Microsoft lures SMBs to WPC with payment scheme

Vendor rolls out payment plan to encourage smaller firms to attend its global partner get-together

Microsoft is hoping to encourage smaller partners to its Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) event by offering them discounts and an instalment-based payment plan.

WPC will be held in Orlando, Florida, in July and the full price of an all-access pass for one delegate is $2,295 (£1,522). The pass gives delegates access to keynotes from top Microsoft executives, product demos and networking opportunities, as well as info on the company's strategy for the year ahead.

Microsoft introduced its SMB-focused payment plan last year and is rolling it out again for this year's event.

As part of the plan - which is available to all its resellers - partners are required to pay an initial $1,000, with the balance paid in $500 instalments.

On top of that, for tomorrow and Thursday only, Microsoft is offering partners a $100 discount on delegate tickets.

Microsoft came under fire earlier this year over the price of WPC when the vendor offered partners the chance to reserve a spot in a top-location hotel, but charged them $500 to do so, prompting claims from some firms that the company was taxing them.

Microsoft said it hopes the new measures will encourage a wide spectrum of partners to come to the gathering.

"Understandably, the cost of attending WPC can be a big hit, but there is a place for all partners - both big and small - at the conference," it said.

"That's why we want to make registering as flexible as possible. If you're concerned about cost, our WPC Payment Plan lets you pay incrementally for your all-access pass to WPC 2015 after an initial down payment.

"This eases the pressure on your business and gives you a chance to book early."