Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference: Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Microsoft (MSFT) is hosting its annual Worldwide Partner Conference July 13-16 in Orlando, gathering its channel partners for four days of updates around the company’s technology and partner offerings. This year’s event comes on the heels of upheaval in the company, most recently layoffs impacting its mobile hardware and Sales, Marketing and Services Group. So what can we expect to hear about? Read on for my thoughts:

Cloud

But when it comes to the cloud, things are sunnier than ever for Microsoft and its partners. I expect Microsoft will announce changes to its Cloud Solution Provider program that have the potential make the cloud even more lucrative to partners.

Mobility

With all of the bloodletting occurring in Microsoft’s phone hardware group, will Microsoft’s mobility focus change to an all-licensing, no manufacturing model for Windows phones? My gut says yes—there are too many smartphone vendors for Microsoft to compete against effectively. If Microsoft can’t make it shine, it’s not gonna make it at all.

Hardware

Phones notwithstanding, Microsoft’s hardware plays have fared pretty well of late. I’m thinking specifically of the Microsoft Surface and Xbox (and my intuition screaming that Microsoft is working to somehow integrate Xbox into the enterprise). I expect we will hear hardware news—could a Hololens/Xbox combination be the next big enterprise play?

Windows 10

We’ve heard just about everything there is to hear about the impending arrival of Windows 10. But Microsoft’s not going to let a major event go by without talking about the latest generation of its venerable OS. I don’t expect any barn-burners, but I do expect Microsoft to say something—anything—about Windows 10.

Other Stuff

There’s gotta be more. Why else would WPC last four days?

Stay tuned to The VAR Guy as WPC gets underway, and for continued coverage throughout the week (provided, of course, I don’t melt).