Tag Archives: Microsoft

A First Look at the Next Release of Windows Phone

*Windows Phone “Mango” connects smartphone users to people, apps and the Internet faster and easier.*

REDMOND, Wash. May 24, 2011 – Microsoft today provided the first official look at the next release of Windows Phone, code named “Mango.” The new release includes hundreds of new features that will deliver smarter and easier communications, apps and Internet experiences.

“When we looked ahead to the next release, we wanted to stay true to the principles of Windows Phone 7 – that software should get out of your way and quickly connect you to the things that matter most,” said Greg Sullivan, senior product manager of mobile communications at Microsoft. “Mango builds on the work that we did in Windows Phone 7 and extends a lot of key scenarios around communications, apps, and Internet experiences – with even more capability and a deeper level of integration.” (more…)

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Bing Makes Search Social with Help from 500 Million Friends

*New social features in Bing let users make decisions with help from their Facebook friends.*

REDMOND, Wash. — Bing is adding 500 million new friends, and they’re all going to help the search experience become a lot more social. (more…)

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comScore Releases April 2011 U.S. Search Engine Rankings

RESTON, VA, May 11, 2011 – comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its monthly comScore qSearch analysis of the U.S. search marketplace. Google Sites led the explicit core search market in April with 65.4 percent of search queries conducted.

The April 2011 qSearch data reflect the impact of Yahoo! Search Direct, Yahoo!’s new feature that delivers search results in real-time while users type their query. Yahoo! Search Direct was available only on Yahoo! U.S. Web Search for the month of April. (more…)

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Microsoft to Acquire Skype

*Combined companies will benefit consumers, businesses and increase market opportunity.*

REDMOND, Wash., and LUXEMBOURG – May 10, 2011 – Microsoft Corp. and Skype Global S.à r.l today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Skype, the leading Internet communications company, for $8.5 billion in cash from the investor group led by Silver Lake. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype.

The acquisition will increase the accessibility of real-time video and voice communications, bringing benefits to both consumers and enterprise users and generating significant new business and revenue opportunities. The combination will extend Skype’s world-class brand and the reach of its networked platform, while enhancing Microsoft’s existing portfolio of real-time communications products and services. (more…)

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Independent Study Demonstrates Productivity Gains and ROI of 243 Percent for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

*Data details extensive quantitative savings and efficiencies from implementation of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.*

REDMOND, Wash. — May 3, 2011 — Microsoft Corp. today released the results of a Microsoft-commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting, “The Total Economic Impact of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011,” May 2011. The Total Economic ImpactTM, a standard methodology developed by Forrester Research Inc., captures and quantifies the voice of the customer relative to technology investments. This study concludes that a 2,000-employee composite organization with an initial deployment of 50 users would experience a three-year, risk-adjusted ROI of 243 percent* over a payback period of 4.1 months. Forrester Consulting credits the familiar, intelligent and connected experiences delivered by Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 as fundamental to the ROI and rapid payback period. (more…)

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Orion Energy Systems Sees the Light, Moves Data to Windows Azure

*Energy-management company switches to cloud-based platform to provide customers with a robust, consolidated view of energy-usage data.*

REDMOND, Wash. — May 2, 2011 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Orion Energy Systems is using the Windows Azure platform to host InteLite, a sensor-and-control solution designed to help Orion customers save energy and control lighting costs. This move will enable building managers to view energy-consumption data from multiple facilities on the Windows Azure platform, while providing Orion with approximately a $57,000 savings each year in hardware, labor and maintenance costs. (more…)

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Microsoft Reports Record Third-Quarter Results

*Strong enterprise and Xbox momentum drive revenue growth of 13% and earnings per share of $0.61.*

REDMOND, Wash. — Apr. 28, 2011 — Microsoft Corp. today announced third-quarter revenue of $16.43 billion for the quarter ended Mar. 31, 2011, a 13% increase from the same period of the prior year. Operating income, net income, and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $5.71 billion, $5.23 billion, and $0.61 per share, which represented increases of 10%, 31%, and 36%, respectively, when compared with the prior year period. Diluted earnings per share included a $0.05 tax benefit primarily related to an agreement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to settle a portion of their audit of tax years 2004 to 2006.

“We delivered strong financial results despite a mixed PC environment, which demonstrates the strength and breadth of our businesses,” said Peter Klein, chief financial officer at Microsoft. “Consumers are purchasing Office 2010, Xbox and Kinect at tremendous rates, and businesses of all sizes are purchasing Microsoft platforms and applications.” (more…)

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