Microsoft Charts New Paths for Partners With Software Plus Services

Microsoft announces business and partner model for the Windows Azure platform at the company's Worldwide Partner Conference.

NEW ORLEANS, July 14 -- Today at its annual partner conference, Microsoft Corp. announced new details of the company's cloud computing offerings and shared its vision for how software plus services will help enable partners to generate new revenue opportunities and provide enhanced customer value in today's changing economic landscape.

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"Our partners play a critical role in delivering software plus services solutions that provide the combination of choice and flexibility that businesses are looking for," said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. "In the process of delivering these solutions, partners are seizing the opportunity to strengthen relationships with customers, provide new experiences and deliver more business value."

In his keynote address, Bob Muglia, president of the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft, announced the business and partner model for the company's Windows Azure platform. He also discussed in his keynote address how Microsoft will enable partners to generate new revenue opportunities through the development of innovative cloud services. More information is available at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/jul09/07-14WPCAzurePR.mspx.

The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, July 13-16 in New Orleans, is the company's premier event for the more than 640,000 business partners that sell, customize, build upon, implement and support Microsoft solutions, generating more than 95 percent of Microsoft's revenue.

Additional news from the Worldwide Partner Conference today includes the following:

  --  Microsoft Announces Go-to-Market Program for Hosting Providers
  --  Windows Marketplace for Mobile Offers Millions of Potential New
      Customers to Developers
  --  Microsoft Introduces New BizTalk Server 2009 Editions for RFID and
      ISVs
  --  Microsoft and HDI Announce New Windows 7 Desktop Support Certification

  --  Microsoft Debuts New Volume Licensing Offerings

Keynote speakers on Wednesday will include B. Kevin Turner, chief operating officer of Microsoft, and Allison Watson, corporate vice president of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

For more information about the Worldwide Partner Conference:

News and new digital content will be posted continually throughout the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference. For the latest content, please visit the event newsroom at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/wwpc.