6+2 Things I Learned At The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference

The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) is taking place this week in Los Angeles. Steve Ballmer delivered Monday's keynote speech about the future of Microsoft, along with help from VP Tami Reller. Sitting in on the lecture and walking the exhibition hall, here are a bunch of interesting factoids I picked up today:

• 50,000 businesses have tried Office 365 since its release.

• Microsoft says 90% of enterprises are 'committed to Windows'

• 2/3 of PCs today (300 million) are still running Windows XP.

• Windows 8, which was touted as 'more touch screen, more mobile, more devices, working with a changing web in a secure cloud environment' at first glance, looks like Windows 7 meets the iPad.

• A heterogeneous IT environment to Microsoft seems to be Windows 7 working with ... Windows XP.

• According to Microsoft, Gartner and IDC say that Windows Phone will be number 2 in mobile operating system market by 2015.

• Xbox Live TV will be available for the holiday season ... .Just what we need--more ways to get more TV on our TV.

In the exhibit hall, Microsoft is showing Microsoft Surface, a joint effort with Samsung. The idea is a multitouch 'Windows' table that provides a very cool user experience. Several applications were showcased--including a novel use of the Bing search engine -- where multiple search groups can be opened and dragged around the table simultaneously, and an "Absolut Mixer" app sponsored by Absolut that is intended for bars. The app (shown below) allows people to mix music on two virtual turntables; the app suggests cocktails based on the music and tempo selected. The Microsoft rep in the booth said there are a variety of vertical uses in areas as broad as retail, financial services, professional services, health care, public sector and several others. Not sure what the killer app will be for Surface, but it is definitely cool.

Windows Phone is also prominently displayed in the exhibit hall, with a host of hardware and services partners also plying their wares. I wasn't blown away by the user experience; it's not as intuitive as the iPhone, but I can see where Microsoft's marketing clout and its partnerships will give Windows Phone a big boost in the market.

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Microsoft is certainly making a big effort to show that they are a cool and innovative company. By highlighting the Xbox/Kinect community, Surface, and Windows Phone, there is a sense that cool things are happening in Redmond. Back office corporate offerings like Dynamics and SharePoint don't have the same kind of prime real estate in the exhibition hall.