Wow what a first day at WPC 2010 here in Washington DC. The morning was packed full with keynotes. Steve Ballmer took the stage to acknowledge the path Microsoft has chosen to embrace with partners. Ballmer discussed the key dimensions of the Cloud and finished by challenging partners to reinvent the business model. Bob Muglia outlined how Microsoft provides a comprehensive, integrated service and server platform that allows customers and partners to deploy clouds when and where they want while Tami Reller detailed the tremendous partner opportunity with Windows 7 and announced the beta release of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1, which enhance the deployment and management of virtualized desktop infrastructure. Reller also emphasized the role of the cloud in Windows and announced the second public beta of Windows Intune, a new offering that uses the best of both Windows cloud services and Windows 7 to manage and help secure PCs.

Closing out the keynote addresses, Stephen Elop highlighted growing partner momentum for Microsoft Online Services (MOS), shared examples of how partners are delivering value to customers with MOS and announced the new partnerships with communications service providers, including Bell Canada, BT, PGi, TDC, and Telenor Group, as well as distributors Ingram Micro and Tech Data. Elop also announced the naming and expected beta availability of the next version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

On the Dynamics note, the afternoon was devoted to vision keynotes and break-out sessions.  Kirill Tatarinov and Michael Park kicked off the Dynamics track in front of packed audience of 1100 people (plus another 150+ in an overflow room) with Jesper Lachance Raebild giving an outstanding demo of the functionality of NAV 2009 R2 in the cloud. 

Following the keynotes was the ERP strategy session, again to a full house where we had a chance to about our strategy and tactics with some key partners on stage to add some extra flavor also. The sessions ended with Ricky Gangsted Rasmussen on stage talking S+S (the cloud is obviously a major theme this year.)

Day 2 has already kicked off - love Kinect!! More to come soon...

Best Regards

Luke Shave & Guy Weismantel, ERP Industry Marketing Manager

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