Microsoft goes on $500 million marketing push

Iria · Mar 19, 2006, 04:49 AM

Microsoft will pump $500 million into marketing Windows Vista and Office 2007, the latest versions of the company's dominant desktop PC operating system and suite of clerical programs.

That's part of the message Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer delivered to senior executives of 500 companies who traveled to New York to hear an hour-long sales pitch about the upgrades, due out late this year.

Ballmer's theme: Vista and Office 2007 are packed with "people-ready" tools designed to boost efficiency and create revenue. "People do drive business outcomes. People, people, people," said Ballmer, in his trademark, high-energy speaking style. "And software and technology need to be a tool right there in front of people every day."

Many corporations continue to use Windows 2000 and Office 2000, while holding onto licenses entitling them to upgrade to Windows XP and Office 2003, says Paul DeGroot, licensing analyst at Directions on Microsoft. Ballmer's task: persuade them to purchase new licenses this spring giving them the rights to upgrade to Vista and Office 2007 any time in the next three years.
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Read More / Source: Yahoo! News

BWX · Mar 19, 2006, 09:52 AM

Quote:

People, people, people," said Ballmer, in his trademark, high-energy speaking style.

I think he means "people's money, people's money, people's money, people's money......

Planned and forced obsolescence... great for sucking people's money out of their bank accounts.

Mar 19, 2006, 04:49 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Microsoft goes on $500 million marketing push Microsoft will pump $500 million into marketing Windows Vista and Office 2007, the latest versions of the company's dominant desktop PC operating system and suite of clerical programs. That's part of the message Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer delivered to senior executives of 500 companies who traveled to New York to hear an hour-long sales pitch about the upgrades, due out late this year. Ballmer's theme: Vista and Office 2007 are packed with "people-ready" tools designed to boost efficiency and create revenue. "People do drive business outcomes. People, people, people," said Ballmer, in his trademark, high-energy speaking style. "And software and technology need to be a tool right there in front of people every day." Many corporations continue to use Windows 2000 and Office 2000, while holding onto licenses entitling them to upgrade to Windows XP and Office 2003, says Paul DeGroot, licensing analyst at Directions on Microsoft. Ballmer's task: persuade them to purchase new licenses this spring giving them the rights to upgrade to Vista and Office 2007 any time in the next three years. _____________ Read More / Source: Yahoo! News