Microsoft launches server, tool offerings

Microsoft Corporation has launched their Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 in India. Microsoft India Development Centre (MIDC) in Hyderabad, the largest development centre outside Redmond, has played a key role in the development of these products, company executives said.

The new server and tool offerings will help customers drive better business continuity with improved security, enable innovation apart from controlling costs.

Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 aim at promoting greater interoperability and choice for the customers and developers across the industry, according to the company. Allahabad Bank, Kotak Bank, L&T "" ECC, TVS Sundaram, Ashok Leyland and Sahara India Financial Corporation are some of the early adopters of these products in India, the company said in a statement.

"Organisations presently spend over 70 per cent of their budgets and resources on maintaining the existing infrastructure. This is clearly less than optimal and a huge drain on resources. The focus of the launch is to allow business to provide them with powerful tools to focus on acquiring and leveraging new capabilities, rather than straining to maintain the existing infrastructure," said S Somasegar, senior vice president, Microsoft Corporation.

Microsoft which started its operations in India in 1990 has a headcount of about 500 people. This includes about 1,400 engineers working with the MIDC.

Microsoft has also strengthened its partner programme in India.

Presently, Microsoft has over 2,400 partner sales and technical professionals working with 600 partner organisations across 25 cities in the country.