Microsoft: Late XP migration could be a VAR boon

Channel chiefs Phil Sorgen and Linda Rendleman open up

Microsoft has admitted it expects users to still be on Windows XP after the imminent end-of-support deadline, but said stragglers could present a big opportunity for partners.

Support for the 13-year-old operating system is due to end on 8 April, but despite the well-publicised migration campaign, Microsoft said it still expects smoe users to be firing up XP after D-Day.

Yesterday IDC pointed to the operating system's death as the main reason behind a spike in UK commercial PC shipments last quarter, and today Microsoft's UK new channel boss Linda Rendleman said the boost could last a while longer.

"The resellers I've talked to are saying that there is more opportunity [for XP migrations] than there is time to convert people off it," she said. "The interest is certainly there. We're focused on providing programmes to help partners work through [customer migrations]."

The vendor's global channel chief Phil Sorgen (pictured) agreed and said his team will continue to work hard on support well after the deadline.

"We don't think the job will be done on 8 April," he said.

"We'll continue to work with partners and provide the readiness and tools that enabled them to move customers they have moved to date. We'll continue to work with customers through our partner ecosystem after 8 April."

Last month, Microsoft rolled out the first stage of its Partner Network makeover, which saw separate cloud competencies incorporated into the other certifications in a move it claimed proved its acknowledgment of and commitment to the technology.

The overhaul was planned to come into force at the start of this year, but after partners said the move was too much, too soon, it decided to split it into two phases instead.

Sorgen insisted that although Microsoft focuses a lot on its cloud offerings, traditional Microsoft VARs which are just getting into the technology are just as important to the firm.

"There's a huge focus on our [traditional, non-cloud partners]," he said. "With an ecosystem our size, we are not going to be able to [meet our ambitions] exclusively through new companies emerging in the cloud.

"While it's important we show agility and optimise our programmes for the cloud, I call them ‘equal opportunity' [changes] for both our ‘born in the cloud' partners and partners who are transforming into cloud."

Rendleman agreed.

"I like to say that I love my babies all the same," she quipped. "It's just about different attention for different ones. We've worked really hard to help [partners] train and skill up their salespeople to take [up] the opportunity of cloud."