Born to Learn - Latest Comments in VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Erwin Chan — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:31:34 -0000

It was launched - mcpvirtualbusinesscard.com

It's not on the MCP private site because we're giving early access to MCTs and Born to Learn readers, but we're not limiting access. It'll go up there in January.

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Andrew — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:29:59 -0000

Unfortunately I cannot see anything new by following the link you gave me in an email response. It takes me to the top of the blog but that's it, as I can only see old comments and nothing new.

Is it possible for you to just advise me as to whether the 8th Dec 2009 launch date was honoured and if not how long should MCPs wait for the VBCs?

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Erwin Chan — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:18:39 -0000

Yup - check out the front page of the blog. It's been plastered there for the past few days.

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Andrew — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:39:10 -0000

Erwin,

You promised the Virtual card will launch on 08/ Dec / 2009. Did it come to fruition? How do we launch to the sight. I have not seen an email about the same and I have been on the road for a weel so I have not been in touch with current happenings.

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

AngryGerman — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:36:34 -0000

@MICROSOFT; Please, give us THE WALLET CARD back!

Shit! VBC! Shit!

what should i pay for it?

Please, please, please!

In the Windows 7 Party Box is nothing to see about Going Green. Marketing fouls.

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Eric Olson — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:45:03 -0000

i have not seen any updates posted about this, and was wondering when it was going to be available. i too would gladly volunteer to beta test.

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

kitkatninja — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:23:18 -0000

Any update on when the VBC's will be available?

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Stefan — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:36:28 -0000

I'want a real wallet card, not a damn Photoshop Image! Come on!

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Andrew Kwabula — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:17:35 -0000

The idea is really good. It seems the VBC will not be printer friendly, at least at lauch. It would have been GOOD if they include a printer friendly version because some employers or clients would want to verify someone's certification status without turning on the nearest PC.

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Andrew Kwabula — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:17:35 -0000

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Argon — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:53:29 -0000

Ok, you can not send "welcome kits" to entry level certifications like MCTS and Classic MCP, but if I am spent large amount of time and mony (exams, books, courses, trevel to test site) to became MCSE and MCITP: Enterprise Admin. I want my reward! I want my respect! I want my recognition! I want my wallet card. Why MCPs before this summer already got wallet cards, and i am late and will newer get it?

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Erwin Chan — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:33:05 -0000

@JD Please see this thread for more information and updates: http://borntolearn.mslearn....

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

JD — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:25:55 -0000

Welp, Summer is coming to an end. VBC's were supposed to be "launchng this Summer!!" Any news on this?

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

krsk — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:59:29 -0000

Hi Ken Rosen,

Surely we need to know, what is really going on as MCPs! Its now August 21 and you can see the message below post here on response to my message.
Well first, its a month and i've not recieved my documents (Server 2009) i ordered for at a total of $14.90 USD. I come from Africa and before these changes M$ come up with, we used to get our kits in 5 days upon ordering. Yes 5 days but its now a month after we are paying extra money for those kits. What is happening.
Second, we were reliable informed here that August 17, 2009 the Virtual_Business_Cards will be out for us to appreciate! But there is total no news on that issue! Tell us what we are left with and when we should expect to appreciate those VB cards.
Cheers

Hi krsk, we appreciate the note! Unfortunately, the wallet cards (and the welcome kits they were a part of) are now a thing of the past.

The virtual business cards will be live next month. I realize that means you’ll wait an extra couple of weeks for your business card credentials, and I apologize for that. We’ll get it launched as quickly as we can, and I hope you’ll find it as much of an inspiration (if not more so!) than the physical wallet cards.

Posted by: Ken Rosen | Jul 14, 2009 at 8:11 am

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Kal2001 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:47:40 -0000

By the way this August, on what date will we start using the new virtual business card website?

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Kal2001 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:38:26 -0000

Well I must I admit I am still in love with the wallet cards. I received my certs today, MCP and MCSA and when I opened, behold the wallet cards were missing.
Actually am capable of printing my own certs in vibrant colors so I only ordered the certs so that I get the accompanied wallet cards. I thought though digital certs have been discontinued, but can be ordered, then if I order I would get what I used to get before the change.

I may have misread the mcp email because I got the impression if you pay for postage you get the package of cert and wallet card.

As others are saying, you can't step in the same river twice, the river changes! May be it's for the best, because one does not have to wait. I think employers will eventually identify with the new virtual card because everything needs getting used to. If an employer doubts your credibilty, why not use the mcp sharing too, like the wise man who included an mcp link with password to dare the employer to mistraust him!

So fellow MCPs, it might be for the best, don't tell me you are still crying over the fact that XP may be fading slowly, embrace windows 7, change is INEVITABLE and somewhat painful.

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

dronzer001 — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 06:09:44 -0000

Yes i admit Change is Good.......

But Frankly Speaking,I Still think
that the old wallet Cards Were Very Good & Ristocrate........
If Possible..Plz Bring the old wallet Card back.....I mean,we can pay for it...........Plzzzzzz for god sake.

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Peter Trast — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:08:28 -0000

All my dear fellow MCP's:

Change is hard, I admit, but wouldn't you agree that change is precisely the driving force that allows us to sell our skills to customers and employers? Most of us thrive on delivering solutions based on our abilities to adapt to the ever changing environment that is information technology. If you dislike change so much, in all sincerity I ask you, shouldn't you have in a career less fraught with change, like... I don't know, maybe accounting? ;) I rock the IT world I exist in because I adapt constantly to new technologies ("I luv technolgy, but not as much as you, you see" - Kip) and lesser beings cling to the AS400 in the basement while their salaries stagnate and their upward mobility disappears. Don't fear change! It fills our 401k's and gives us stock options and keeps us from getting bored out of our skulls (I am SO glad NT 4 is history...)

I admit, ownership of my wallet card was a partial deciding factor when up against another potential hire. And I also had my certificates with me. My "opponent" had neither "with him" and was given the opportunity by the prospective employer to produce them the next day, which he did not. I suspect he was not actually certified. BUT, when I asked the employer (after he hired me) what tipped the scales in my favor, he mentioned not only the card and my certificates but said he was especially impressed with the transcript sharing tool which I had just added to my resume, including the ID and password. He called it a virtual extension of my resume. He admitted that he had always been suspicious of certificates and had never seen a wallet card, but that seeing the Microsoft URL in the address bar while viewing my transcript was very reassuring of it's validity.

So, while I covet (yes I do!) a new wallet card (I still have my 8 old ones in the "I love me" book with my certificates, and the latest one in my wallet) for the next MCTS that I will complete in the next 2 weeks, I am willing to see what the newest technology will be like and how I can use it to boost my value in the marketplace (let's make sure it is awesome MS,ok??)

2500 years ago, a smart greek dude, Heraclitus, said, "The only constant is change." I think it is cool to have "old school" certs and cards, and discontinuation of the cards will make the ones we already have more valuable, imho...
My students will just have to accept that they came to the game late ;)

In all sincerity, consider the possibilities (good too, not just bad) of these changes.

Happy troubleshooting to all! (and hi to you Ken! See you at TechEd next year? company budget allowing...)

Your friendly neighborhood MCP, MCSA 2000 2003, MCSE 2000 2003, MCDBA SQL 2000, MCTS (X4), MCITP, MCT (and near future MCM?)(only 15 exams so far)

Peter Trast
Centriq Training in Kansas City
(all: twitter me to grab BBQ lunch when in KC!)

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

DEPOLO — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:07:51 -0000

it looks nice;but it would have been better if ms could do it itself with the certificate's holder picture, so that all around the world those wallet card 'll look uniform

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Ken Rosen — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:11:22 -0000

Hi krsk, we appreciate the note! Unfortunately, the wallet cards (and the welcome kits they were a part of) are now a thing of the past.

The virtual business cards will be live next month. I realize that means you'll wait an extra couple of weeks for your business card credentials, and I apologize for that. We'll get it launched as quickly as we can, and I hope you'll find it as much of an inspiration (if not more so!) than the physical wallet cards.

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

krsk — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:53:42 -0000

Ken, i landed on this forum as i was finding out how i can request for my MCITP wallet card.
After reading through most of the submission, I have one request, that you/MS allow those who qualify for their wallet Cards and Certificates to get them as hawkeye completes his project and when its done, then you can switch over to your new plans

I must tell you that the Wallet Card has alot of significance of one's achievement and its all the HR Managers ask for in interviews.(Got a friend who missed a job because he didn't have it when he was asked to show it in an interview with a certain Bank) Give a chance to those who want them to request for them (whether at a fee or as its been) but also tag that fee to the examination fees. Credit, debit, master cards are not so much in use in developing countries like Uganda where i hail from.
Please be considerate and know that not all MCPs are from USA and that those who are from developing countries toil so much indeed to achieve to certification.
Trust me, with this change very few folks will lose the moral to certify because they will not be much inspiration for them. The wallet card has been an inspiration.

Lastly, i am completing my MCITP requirements this week and would like to know if i will be able to recieve my Certificate and Wallet card. Just being curious because there is no information on the MCP Home since 1 July 09 on that and i have not recieved a reply to my inquiry on that issue that i sent to 1-2 weeks ago to MS
If so then, how and where can i request those items because that page is nolonger available on the MCP HOME and this page is also "dead" with no connection.(http://www.microsoft.com/le...

I am ok with the Green IT drive but i request you to do it progressively while valuing those resourceful opinions. We can all make the world a better place to live.

Thanks
For God and My Country Uganda

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Ken Rosen (Microsoft) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:57:08 -0000

Hi Dale,

The site will be operated by Hawkeye, just like our certificates are provided by Arvato, and like our exams are delivered by Prometric.

We typically work with and through partners and vendors on solutions like this, linking our systems to theirs so that your certification data is kept up-to-date.

Not sure what you mean by a subscription service, but if you're asking if there's a fee: no.

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Dale — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:37:43 -0000

So if this isnt run by MS (looks like some company called hawkeye) is it going to be a subscription service? How will they known what cert(s) you've got.

I like my wallet cards, have I used it much? no, gave it to my current employer when I started as verification of my status, and thats been about it. Will I miss it yes. Its a tough one but I dont think there is anything anyone can do to reverse it even if it is a bad idea. MS have decided and thats it.
I can always use the MS transcript if verification is required by anyone, and TBH I would just be happy for MS to say, you know what we cant be bothered to make wallet cards any more just use your transcripts! If they just made the transcript page a bit better looking then I'd be happy with that.

Dale

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Shujauddin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:13:51 -0000

Yes Marlon, if Microsoft will not send my welcome kits, certificates and wallet card, I will no longer be likely to spend for taking course and exams, I can copy past my name and picture and will get certified in few minutes, you know it is totally a corruption, if I take and example of my country it is really required to show up the original certificates and welcome kits and wallet cards for employers, so please open the ordering button for welcome kits and certificates.

Re: VBC Experience Site For MCP’s

Marlon — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:40:41 -0000

i think there are somethings that we should not change. Imagine college graduates getting digital certificate. Universities will just email it to them and they have the option to print how many copies they want. Technology is good but i think not in this aspect. I think they should continue sending welcome kits and certificates. It's cheesy but that's how the way people like it.
Do you want people send you a scanned copy of dollars as payment for the exam :) :) (just kidding)