Microsoft honchos steer clear of Tech.Ed

Beverley Head
Friday, 28 August 2009 09:14

IT Industry - Development

Unlike previous years when Microsoft has rolled out the big-guns to address the faithful who roll up for Tech.Ed, in 2009 it will be left to the technology itself to take on the starring role as there won’t be a keynote.  

The three day event being held on Queensland’s Gold Coast in September will have instead “multiple Microsoft corporate and local spokespeople exploring, in-depth, the latest wave of technology coming from Microsoft.  Major areas of interest for Tech.Ed 2009 include the launch of Windows 7; Office 2010 technical preview program; Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Server 2008 R2.” So there.

It’s in stark contrast to previous developer love-ins when Australian audiences have been treated to high profile Microsofters including blogger Frank Arrigo in 2007, corporate anthropologist Anne Kirah in 2006 and the then Live Mesh boss, Amit Mital in 2008. Microsoft’s tack this year seems to be to focus less on the personalities and more on the product. It’s perhaps not surprising as it’s got the doozy of conference giveaways with 2,500 HP Mini 2140s, preloaded with Windows 7 to give away or loan to attendees.  

For diehards staying until the end of the annual shindig, and lamenting the lack of a keynote however, there will still be a locknote – this year by Phil Fawcett, principal research program manager, from Redmond