The Burj al Arab hotel in Dubai, hosting Gitex 2006, was also the scene where Microsoft unveiled for the first time in the Middle East, Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003. Microsoft's technology designed for parallel, high-performance computing (HPC) applications was showcased at the Redmond Company's stand, C9-1 in Sheikh Rashid Hall.

"High-performance computing technology holds great potential for expanding the opportunities within engineering, medical research, exploration and other critical human endeavors, but until now it has been too expensive and too difficult for many people to use effectively," said Desmond Nair, business group manager of the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft.

Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 was built as a HPC platform meant to optimize deployment, management and interoperability and to integrate seamlessly with already existing infrastructure.

"Microsoft is making HPC technology more mainstream by bringing the cost advantages, ease of use and partner ecosystem of the Windows Server platform to departments and divisions in commercial industry and the public sector. We want HPC technology to become a pervasive resource - something that's as easy to locate and use as printers are today. Microsoft is excited about the promise this holds for our customers and partners in the months and years ahead," added Nair.