Windows Vista will generate $4 billion in new revenue for the Florida IT industry, according to forecasts from a study commissioned by Microsoft to IDC. In this aspect, the Florida IT industry, joins New York and New Jersey where Microsoft has forecasted revenues of $7 and $2.5 billions, respectively, in 2007.

"Windows Vista will create additional revenues for Microsoft in Florida, but will also create even bigger economic ripples throughout the ecosystem that sells products and services in Florida that run on or work with it," said John Gantz, chief research officer and senior vice president of IDC. "Windows Vista's footprint in the state will be wide, as original equipment manufacturers sell PCs that run on it, software companies sell applications that run it, and services and distribution firms deliver, install, support and train on it. We expect that in the first year of Windows Vista shipments, this ecosystem will sell more than $4 billion of Windows Vista-related products and services in Florida."

In addition to the $4 billion in new revenue, in excess of 18% of the IT employment in Florida will be related to Windows Vista. Moreover, Microsoft claims that Windows-related employment in Florida will increase by more than 11,000 jobs in 2007.

"Microsoft is proud to bring products to market that help infuse economic growth here in Florida," said Craig Kampel, Gulf States Area general manager at Microsoft. "This launch is generating economic opportunities in Florida and across the nation by creating jobs, enabling organizational efficiencies and helping solve business challenges for our customers, partners and the IT industry as a whole."

Microsoft has also disclosed that for each Vista dollar that it will pocket, the Florida IT industry will enjoy a revenue of $21 by the end of this year.