Tag Archives: microsoft corp.

Software Piracy Costs Billions in Time, Money for Consumers and Businesses

By Guest PostMarch 6, 2013Technologyadware, billions, brazil, businesses, chief information officers, China, computer users, consumers, cost, david finn, emotional strain, Germany, idc, identity theft, India, infection, it managers, john gantz, malware induced cyberattack, Mexico, microsoft corp., microsoft cybercrime center, money, pirated software, play it safe, poland, russia, software piracy, Thailand, time, trojans, unexpected malware, united kingdom, united states, website

New Microsoft-commissioned study also highlights dangers for those that use counterfeit software.

REDMOND, Wash. — Although some computer users may actively seek pirated software in hopes of saving money, the chances of infection by unexpected malware are one in three for consumers and three in 10 for businesses, according to a new study commissioned by Microsoft Corp. and conducted by IDC. As a result of these infections, the research shows that consumers will spend 1.5 billion hours and US$22 billion identifying, repairing and recovering from the impact of malware, while global enterprises will spend US$114 billion to deal with the impact of a malware-induced cyberattack.

The global study analyzed 270 websites and peer-to-peer networks, 108 software downloads, and 155 CDs or DVDs, and it interviewed 2,077 consumers and 258 IT managers or chief information officers in Brazil, China, Germany, India, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Researchers found that of counterfeit software that does not come with the computer, 45 percent comes from the Internet, and 78 percent of this software downloaded from websites or peer-to-peer networks included some type of spyware, while 36 percent contained Trojans and adware. (more…)

Customers Rapidly Adopting Big Data Solutions — Driven By Marketing, Sales and More — Reports New Microsoft Research

By Guest PostFebruary 11, 2013Technologyany data, big data, big data customers, big data infographic, big data trends, eron kelly, global enterprise, microsoft corp., microsoft news center, msft, nasdaq, small data, solutions, sql server

New findings headline weeklong series on the Microsoft News Center showcasing big data customers, industry perspectives, solutions and more.

REDMOND, Wash. — Feb. 11, 2013 — More than 75 percent of midsize to large businesses are implementing big data-related solutions within the next 12 months — with customer care, marketing and sales departments increasingly driving demand, according to new Microsoft Corp. research released today. (more…)

Microsoft Advances the Cloud OS With New Management Solutions

By Guest PostJanuary 15, 2013Technology2012, API, cloud infrastructure, cloud os, consumerization of it, high scale website, hybrid cloud services, management solution, michael park, Microsoft, microsoft cloud os, microsoft corp., service pack 1, service provider foundation, sp1, system center, virtual machine, windows 8 pcs, windows azure, windows intune, windows phone 8, windows server

New offerings deliver on the commitment to help customers and partners deliver cloud services and manage connected devices.

REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 15, 2013 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of new solutions to help enterprise customers manage hybrid cloud services and connected devices with greater agility and cost-efficiency. System Center 2012 Service Pack 1 (SP1), the enhanced Windows Intune, Windows Azure services for Windows Server and other new offerings deliver against the Microsoft Cloud OS vision to provide customers and partners with the platform to address their top IT challenges.

“With Windows Server and Windows Azure at its core, the Cloud OS provides a consistent platform across customer datacenters, service provider datacenters and the Microsoft public cloud,” said Michael Park, corporate vice president of marketing for Server and Tools, Microsoft. “Powerful management and automation capabilities are key elements of the Cloud OS, taking the heavy lifting out of administration and freeing IT organizations to be more innovative as they embrace hybrid cloud computing and the consumerization of IT.” (more…)

The Results Are In: Xbox NUads Makes Traditional TV Advertising More Engaging

By Guest PostJanuary 7, 2013Technologyads on xbox, canada, dionne colvin, double digit engagement, kathleen bell, kinect, microsoft corp., microsoft internal research, nuads experience, real time feedback, restaurants, ross honey, subway, top advertisers, toyota, toyota motor sales, tv, tv spot, united kingdom, united states, usa, xbox 360, xbox live

New interactive TV ad format captivates consumers beyond the 30-second spot.

REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 7, 2013 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the double-digit engagement results of the first NUads experience, interactive polling, which it rolled out earlier in the fall of 2012 on Xbox LIVE in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The first wave of NUads was provided by a lineup of top advertisers, including SUBWAY® Restaurants and Toyota, which on average saw the following results with their ads on Xbox LIVE: (more…)

U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and DISA Expand Access to Microsoft Technologies through Cost-Saving Modernization Agreement

By Guest PostJanuary 4, 2013Technologyadvanced mobility, africa, air force base, alabama, asia-pacific, big data, cloud computing, cybersecurity, defense, department of defense, disa, dod, Europe, fort huachuca, gunter annex, information systems agency, insight enterprises, insight public sector, it costs, microsoft corp., microsoft office 2013, microsoft solutions, middle east, mobility, North America, reduce, sharepoint 2013, tim solms, us air force, us army, windows 8

Insight Public Sector selected to deliver licensing agreement aimed at reducing IT costs while offering advanced mobility, collaboration and cloud computing capabilities to personnel.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jan. 4, 2013 — In an effort to modernize technology infrastructure, reduce costs and foster new levels of cross-agency collaboration, the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) are expanding access to Microsoft solutions by entering into a transformative three-year Joint Enterprise Licensing Agreement for enterprise licenses and software assurance. The agreement provides all three organizations with a single vehicle for accessing the latest Microsoft technologies in support of top IT priorities around datacenter consolidation, collaboration, cybersecurity, mobility, cloud computing and big data.

This is the most comprehensive licensing agreement Microsoft Corp. has ever established with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), covering nearly 75 percent of all DoD personnel. The net new contract was awarded to Insight Public Sector, a division of Insight Enterprises Inc., one of the largest global Microsoft Large Account Resellers. (more…)

Microsoft Employees Raise $1 Billion for Communities Around the World

By Guest PostOctober 19, 2012Technology30th, alice kupcik, american, beat diabetes, Bill Gates, ceo, children hospital, chris gregoire, elisa, employee, foundation, giving campaign, greg graceffo, international, jon fine, king county, Mexico, microsoft chairman, microsoft corp., microsoft employee, milestone, national, oaxaca, red cross, redmond campus, seattle, state gov, steve ballmer, united way, us employee, us workforce, Washington, washingtonian, world vision

Microsoft commemorates 30th Employee Giving Campaign with CEO Steve Ballmer and Chairman and Founder Bill Gates.

REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 18, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today commemorated its 30th Employee Giving Campaign and announced that U.S. employees raised $1 billion in cash since 1983 for approximately 31,000 nonprofits and community organizations around the world. CEO Steve Ballmer announced the milestone during a special town hall event at the Microsoft Redmond campus, which included Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Washington State Gov. Chris Gregoire.

“Today, I’m thrilled to announce that since our Employee Giving Campaign started in 1983, Microsoft employees have donated a total of $1 billion to more than 31,000 nonprofits around the world,” Ballmer said. “I’m incredibly proud of our employees, and this is truly a time to celebrate, not just because we’ve raised a record amount of funds, but also because together with our nonprofit partners, we have impacted and improved the lives of hundreds of millions of people.” (more…)

Cloud Computing Security Benefits Dispel Adoption Barrier for Small to Midsize Businesses

By Guest PostMay 14, 2012Technologyadrienne hall, cloud, cloud computing, cloud security, cyberattacks, dispel adoption barrier, hong kong, India, malaysia, microsoft corp., microsoft study, midsize business, nevada, ryan brock, singapore, skywire media, small, smbs, software, thomas castleberry, threat, windows intune

Cloud services reduce time and money spent managing security and increase protection against cyberthreats, Microsoft study shows.

REDMOND, Wash. — Research released today by Microsoft Corp. shows that small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are gaining significant IT security benefits from using the cloud, according to a new Microsoft study in five geographies.

The study shows that 35 percent of U.S. companies surveyed have experienced noticeably higher levels of security since moving to the cloud.1 In addition, 32 percent say they spend less time worrying about the threat of cyberattacks. U.S. SMBs using the cloud also spend 32 percent less time each week managing security than companies not using the cloud. They are also five times more likely to have reduced what they spend on managing security as a percentage of overall IT budget. (more…)

Microsoft Reports Record Third-Quarter Revenue

By Guest PostApril 19, 2012Technologychief executive officer, dynamics crm revenue, internal revenue service, kevin turner, Microsoft, microsoft corp., operating income, peter klein, quarterly revenue, sql server, steve ballmer, windows 8 pcs, windows live division, xbox, xbox live

Strong business demand drives double-digit operating income growth.

REDMOND, Wash. — Apr. 19, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today announced quarterly revenue of $17.41 billion for the quarter ended Mar. 31, 2012, a 6% increase from the prior year period. Operating income was $6.37 billion, up 12% from the prior year period.

Net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $5.11 billion and $0.60 per share, compared with $5.23 billion and $0.61 per share, respectively, in the prior year period. Prior year net income and diluted earnings per share included a $461 million or $0.05 per share tax benefit primarily related to a tax settlement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. (more…)