fully customizable offering, addresses the more complex requirements of larger partners and includes services such as a dedicated support professional and more. The Plus Plan, a fully customizable offering, addresses the more complex requirements of larger partners and includes services such as a dedicated support professional and more.

6. Benefits to You Direct access to a Microsoft support professional who can help you with technical and competitive sales questions Direct access to a Microsoft support professional who can help you with technical and competitive sales questions No cost and no limit to calls No cost and no limit to calls Simplified content searching - One stop shopping for: Simplified content searching - One stop shopping for: Third party research Third party research White Papers White Papers Case studies Case studies Customer-ready presentations Customer-ready presentations Trouble-shoot technical issues for customer proposals Trouble-shoot technical issues for customer proposals Saves you time – less time researching, compiling information, more time to sell Saves you time – less time researching, compiling information, more time to sell Assists you in providing the best answers and solutions to position Microsoft technologies in a way that enables you to win new customers Assists you in providing the best answers and solutions to position Microsoft technologies in a way that enables you to win new customers Available to all Certified and Gold Partners Available to all Certified and Gold Partners

7. Growing Information Base In existence for 20 months, the call centers already have extensive knowledge of pre-sales information. In existence for 20 months, the call centers already have extensive knowledge of pre-sales information. New information/collateral to help increase wins and close out the competition New information/collateral to help increase wins and close out the competition Customer-ready information in ten languages Customer-ready information in ten languages Competitive content will continue to grow as more collateral becomes available Competitive content will continue to grow as more collateral becomes available Calls that cannot be immediately answered will be escalated for further assistance Calls that cannot be immediately answered will be escalated for further assistance Your calls and feedback will help direct the growth pattern of the program Your calls and feedback will help direct the growth pattern of the program

8. How do I contact Competitive Sales Assistance? By phone where Telephone-Based Pre-Sales Technical Support is available- in most countries worldwide By phone where Telephone-Based Pre-Sales Technical Support is available- in most countries worldwide Anyone in the partner organization can call, including secondary sites Anyone in the partner organization can call, including secondary sites In locations without phone support, service is available by email and online portal In locations without phone support, service is available by email and online portal In North America call 1-800-426-9400 between 6am -6pm Pacific time. Select option #4. In North America call 1-800-426-9400 between 6am -6pm Pacific time. Select option #4. For local numbers, hours or online information visit: For local numbers, hours or online information visit: https://partner.microsoft.com/global/technicalsupport/40010465 https://partner.microsoft.com/global/technicalsupport/40010465 https://partner.microsoft.com/global/technicalsupport/40010465 The information contained in this deck represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the program discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication nor can Microsoft guarantee that it will not change the terms, or alter or terminate availability of the program discussed herein. This deck is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. The information contained in this deck represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the program discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication nor can Microsoft guarantee that it will not change the terms, or alter or terminate availability of the program discussed herein. This deck is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT.