In a strong message for tech giants as new coronavirus continues its unabated growth globally particularly in the US, Microsoft is planning to make all its events – internal as well as external – digital-only till July 2021.
According to a report in The Verge on Tuesday, the online-only focus is now extending to far more events over the next year. "In light of the challenges presented by COVID-19, Microsoft has been closely monitoring the developing global situation and re-assessing the overall company-wide in-person event strategy," the report said, quoting an an internal Microsoft email sent to most valuable professionals (MVPs).
"As a company, Microsoft has made the decision to transition all external and internal events to a digital-first experience through July 2021," it read. Microsoft has already announced that 'Ignite' which is its final major conference of 2020 in September has been shifted to a digital-only format.
‘Ignite' is Microsoft's conference for IT professionals and developers. Microsoft earlier cancelled its flagship developer conference 'Build 2020' in-person, scheduled to take place in the US from May 19-21.
Microsoft has also cancelled its Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Summit in Seattle. The tech giant would now rely on its own digital tools and Microsoft Teams to hold events remotely.
*Edited from an IANS report