1. What is the Empower Program?
Empower is an initiative for Independent Software Vendors that allows you to receive software and licenses for development and testing as well as internal use. You also receive continuous support from Microsoft® to help you develop applications using Microsoft® software and technologies  Back to top
2. How much does it cost?
The cost of annual membership is just €320 Back to top
3. What are the joining requirements?
To join you need to be a Registered Member of the Microsoft Partner Program.
At the time of enrolment you are required to submit your company’s official website. During membership, contact information on the official website must be kept up to date.
You must also:
Commit to developing (1) packaged and resalable software application that supports at least one of the following Microsoft® technologies;
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Microsoft Windows XP Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Microsoft Mobility Platform (Microsoft Windows for Pocket PC, Microsoft Windows for Smartphone.
Execute the Initiative Agreement located in the online enrolment tool Pay the annual membership fee of €320 Provide profile information on the software application you plan to develop
4. How long does membership last?
Empower for ISV’s is a one-year membership with the option to renew for a second year. To renew participants must:
Continue to meet requirements of the first year as detailed above Members must publicly announce the new packaged software application on their own official site within 18 months of initial membership ( 6months from renewal) Members must release the new packaged software application to the targeted marketplace within 12 months of renewal. Pay the annual membership of €320
Membership may not be renewed more than once, limited to up to two years.
5. How can the Empower Program help me?
The program is designed to help you succeed when developing software on the Microsoft platform, and provides an easy route to growing your software business within the Microsoft Partner Program. Microsoft Empower for ISVs can boost your efforts with significant benefits over a 12 month period. The Initiative is intended to be an ISV's first step to achieving Microsoft Certified Partner status, so it is not available to existing Certified or Gold Certified Partners Back to top
6. What are the benefits?
| Membership in Microsoft Empower for ISVs offers the following benefits: | | Internal use software licences | Up to five software licences for: Up to five software licences for: - Microsoft Windows® XP Professional or Windows Vista Professional
- Microsoft Office 2003 (Premium or Developer Edition) or Microsoft Office 2007
One software licence and up to five Client Access Licences (CALs) for: - Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 (Standard or Enterprise Edition)
- Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server (Standard or Enterprise Edition)
- Microsoft Exchange 2005 Server (Standard or Enterprise)
- Microsoft SQL Server™ 2000 (Standard or Enterprise Edition)
- Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (Standard or Enterprise Edition)
- Microsoft SharePoint™ Portal Server
| | Development and testing licences and resources | Development and Testing License: One (1) MSDN Premium Subscription media kit and five (5) user licenses**- One (1) MSDN Premium Media kit (DVD)
- Each MSDN Premium Subscription includes the full range of Microsoft Windows Server System integrated server software, all Microsoft operating systems, Microsoft productivity applications (Office Developer Edition, Microsoft Project, FrontPage, Visio, and MapPoint).
- Five (5) licenses to Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition. Up to five (5) users, concurrent with development and testing licenses provided with the MSDN Premium Subscription, may use Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition.
- access to Software Development Kits (SDKs), Driver Development Kits (DDKs), and the MSDN Library
- priority access to new product releases, updates and betas through the MSDN Subscriber download centre
* MSDN Subscriptions for ISV Empower members do not include phone-based incident support. | | Technical Support | MSDN Online Managed Support Newsgroup (English only) - Ask software, hardware and related technology questions in the Microsoft Support Professionals supported newsgroups
MSDN Online Concierge trial (English only) - This service helps users find articles and resources within MSDN. It is available worldwide and provides real-time responses.
ISV Advisory Service- The ISV Advisory Service is a phone-based support option that provides assistance beyond your break-fix product maintenance needs. It includes working with the same technician for help with product migration, code review, or new program development. Partners enrolled in Microsoft Empower for ISVs receive 10 hours per year.
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You are also entitled to all the further benefits through Registered Membership in the MSPP
 Find out more about Registered Member Benefits and Technical Support. |
