Microsoft woos SMBs with WPC payment incentive

Vendor wants more, smaller resellers to attend its global partner get-together

Microsoft is trying to encourage more of its SMB partners to attend its Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) by introducing a new payment programme to spread the cost of tickets.

The event - which is usually held in North America - is designed to update partners on the latest channel news and introduce them to new technology and Microsoft execs. This year will be held in Washington DC in July.

The price to send one delegate to the event is $1,995 (£1,220), a figure which is often too much for some smaller partners who cannot afford the outlay on top of the time staff are not in the office.

But this year, the vendor has brought in a new payment plan to combat the fees.

Instead of coughing up the full amount for all delegates at once, partners will be able to pay a $1,000 deposit and pay the remaining cost in installments of $500.

Partner registration for the event opened last week and already some 150 firms have signed up from the UK.

Microsoft encouraged firms wanting to go to take advantage of the new scheme in order to bag themselves a place in the hotel for UK delegates before it fills up.

"Understandably, the cost of attending WPC can be a big hit, and so to ease the pressure on your business and give you a chance to secure a room in the UK hotel, we're pleased to announce a new way to pay for your all access pass," it said.

"New this year, and designed especially with SMB partners in mind, we are excited to introduce the payment plan."