The next generation of Windows starts now  
For many years, Windows has evolved to meet the needs of businesses, students, gamers and consumers, and each version of Windows has created opportunities for our partners to deliver new devices, solutions, and experiences for customers. This past year we’ve witnessed unprecedented challenges in the world, and while PCs have always been essential in work and home life, this year showed us just how fundamental the PC is to our daily life and how important professional and personal connection really is.  

Today we announced that Microsoft is bringing a new generation of innovation to the partner ecosystem with Windows 11. Completely reimagined and simplified, Windows 11 is built to instantly connect you to the people you care about, the apps you want, the information you need, and the games you love.   

The power of an open platform  

Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. From the earliest days in our company history, we’ve relied on the innovation and collaboration of our incredible partner network to help make that possible. Windows is an open platform that enables our partners to innovate, providing customers with the broadest choice of devices—across form factors, styles, and features—whether they are working, learning, creating, or gaming.  

Check out the video below to hear first-hand how Windows 11 is creating opportunity for our device and silicon partners.  

New ways to interact 

Windows 11 introduces a new platform for hardware innovation for our partners. For a complete description of the new features in Windows 11, check out the Windows blog authored by Panos Panay. Here are few highlights that are sure to provide great user experiences on our partners’ devices:  

• Voice typing makes the keyboard optional, allowing your work to be transcribed into text effortlessly.  

• Digital pen allows for creative and personal touches, helping users write and draw naturally – annotate a PDF, website, image, and more.  

• Intuitive touch gestures enable fluid workflows. No mouse necessary, use multi-finger gestures for quicker navigation.  

The digital pen, touchscreen, and voice typing capabilities of Windows 11 enable new experiences across our partners’ device portfolios, making any kind of device easier to use – however you want to use it.  

We have also partnered closely with our OEM and silicon partners to deliver the most secure version of Windows ever. We increased the security baseline by requiring a security chip like the TPM2.0, and ensuring protections like Hardware-Based Isolation, Secure Boot and Hypervisor Code Integrity are built in and turned on by default to protect from malware and sophisticated attacks. Microsoft believes in a secure-by-design approach. We have a clear vision for how to protect our customers and to address current and future security threats with built-in security, which in turn helps our partners keep customers more secure.  

Unleashing new opportunities for ISVs  

PCs enable people to create, consume, and collaborate in unique and authentic ways, and our Independent Software Vendors (ISV) partners develop apps and cloud to edge solutions to enhance those experiences. Windows continues to be the platform that connects the most ISVs to the most customers around the world, and Windows 11 offers a fresh API platform for application builders to develop, launch and sell their apps.  

We truly believe that openness enables exceptional innovation, and Windows 11 coupled with Microsoft Azure (and its global reach) and custom cloud solutions, present infinitely scalable opportunities for our partners. With many language options and accessibility features, Windows 11 opens the doors for application builders to deliver a comprehensive choice of cloud apps and cloud to edge solutions to help people create content, capture and manage data, manage their businesses and finances, and more. Over the past year we’ve seen tremendous growth in app development for Microsoft Teams, HoloLens, Azure Stack HCI and Windows IoT. With the Microsoft commercial marketplace, there are more opportunities than ever for ISVs to sell their applications, and it is easier than ever for customers to locate the latest ISV applications in an effortless browsing experience.

Accelerating GSI and advisory partner impact  

Global Systems Integrators (GSI) and advisory partners play an integral role, advising customers as to the value of migrating to a new version of Windows, and by providing deployment, desktop management services, device set up, and support. Windows 11 will enable GSIs to help keep their customers’ devices protected through cloud management services, and by using cloud-based tools to deploy the latest security updates. GSIs will have full control to approve, schedule, and monitor any Windows Update content, including security updates, drivers, and firmware.

Channel sales opportunity  

The Microsoft partner community has been at the center of how we bring technologies and business transformation to customers around the world for decades. Windows 11 provides a new platform for distributors, resellers and services partners to innovate, grow their businesses, and to deliver on the promise of digital transformation for customers across organizations, and industries. 

First, showcasing the benefits of modern hardware on Windows 11 can accelerate device refresh. Second, migrating customers to Microsoft 365 helps establish higher value, subscription revenue streams from device to the cloud – from monthly Microsoft 365 subscriptions to Azure Virtual Desktop and Device as a Service (DaaS).  Third, by leveraging Windows and Microsoft 365 technologies and tools such as Azure Active Directory, Intune, Endpoint Analytics, Autopilot and Cloud Configuration, partners are well-positioned to deliver highly scalable, cloud-based device and application deployment, management, custom solutions, and support services.  And lastly, with Windows 11 and Microsoft 365, partners can deliver the zero-trust ready identity and security services that commercial customers are searching for.

Microsoft has a clear vision for what’s next for Windows 

Microsoft is built on the strength of our partner ecosystem, and the next few months will bring a groundswell of innovation and opportunity for our partners and customers around the world. The next generation of businesses, consumers, students, and gamers are ready for more personal, streamlined experiences at work and play. Our Device, ISV, GSI, and channel partners are poised to scale their businesses by providing organizations with edge to cloud solutions enhanced by Windows 11.  

Together with our partners, we’re ready to seize the moment, and make this a great year for the Windows ecosystem and our joint customers. Join us in a few weeks at Microsoft Inspire to learn more.