Microsoft's 'Cloud PC' could be announced next week at Inspire

A Cloud PC service from Microsoft could let people access a remote Windows desktop from anywhere with an internet connection.

What you need to know

• Microsoft could announce a new Cloud PC service at its Inspire event next week.
• Cloud PC allows people to use remote Windows desktops from client devices.
• Placeholder session names and other hints suggest that an announcement could happen next week.

Microsoft could announce its new Cloud PC service at its Inspire event next week, according to ZDNet. While the company has not shared any specifics about Cloud PC, placeholder session names and other information indicate that an announcement is on the way.

On July 15, Microsoft has an event scheduled title "What's Next in End-User Computing." Scott Manchester is the director of Program Management for Cloud Managed Desktops at Microsoft. ZDNet also highlights that Manchester is a leader of development of Windows Virtual Desktop, Remote Desktop Services, Second Screen Remoting, Multimedia, and Networking technologies.

Sources told ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley earlier this year that Manchester is working on the Cloud PC service. It's a virtualized desktop-as-a-service that lets people use devices as remote clients for Windows desktops. With Cloud PC, people could use software such as Microsoft Office. It's a bit like Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud), except for productivity rather than gaming.

One of the main benefits of the Cloud PC service would be that people could access a remote Windows desktop from anywhere with an internet connection.

Cloud PC will reportedly differ from offerings like Windows Virtual Desktop, which is now known as Azure Virtual Desktop, in terms of its pricing model. People will be able to pay a flat per-user price for Cloud PC, according to ZDNet, as opposed to the pricing model of Windows Virtual Desktop, which depends on how much a person or organization uses Azure.

ZDNet also reports that Cloud PC is already in private testing at several organizations.