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, 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.