Hopefully you have seen the various announcements regarding the splitting of the current Unified Communication competency into two competencies allowing partners to differentiate their Messaging (Exchange) and Communications (Lync) focus. The official announcement and guidance ‘document’ can be found here – and it is this document that I reference below. PLEASE NOTE: This is my interpretation of the document. The document is the official guidance. I will seek to get my interpretation checked and will then remove this disclaimer!
I have received a few questions of clarification and will no doubt receive a few more so I thought it wise to publish this blog to try and pull a few specifics from the above document and publically answer questions that I get from partners (obviously presuming it’s a generic answer 
)
The change will take effect in October 2011. The emphasis on the two new competencies (taken from the document) are:
Messaging:
The Messaging competency recognizes your expertise in implementation design, deployment, and support of Microsoft Exchange Server. In addition, the Gold Messaging competency highlights your additional investment and specialization in archiving, security, and voicemail, as well as your ability to help customers with their journey to the cloud to Exchange Online.
Communications:
The Communications competency recognizes your expertise in implementation design, deployment, and support of Microsoft Lync. The Silver Communications competency enables you to highlight your investment and capabilities around IM/Presence and Conferencing workloads and the Gold Communications competency demonstrates further expertise in enterprise voice and video, PBX integration and Lync Online.
Hopefully these descriptions are self explanatory and the new competencies will enable you to demonstrate the expertise, investment and focus that you have on one or both of these competencies to the high standards required to earn Silver or Gold.
Additionally, partners aiming to demonstrate expertise in Lync please note the section in the document that discusses the ‘Sales Incentive Program’ or SIP
Gold* Communications competency partners can increase revenue by enrolling in further channel incentives, including the Microsoft Solution Incentive Program (SIP). The program rewards partners for driving sales of new Microsoft Lync licenses and creates opportunity for partners to build new revenue streams.
*Exception: Silver Communications partners are also eligible for SIP from July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012
So, what happens to your current accreditation?
This is perhaps the first area for clarification. As per Page 4 of the document:
If you re-enrolled in the UC competency since October 2010 (but before October 2011) and you currently qualify for the UC competency via Option 1: Communications, Email, Mobile then as of October 2011 you will be enrolled in the Messaging competency. To remind you Option 1 (called "Path 1" below) exams were:
If you re-enrolled in the UC competency since October 2010 (but before October 2011) and you currently qualify for the UC competency via Option 2: Voice, then as of October 2011 you will be enrolled in the Communications competency. To remind you Option 2 (called "Path 2" below) exams were:
As the lists above demonstrate those partners who qualified for UC predominantly through Exchange expertise are enrolled into Messaging whilst those qualified largely in OCS or Lync are enrolled into Communications.
Hopefully given the above explanation you now understand what will happen to your UC competency in October 2011 (See questions at the bottom if your enrolment is not between Oct2010 and Oct2011) .
What are the new assessment requirements and what is the transition roadmap?
- October 2011 – Competency Splits
- October – December 2011 – new assessments for both competencies are available (not mandatory for all)
- May 2012 – New assessments are mandatory for all
The new Messaging competency and Communications competency will follow the same requirements structure as other MPN competencies, including Credentials, Business Assessment, Customer Evidence and Commitment and Revenue (for Gold competencies) requirements. The following tables detail the roadmap of credentials requirements as partners transition from the UC competency to the Messaging competency and/or Communications competency.
UC to Messaging competency roadmap for System Integrators
taken from page 6 of the document.
For the purposes of planning and investment this roadmap tells you that you need to have 2 (Silver) or 4 (Gold – must be unique individual to this competency also) individuals that have passed:
Exam Exam70-662: TS: Configuring Microsoft Exchange 2010
Instructor Lead Training: Course 10135A: Configuring, Managing and Troubleshooting Microsoft Exchange Server 2010
eLearning: Collection 10186: Configuring and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2010
AND
Exam 70-663: PRO: Designing and Deploying Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010
Instructor Lead Training: Course 10233A: Designing and Deploying Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010
eLearning: Collection 10204: Designing and Deploying Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010
There are Learning plans available today for these exams, please see:
Learning Plan – Exam 70-662: TS: Configuring Microsoft Exchange 2010
Learning Plan – Exam 70-663: PRO: Designing and Deploying Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010
Additionally, for GOLD you will need to have four of the same or different people pass the Online technical assessment for Archiving and Security, Voicemail and Exchange online.
However, note that there is NO requirement for anybody with OCS or Lync certifications.
UC to Communications Competency Roadmap for System Integrators
Taken from page 8 of the document.
Again, for the purposes of planning and investment this roadmap tells you that you need to have 2 (Silver) or 4 (Gold – must be unique individual to this competency also) individuals that have passed:
Exam 70-664: TS: Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Configuring
Instructor Lead Training: Course 10534A: Planning and Designing a Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Solution
eLearning: Coming Spring of 2012
AND
Exam 70-665: PRO: Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Administrating
Instructor Lead Training: Course 10533A: Deploying, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Lync Server 2010
eLearning: Coming Spring of 2012
There are no Learning plans available today for these exams, but I will update this blog as they become available.
Additionally, for GOLD you will need to have four of the same or different people pass the Online technical assessment for Voice & Video, PBX Integration, and Lync Online.
However, note that there is NO requirement for anybody with Exchange certifications.
Questions?
When will information be available on the new technical assessments?
Please note on page 10 the following note regarding the availability of the online technical assessments, and their associated training plans required for Gold competencies:
More details on the new technical assessments will be available in October 2011. Microsoft will develop and publish the technical assessments and trainings between October – December 2011. Technical assessments for the Messaging competency will test knowledge in Archiving and Security and Voicemail workloads in addition to Exchange Online; assessments can be completed by the same or different people. Technical assessments for the Communications competency will test knowledge in Voice and Video, PBX integration and Lync Online; assessments can be completed by the same or different people.
My MPN anniversary date is between October 2010 and May 2012 what requirements must I fulfil to gain a competency?
As per question 4 on page 10 of the document. You will need to meet the requirements of the appropriate credential roadmap above.
I would like more information on the SIP program – where do I get this?
Please contact your Partner Account Manager. Is that is not possible and you are a Silver or Gold UC partner please contact me – mbullock ‘at’ microsoft ‘dot’ com.
Is an internal deployment of Lync EV required for Communications competency?
Answer to follow
Finally please visit the Partner Membership Center to view your organization’s MCP and Certifications.
Malcolm Bullock 