Microsoft KB Archive/305577

= Microsoft Advisory Service Cases Are Limited to 40 Billable Hours =

PSS ID Number: 305577

Article Last Modified on 7/29/2003

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

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This article was previously published under Q305577



SUMMARY
The Microsoft Advisory Service provides consultative assistance that:
 * Is focused on specific tasks in a deployment project.
 * Is delivered remotely from Microsoft offices throughout North America
 * May not be greater than 40-billable hours.

If you require more than 40 billable hours of assistance, you can contact Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS), or Microsoft Certified Partners.



MORE INFORMATION
The Microsoft Advisory Service provides immediate access to highly-skilled Microsoft resources for consultative assistance. Small to medium-sized Companies and IT professionals can use the Microsoft Advisory Service to accelerate the deployment of Microsoft Products, optimize the use of current and emerging technologies, and obtain higher-quality deployments. The Microsoft Advisory Service is designed for developers and IT professionals who do not require on-site consulting or sustained account-management services. The Microsoft Advisory Service provides short-term, proactive assistance for specific design, development or deployment issues, and is limited to 40 billable hours. On-site consulting or sustained account-management services are available from Microsoft Solution Providers, Microsoft Consulting Services or Microsoft Premier Support.

If you require Microsoft Advisory Service help with multiple products, separate cases may be generated to avoid exceeding the 40 billable-hours limit. This makes it possible for you to continue with the Microsoft Advisory Service and not be forced to obtain the assistance of Microsoft Consulting Services or local Microsoft Certified Partners.

The Microsoft Advisory Service is available by calling (800) 936-5200. You have the option of being billed for an initial one-hour service assessment. A Microsoft Support Professional will review the work to be performed, and then either complete the work or provide a proposal to complete the work that includes an estimate of the total billable hours. As of December 2002, advisory services are billed at the rate of $210.00 for each hour and are available from 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Pacific Standard time, Monday through Friday. Customers who are hard-of-hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone services (TT/TDD) at (800) 892-5234 in the United States. International customers can reach the Microsoft Advisory Service in the United States at (425) 635-7092 or can contact the local Microsoft office. For a list of offices, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide

If the estimate requires more than 40-billable hours to complete the work, the Microsoft Advisory Service may not be your best option, and you may have to consider one of the following services.

Microsoft Consulting Services
MCS offers a full complement of IT experts and programs to help with enterprise program planning, advanced technology, e-commerce, distributed network architecture computing, and more. For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/business/services/mcs.asp

Microsoft Certified Partners
Microsoft Certified Partners are independent companies that provide customers with high-level technical expertise, strategic thinking, and hands-on skills. Microsoft Certified Partners encompass a broad range of expertise and vendor affiliations and can help customers to prioritize and effectively deliver technology solutions. For information about how to locate a Microsoft Certified Partner, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://mcspreferral.microsoft.com

Keywords: kbinfo KB305577

Technology: kbwin2000AdvServ kbwin2000AdvServSearch kbwin2000Search kbwin2000Serv kbwin2000ServSearch kbWinAdvServSearch

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