What did he say? Deciphering “Microsoft speak”

On Friday, there was an email thread going around amongst some Partners trying to decipher what an answer they had received from Microsoft really meant. Why? Because the people from Microsoft responding to the question fell into the trap of using “Microsoft speak” or “the excessive use of acronyms to see who can say the most with the fewest letters possible.” I’ve even heard rumors we have some teen cell phone texting champs on campus to help us get even more efficient and completely rule out the use of any full words… No, just kidding! :-)

Well, to try and help out, I thought I would take the acronyms included in that email, as well as several others, and post the REAL meanings up here so that they can hopefully help you in the future in the event one of us Microsoft folks start throwing out random multi-letter acronyms again in a conversation (and let me apologize in advance on behalf of all of them). Of course, you could just slap us and say, “ENGLISH PLEASE!” to snap us out of it. (Maybe you better skip the slapping part since I am not sure who from Microsoft you may be speaking to)

• PMC = Partner Membership Center - Manage your Microsoft Partner Program member profile, add Partner Points, and re-enroll in the Partner Program.
  • Link
  • FAQ
• RSC = Regional Service Center - Specializes in assisting you with your Partner Program Membership questions.
  • Link
• MSPP = Microsoft Partner Program – Program designed for those advising, selling, supporting, training, or installing Microsoft technologies for clients to provide resources, information, and benefits
  • Link
  • FAQ
• SBSC = Small Business Specialist Community – Program for Microsoft Partners focused on marketing, selling, planning, and building solutions for small businesses
  • Link
• OV (OLV) = Open Value (Open License Value) – License program designed for clients with 3 – 250 PCs providing value added benefits, such as Software Assurance and spread payments.
  • Link
• OVS = Open Value Subscription – Subscription based license program designed for clients with 3 – 250 PCs providing value added benefits, such as Software Assurance, spread payments, up to 50% off for Up-to-date discounts, and more.
  • Link
  • Open Value Subscription launches today!
  • How do I transition from Open License into Open Value Subscription?
• SA = Software Assurance - Comprehensive maintenance offering that helps you get the most out of your software investment, like upgrade protection, home use rights, etc.
  • Link
  • Activating your Open Value Software Assurance benefits, step by step (Part 1)
  • Activating your Open Value Software Assurance benefits, step by step (Part 2)
  • When can I add Software Assurance and what happens to the license when Software Assurance is added and the machine retires?
• MAPS = Microsoft Action Pack Subscription - Provides Registered Members of the Microsoft Partner Program internal-use, full-version software and sales resources to help you meet your sales goals, stay competitive, and grow your business
  • Link
  • FAQ
  • Blog post
• CAL = Client Access License - A license granting access to certain Microsoft server software by a User or Device
  • Link
  • Licensing Basics: What are CALs (Client Access Licenses)?
• UTD = Up To Date Discount – A discount of up to 50% off the first year payment through Open Value Subscription for clients who own qualifying licenses
  • Yes, you heard right… 50%* off the first year payment!
  • Do we forfeit the licenses we use for the Up-to-date discount?
• OOF = Out Of Office or Out Of Facility – Not in the office
  • Extreme OOF: Forget OOF. We’re talking WOOF!

Have any others you’ve seen, heard, or wondered what they are? Drop me a reply in the comments section below and I’ll see about getting you some translations on those as well.

Thank you and have a wonderful day,

Eric Ligman
Global Partner Experience Lead
Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

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Comments

• Anonymous
  January 12, 2009
  PingBack from http://blog.a-foton.ru/index.php/2009/01/13/what-did-he-say-deciphering-%e2%80%9cmicrosoft-speak%e2%80%9d/

• Anonymous
  January 12, 2009
  PingBack from http://duitwithsbs.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/rosetta-stone-discovered-microsoft-speak-unraveled/

• Anonymous
  January 14, 2009
  There are those times in life that you stop, take a look around, think to yourself “Did I really