Steve Ballmer gave a glimpse of the new Windows 8 on the client and server today at Dell World. Ballmer also used the keynote to show Lync with new capabilities that will allow for Skype integration with corporate instant messaging. Incidentally, the Skype acquisition closed today.

Ballmer framed the keynote by showing how Microsoft is seeking to re-imagine itself. “How do we remake the UI?,”Ballmer asked. “How do we build on the foundation of Windows 7?”

In its demo, Ballmer’s team showcased Windows 8 client and Windows 8 server. As we have seen before, Windows 8 is similar to the Windows Phone UI. The lock screen shows the WiFi connection, the power, emails missed and calendar items just as we see on Windows Phone devices.

The start screen is in the new Metro-style user interface and is designed for touch and a keyboard interface.

After the demo, Ballmer said: “The goal today – wet your whistles.”

The Lync demo showed a built-in translator for chat. Lync can be used with an interactive projector that allows for remote sharing of a whiteboard. The idea: Lync can be used for small and big devices.

Now the question: How will Skype be integrated? There has been little on that topic as of yet but Ballmer did say it will be integrated with Lync, allowing for Skype users to use it for secure, corporate instant messaging.

Services Angle

Ballmer talked a lot about re-imagining the issues in the enterprise. But the real message: Microsoft still sees itself as a one-stop shop. Is that viable? It seems less so than ever. The shared technologies of the open-source community is the big story. No one company can own the stack.

But you will never hear Ballmer talk about open-source like VMware CEO Paul Maritz did yesterday. And, really, that’s the future. The next generation of apps will demand it.

Does that mean Microsoft is irrelevant? Hardly. Windows 8 is a big leap forward. It’s new UI will have appeal. The question, though, is how it will be embraced by developers. Building that developer community will be increasingly important in this new world of app development.

Disclosure: Dell paid for my airfare and hotel expenses to Austin for Dell World.