Registration Opens for Microsoft WPC
Registration opened today for the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference. The event will be held July 11-15 in Washington, D.C.
WPC is traditionally the biggest Microsoft channel event of the year, with several thousand attendees, about half from the United States and half from the rest of the world. Microsoft usually brings in high-ranking executives like CEO Steve Ballmer, COO Kevin Turner, Worldwide Partner Group Corporate Vice President Allison Watson and others for keynotes. Hundreds of Microsoft employees and partners present sessions on product roadmaps, business best practices and technology drilldowns.
The conference takes on added importance this year for two reasons. First, Microsoft is flipping the switch from the old Microsoft Partner Program configuration, with its Gold Certified Partner, Certified Partners, Partner Points and Competency Specializations, to the new Microsoft Partner Network configuration with its Subscribers, Competency Partners and Advanced Competency Partners. WPC will be a major communications venue for Microsoft to explain and facilitate the transition.
Additionally, the company is promising to explain how Microsoft’s new “all in” strategy around cloud computing will impact partners.
There are several options for registering for WPC this year. For an All-access Event Pass, the standard partner fee is $1,795, a price that is good through July 10. The cost of purchasing an All-access Event Pass onsite will be $1,995, if space remains available.
This year, Microsoft is also offering Day Passes for $650, an Expo-only Week Pass for $150 and Guest Passes for $300.
More information is available here.
Posted by Scott Bekker on March 24, 2010