Microsoft Upbeat On Thai Prospects

[bapak]

From the Nation today....

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Microsoft upbeat on Thai prospects

US-based IT giant maintaining its budget for Kingdom despite Bangkok blasts; Vista introduced tomorrow

Derek Brown, marketing director of Microsoft (Thailand), said his company remained optimistic and has maintained all budget spending set for the Thai market, despite the recent bomb blasts in Bangkok.

Brown said that, like every company, his firm has to be cautious, but when looking at business fundamentals including the amount of IT spending in the country, prospects continue to be good in Thailand.

"One hundred per cent, we're absolutely on budget, on target," said Brown when asked whether Microsoft fully retained its budget geared up for this year. "We have doubled our office space and during the past 12 months added 30 per cent more staff."

Among Microsoft's prime activities this year will be the launch of its new operating system Vista. The firm is scheduled to hold an introduction to Vista in Bangkok tomorrow.

From the end of this month Microsoft expects the vast majority of consumers in Thailand to shift from Windows XP to Windows Vista. The company will stop selling the XP and will price Vista about the same as it currently charges for the XP.

For business customers, nonetheless, the transition to the new operating system will take some time, Brown said.

Brown said Microsoft expects software piracy to be reduced in Thailand following the launch of Vista because more consumers will realise the benefits of genuine software.

"We try to provide the better value propositions of genuine software and Vista is a big step forward," he said.

Like the XP, Vista versions to be sold in the local market will include the Starter Edition. Other Vista versions include Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate.

According to Microsoft, Windows Vista is expected to be its most secure operating system ever. The next-generation OS also includes hundreds of new features, including an updated user interface and visual style dubbed "Windows Aero", improved search features, new multimedia creation tools such as Windows DVD Maker and completely re-designed networking, audio, print and display sub-systems.

Brown was speaking on the sidelines of the Mobile Monday Forum held by Moby Elite recently. The Microsoft executive was there to speak on the topic "Microsoft on Mobile".

The reason for Microsoft to place more focus on the mobile market is obviously due to the higher growth of the mobile computing market compared to the desktop PC market. Brown said during 2006-2010 the market for desktop PCs is projected to grow by only 3.9 per cent annually, compared to 5.8 per cent for mobile phones, 18.6 per cent for mobile PCs and 34.1 per cent for "converged mobile phones".

About 245 million converged mobile devices are expected to be sold worldwide during this period.

[sabajja]

From the end of this month Microsoft expects the vast majority of consumers in Thailand to shift from Windows XP to Windows Vista.

Ya, right

[lingling]

From the end of this month Microsoft expects the vast majority of consumers in Thailand to shift from Windows XP to Windows Vista.

Ya, right

And they will all pay for a legal copy...

[cdnvic]

From the end of this month Microsoft expects the vast majority of consumers in Thailand to shift from Windows XP to Windows Vista.

Ya, right

And they will all pay for a legal copy...

XP will be common for the forseeable future as people find Vista doesn't work well when pirated.