New Delhi: The Indian unit of Microsoft is seeing a good early response to Windows 7, its recently launched operating system, its chairman said on Monday.
The Indian unit, which employs 5,300 people, has "no significant plans of hiring" this year, Ravi Venkatesan told reporters at the World Economic Forum.
India and China contributed a very small portion of Microsoft's global revenues, but he said "we are seeing good double-digit growth".
Monday, November 9, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
MICROSOFT TO CUT JOBS WORLDWIDE
Global software major Microsoft will slash hundreds of jobs globally as part of its effort to realign business activities.
The layoffs are expected to be across different locations and businesses. Sources said the number of possible lay-offs could be close to 800.
When contacted, a Microsoft India spokesperson said the impact on the company's India headcount would be in single digits. The firm currently employs about 5,300 in the country.
"We continue to review our business needs and align our resources accordingly, be it our headcount or our spending.
The impact on India remains minimal and in single digit. At the same time, we continue to hire in priority areas," the spokesperson said.
In January, the software major had announced plans to trim 5,000 jobs. At that time, Microsoft said it would cut up to 5,000 jobs in research and development, HR, marketing, sales, finance, legal, and IT.
Four months later, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer had warned the company might axe more jobs depending on the impact of the economic downturn.
"As we move forward, we will continue to closely monitor the impact of the economic downturn on the company and if necessary, take further actions on our cost structure, including additional job eliminations," Ballmer had said in May.
The layoffs are expected to be across different locations and businesses. Sources said the number of possible lay-offs could be close to 800.
When contacted, a Microsoft India spokesperson said the impact on the company's India headcount would be in single digits. The firm currently employs about 5,300 in the country.
"We continue to review our business needs and align our resources accordingly, be it our headcount or our spending.
The impact on India remains minimal and in single digit. At the same time, we continue to hire in priority areas," the spokesperson said.
In January, the software major had announced plans to trim 5,000 jobs. At that time, Microsoft said it would cut up to 5,000 jobs in research and development, HR, marketing, sales, finance, legal, and IT.
Four months later, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer had warned the company might axe more jobs depending on the impact of the economic downturn.
"As we move forward, we will continue to closely monitor the impact of the economic downturn on the company and if necessary, take further actions on our cost structure, including additional job eliminations," Ballmer had said in May.
MICROSOFT LAUNCHES ONLINE SERVICES IN INDIA
Software giant Microsoft today announced the commercial availability of its online services in India at prices starting from $2 (Rs 95) per user per month which will allow small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and enterprise customers to access Microsoft’s e-mail, collaboration, conferencing and productivity capabilities online.
The services, that include Microsoft Online Services product family, offers Exchange Online (for e-mail) and Office SharePoint Online (portals and collaboration), Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services and Microsoft Office Communications Online (for instant messaging and presence), from Saturday.
"Customers can access a suite of products directly from the company website and pay a use-based monthly subscription fee and thus manage their IT needs efficiently and lower their IT spend 10-50 per cent," said Microsoft’s Business Group President Stephen Elop while launching the services here today.
Microsoft has partnered with HCL Infosystems, Infosys and Wipro to market and offer value-added services around the Microsoft Online Services.
The services, that include Microsoft Online Services product family, offers Exchange Online (for e-mail) and Office SharePoint Online (portals and collaboration), Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services and Microsoft Office Communications Online (for instant messaging and presence), from Saturday.
"Customers can access a suite of products directly from the company website and pay a use-based monthly subscription fee and thus manage their IT needs efficiently and lower their IT spend 10-50 per cent," said Microsoft’s Business Group President Stephen Elop while launching the services here today.
Microsoft has partnered with HCL Infosystems, Infosys and Wipro to market and offer value-added services around the Microsoft Online Services.
MICROSOFT CEO EYES YAHOO PARTNERSHIP OUTSIDE US
Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said on Thursday the company could look to extend its search engine partnership with Yahoo outside the United States, if it gets regulatory approval.
Earlier this year Microsoft and Yahoo signed a 10-year Web search partnership to challenge Google Inc, a pact that US and European antitrust regulators are evaluating.
"It's possible that we will extend that partnership (with Yahoo) outside the US," Ballmer told reporters at a news conference. "We will have to wait and see if we can get approval and consummate that partnership inside the US first."
Microsoft has said it believes the deal will close in early 2010, and that they can make significant progress on integration in one or two major markets next year.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
WINDOWS 7 SALES TOUCH 3.5 PERCENT
It’s been a fortnight since Windows 7 was officially launched worldwide. It now makes up more than 3.6 per cent of all PCs tracked by research firm Net Applications.
Net Applications tracks operating system (OS) usage statistics through information reported by internet browser software. On October 21, the day before the official launch, Windows 7 usage was at 1.89 per cent, according to Channel Register. By launch day, the number hit 1.99 per cent, rising to 3.67 percent it hit on November 1.
Throughout October, various versions of Windows made up 92.52 percent of the browsing market, with the Mac OS X taking 5.27 per cent, and Linux at 0.96 per cent. Despite the steadily growing Windows 7 share, Microsoft's OS as a whole have been falling as Windows had nearly 94 per cent of the market in December 2008. Share of Mac OS X and mobile browsers appears to have modestly risen in its place.
Net Applications tracks operating system (OS) usage statistics through information reported by internet browser software. On October 21, the day before the official launch, Windows 7 usage was at 1.89 per cent, according to Channel Register. By launch day, the number hit 1.99 per cent, rising to 3.67 percent it hit on November 1.
Throughout October, various versions of Windows made up 92.52 percent of the browsing market, with the Mac OS X taking 5.27 per cent, and Linux at 0.96 per cent. Despite the steadily growing Windows 7 share, Microsoft's OS as a whole have been falling as Windows had nearly 94 per cent of the market in December 2008. Share of Mac OS X and mobile browsers appears to have modestly risen in its place.
INTERNET COULD RUN OUT OF WEB ADDRESSES NEXT YEAR
The world could well run out of Internet addresses next year, unless urgent action is taken to switch to a new generation of net addresses, the European Commission has warned.
According to the commission, businesses urgently need to upgrade to Internet protocol version six or IPv6, a new version of the Internet's addressing protocol, which will hugely increase the number of available addresses.
The IPv6 system has been ready for over a decade and is providing 340 trillion, trillion, trillion web addresses. But, not many companies are actually ready to migrate to the new platform.
In fact, a survey, conducted by the Commission, found that few companies are prepared for the switch from the current naming protocol, IPv4, to the new regime, IPv6, ‘The Daily Telegraph’ reported.
The IPv4 and IPv6 protocols refer to the way in which web addresses are created and assigned. Each website has a unique IP address, represented by a string of numbers, such as 192.168.1.1, which are then given a user-friendly web address to make them easier to remember.
The IPv4 protocol uses 32-bit addresses, which enables the web to support around 4.3 billion unique addresses while IPv6 uses 128-bit web addresses, creating billions of possible new web addresses.
The EC survey found that of the 610 government, educational and other industry organisations questioned across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, just 17 per cent have upgraded to IPv6.
The Commission has warned that the timely deployment of the protocol is vital to the growth and stability of the Internet.
Detlef Eckert, Director in Commission’s information society and media directorate-general, said: “In the last 10 years, the Internet has become hugely important worldwide...
“Only by ensuring that all devices connected to the internet are compatible with IPv6 can we stay connected and safeguard sustainable growth of the Internet and the global digital economy, now and in the years to come.”
According to the commission, businesses urgently need to upgrade to Internet protocol version six or IPv6, a new version of the Internet's addressing protocol, which will hugely increase the number of available addresses.
The IPv6 system has been ready for over a decade and is providing 340 trillion, trillion, trillion web addresses. But, not many companies are actually ready to migrate to the new platform.
In fact, a survey, conducted by the Commission, found that few companies are prepared for the switch from the current naming protocol, IPv4, to the new regime, IPv6, ‘The Daily Telegraph’ reported.
The IPv4 and IPv6 protocols refer to the way in which web addresses are created and assigned. Each website has a unique IP address, represented by a string of numbers, such as 192.168.1.1, which are then given a user-friendly web address to make them easier to remember.
The IPv4 protocol uses 32-bit addresses, which enables the web to support around 4.3 billion unique addresses while IPv6 uses 128-bit web addresses, creating billions of possible new web addresses.
The EC survey found that of the 610 government, educational and other industry organisations questioned across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, just 17 per cent have upgraded to IPv6.
The Commission has warned that the timely deployment of the protocol is vital to the growth and stability of the Internet.
Detlef Eckert, Director in Commission’s information society and media directorate-general, said: “In the last 10 years, the Internet has become hugely important worldwide...
“Only by ensuring that all devices connected to the internet are compatible with IPv6 can we stay connected and safeguard sustainable growth of the Internet and the global digital economy, now and in the years to come.”
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
PIRATED WINDOWS 7 GENERATES $ 100,000 IN INDIA
About 50,000 pirated DVDs of Microsoft Windows 7 are estimated to have been sold here since the official launch on Oct 22, generating unaccounted business of around Rs.50 lakh (nearly $100,000).
The reason for the allure of the pirated versions: These cost Rs.40-Rs.250 in Naza Market in Hazratganj here, drawing buyers from not only the rest of Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand but also Nepal and Bangladesh.
'This is the biggest market in the region,' said a shopkeeper in Hazratganj, claiming at least 50,000 DVDs of the pirated Windows 7 have been sold since hitting the local markets within 24 hours of the official launch, fetching sellers about Rs.50 lakh so far.
The legal version of the new operating system launched by Microsoft Corp costs between $150-$300 (Rs.7,500-Rs.15,000) in the international markets. The company, however, tagged its prices 20 percent below international rates in India, where it is available in the Rs.6,000-Rs.11,000 range through official channels.
Despite the discounted company rates, buyers are opting for the pirated version.
'Why invest Rs.10,000 when it is available for Rs.250?' asked Pramod Yadav, a student pursuing a Master of Computer Applications (MCA) course.
Added Mohit Singh, who runs a computer hardware and software maintenance company: 'We pay for only the DVD as we are regular customers. A DVD hardly costs Rs.20-40.'
Most computer service providers or 'regular customers' in Lucknow and elsewhere in India use pirated software, contended Nishant Kumar, a software engineer with HCL Technologies in Greater Noida.
According to him, what makes the pirated operating systems more attractive is that cheap pirated anti-virus software is also freely available.
'A lot of anti-virus software, for example Awast, is available on the Internet,' Kumar said, adding that it was equally effective and has the same service life.
Those selling pirated Windows 7 deny doing anything illegal.
'There are over 200 shops in Naza Market. All have everything you want. We are not doing anything illegal as everything is available on the Internet,' said a shopkeeper not willing to be named.
'We are only transferring and supplying to buyers who include students, professionals and even big business houses.'
Those selling authentic software are unhappy.
'Be it software or encyclopaedia, everything is available in pirated form within 24 hours. We do not get the expected business,' Amit Mishra of Newgen Technologies, the authorised distributor of Compaq, HP, Microsoft and Lenovo in Hazratganj, told IANS.
The police express helplessness in combating piracy. 'We know what is going on for the past couple of decades. But we cannot act on our own. We need a formal complaint to act or else you (the media) will come down on us,' police spokesperson A.K. Pathak told IANS.
Besides software, the Naza Market and the Naka Market in the Naka area are also famous for producing CDs and DVDs of newly released Bollywood movies within 24 hours.
'You name the movie and you will have the CD, DVD the next day,' boasted Harnam Singh, a Naka shopowner.
The reason for the allure of the pirated versions: These cost Rs.40-Rs.250 in Naza Market in Hazratganj here, drawing buyers from not only the rest of Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand but also Nepal and Bangladesh.
'This is the biggest market in the region,' said a shopkeeper in Hazratganj, claiming at least 50,000 DVDs of the pirated Windows 7 have been sold since hitting the local markets within 24 hours of the official launch, fetching sellers about Rs.50 lakh so far.
The legal version of the new operating system launched by Microsoft Corp costs between $150-$300 (Rs.7,500-Rs.15,000) in the international markets. The company, however, tagged its prices 20 percent below international rates in India, where it is available in the Rs.6,000-Rs.11,000 range through official channels.
Despite the discounted company rates, buyers are opting for the pirated version.
'Why invest Rs.10,000 when it is available for Rs.250?' asked Pramod Yadav, a student pursuing a Master of Computer Applications (MCA) course.
Added Mohit Singh, who runs a computer hardware and software maintenance company: 'We pay for only the DVD as we are regular customers. A DVD hardly costs Rs.20-40.'
Most computer service providers or 'regular customers' in Lucknow and elsewhere in India use pirated software, contended Nishant Kumar, a software engineer with HCL Technologies in Greater Noida.
According to him, what makes the pirated operating systems more attractive is that cheap pirated anti-virus software is also freely available.
'A lot of anti-virus software, for example Awast, is available on the Internet,' Kumar said, adding that it was equally effective and has the same service life.
Those selling pirated Windows 7 deny doing anything illegal.
'There are over 200 shops in Naza Market. All have everything you want. We are not doing anything illegal as everything is available on the Internet,' said a shopkeeper not willing to be named.
'We are only transferring and supplying to buyers who include students, professionals and even big business houses.'
Those selling authentic software are unhappy.
'Be it software or encyclopaedia, everything is available in pirated form within 24 hours. We do not get the expected business,' Amit Mishra of Newgen Technologies, the authorised distributor of Compaq, HP, Microsoft and Lenovo in Hazratganj, told IANS.
The police express helplessness in combating piracy. 'We know what is going on for the past couple of decades. But we cannot act on our own. We need a formal complaint to act or else you (the media) will come down on us,' police spokesperson A.K. Pathak told IANS.
Besides software, the Naza Market and the Naka Market in the Naka area are also famous for producing CDs and DVDs of newly released Bollywood movies within 24 hours.
'You name the movie and you will have the CD, DVD the next day,' boasted Harnam Singh, a Naka shopowner.
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