Since presumably Microsoft only cares about cumulative user count generated by sales, perhaps this is truly to widen the field on the SMB side. Now in theory, every IT company selling Windows and SQL and every accounting company can also sell NAV/GP/SL. That should/could translate in a lot more sales for MS ... So not necessarily taking support away: just simply making NAV/GP/SL as Office and Windows and ... dare I say "QuickBooks"? Better for current partner ecosystem's business? Definitely not. But then Microsoft will point out that there is always NetSuite and others ... Better implementations for customers? Doubtful. But "Buyer Beware" has always been their mantra hopefully ... If I am even close to being right, I frankly will welcome the implied minimal intervention (read meddling) from MS even if it comes with the price of less support from MS (which frankly was non-existent anyway ... AX for a 5 users system anyone?)

The GP in the Cloud initiatives nixed GP salespeople and significantly reduced aggregate consulting hours. It seems this is yet another move towards absconding with Partners' slice of pie. That gong ringing in the back of your head is the sound the SPA death-knell. Prepare for it... Methinks it is all great news for customers until they find themselves calling for support and finding the days of when that GP person on the other end knew every nuance about that customer's business, processes, and quirks has been replaced by a call center. Mc-sales, Mc-implementations, and Mc-support seem to be the future direction. Fries with that? To survive the coming changes, Partners are going to have to be very big or very small. Change is good...unless it is managed ineptly...

Perhaps Microsoft's long term strategy is to discontinue both NAV & GP and "force" us all onto AX. Why have the AX exams not been discontinued? Food for thought.