Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2008 coverage

The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2008 welcomed 12,000 solution providers to Houston from July 7-10.

Highlights included keynote addresses in the Toyota Center from CEO Steve Ballmer, COO Kevin Turner, business division president Stephen Elop and channel vice president Allison Watson. Other executives and guests spent the days in breakout sessions, teaching Microsoft partners how to take advantage of products and services. And on the floor of the George R. Brown Convention Center, hundreds of Microsoft partners promoted their businesses and formed new partnerships with each other.

The following resources cover all of the news from the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2008 and its effects on Microsoft partners as they enter a new fiscal year.

News

  • Microsoft to fight 'Mac vs. PC' ads, address Windows Vista problems
    At the Worldwide Partner Conference, Microsoft finally starts sticking up for Vista. Is it too late?

  • Microsoft outlines partner payout plan for hosted online services push
    Microsoft partners will see an initial referral fee and recurring margin for bringing customers to Microsoft hosted online services.

  • Ballmer pledges Windows skills will carry over to Microsoft cloud
    Microsoft partners will be able to parlay their current Windows, .NET skills in the company's future cloud infrastructure, CEO Steve Ballmer said.

  • Microsoft to partners: Growth opportunities lie in virtualization, UC
    Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and COO Kevin Turner tout growth opportunities for partners, including virtualization, unified communications and database products.

  • Microsoft offers free support to boost Windows Vista migrations
    Microsoft is giving free phone support to small businesses, but partners doubt it will drive adoption of the much-maligned OS.

  • Microsoft juices SMB push with server bundle schedules
    Microsoft partners can get the software development kit for Windows Essential Business Server (EBS) with release candidates of EBS and Small Business Server for SMBs to follow.

  • Microsoft to add CRM accelerators, online marketplace
    Microsoft is turning to its substantial partner channel to build out its CRM capabilities, developing a site to help customers connect with partners and an accelerator program.

    Blogs

  • Another Microsoft exec, another hosted ERP story
    Continuing the confusion over vendor-hosted ERP, a Microsoft Dynamics exec says the company isn't convinced it's a good business model.

  • Microsoft roadmap tidbits from WPC
    Release date information for SQL Server 2008, Hyper-V, Office Communications Server and other products trickled out throughout the conference.

  • Microsoft security partners get bonuses for selling identity products
    Microsoft enhances benefits for partners in its new security and identity business group.

  • Microsoft Online Services by the numbers
    Facts and figures from business division president Stephen Elop's keynote address.

  • Microsoft confirms 'Mac vs. PC' counterattack
    Corporate vice president Brad Brooks says the sleeping giant has woken up in the operating system wars.

  • Microsoft working on hosted ERP software
    Microsoft research and development is working on vendor-hosted ERP, according to a partner marketing executive.

  • Microsoft: We will cut partners in on our hosted infrastructure services
    Word leaks out that Microsoft will compensate partners for selling vendor-hosted Exchange, SharePoint and Office Communications Server.

  • More on Microsoft org changes
    Additional details on changes in Microsoft's U.S. partner group.

  • Microsoft reorgs U.S. partner group
    Microsoft shuffles its channel executive lineup on the eve of the Fourth of July – and its Worldwide Partner Conference.

    Multimedia

  • Partner News Podcast: Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference
    Hear about the big SaaS and Vista news coming out of Houston and how it affects Microsoft partners.

  • Video: Steve Ballmer speaks at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference
    Watch CEO Steve Ballmer thank Microsoft partners for their work and lay the groundwork for a services-based future.

  • Microsoft partners adjust to selling online services
    Hear Microsoft partners discuss Microsoft's Software as a Service strategy and their plans for selling online services.

    This was first published in July 2008

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