Microsoft promises savings in hard times

LAST year, Microsoft invested more than $7bn in research and development across the company, which had resulted in the development of new technologies that would enable information technology (IT) professionals to help organisations save money and improve efficiency during difficult economic times, Microsoft SA MD Mteto Nyati said yesterday.

“We spent more than Apple, more than IBM and way more than Google. In fact, we outspent our competitors by an incredible amount last year,” Nyati said at the launch of the company’s Tech-Ed Africa 2009 in Durban.

He said that, looking ahead, the company would be ramping up that investment, despite the economic downturn — “ because, in the business of software, you cannot afford to run at half-speed”.

The event marked the official launch of Microsoft’s latest client operating system, Windows 7, as well as two major pieces of business technology — Windows Server 2008 R2 and SQL Server 2008 R2. More than 1900 IT professionals and developers are attending the event, which runs until Wednesday.

Microsoft executive Fred Baumhart, who delivered the keynote address, cited the combined benefits of Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 as an ideal example of delivering business efficiency and cost savings through technology. The two included improvements to security, reliability and productivity that would help deliver significant cost savings and productivity gains, he said.

Nyati said the event would focus on how Microsoft’s products and technologies could help reduce costs and drive efficiency.