2009 Worldwide Partner Conference: (and details of awards)

Registration is now open for this year's Worldwide Partner conference, scheduled for July 13-16 in New Orleans.

By attending you can gain exclusive access to the latest information and insights about upcoming Microsoft strategies, cutting-edge technologies, and programs—directly from Microsoft leadership.

Learn more about the conference and register today to ensure your place.

You might also want to enter for a Worldwide Partner of the Year Award in your particular competency. Each year at the Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC), Microsoft recognizes the best in partner innovation and contributions —from competency excellence to supporting nonprofit technology access.

See here for an overview of the awards and check out the categories here.

For example, here are details of the ISV/Software Solutions category:

ISV/Software Solutions Partner of the Year

The Independent Software Vendor (ISV)/Software Solutions Partner of the Year award recognizes the ISV/Software Solutions competency partners who excel at developing and delivering packaged software to customers. Your software solution must work with one or more of the latest Microsoft server platforms and middleware products, including SQL Server 2008, Windows Server 2008, Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Microsoft Dynamics business management software (all products and versions), and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. The solution must also have been built using Microsoft .NET development frameworks and tools, including Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008. Your ISV software solution qualifies for this award if it helps customers make better-informed decisions and facilitate effective collaboration with colleagues, customers, and partners. Companies applying for this award should also have demonstrated effective partnering with Microsoft by using Microsoft Partner Program benefits and engaging with Microsoft to develop, create demand for, and sell their software solutions.

To be eligible for this award, you must:

ISV/Software Solutions Innovation Partner of the Year

The ISV/Software Solutions Innovation Partner of the Year award recognizes an ISV who has developed an innovative, disruptive approach to solving a new or existing business or consumer need based on the latest Microsoft server or client technologies. Companies applying for this award must have demonstrated leadership in the areas of innovation, market potential, media and analyst attention, investor value creation, and customer adoption with at least three active business customers or 1,000 consumers.

To be eligible for this award, you must:

Cross posted from Ronan's blog