Microsoft is not yet done presenting the appetizing potential revenues that will follow Windows Vista deployment. And the Redmond Company's next target is the Texas IT industry. In the first year of commercial availability, Microsoft - backed by a study commissioned to IDC - claims that Windows Vista will generate in excess of $6 billion dollars for the Texas' IT industry. According to the IDC study, the revenue growth will be correlated with an increase in new jobs.

"Windows Vista will create additional revenues for Microsoft in Texas, but will also create even bigger economic ripples throughout the ecosystem that sells products and services in Texas 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 $6 billion of Windows Vista-related products and services in Texas."

Available to the general public since January 30, 2007, Windows Vista will contribute to the total Windows-related employment in Texas by over 9,000 jobs. Microsoft predicted that no less than 17,000 Texas IT industry companies will become involved with the business around Windows Vista.

"Microsoft is proud to bring products to market that help infuse economic growth here in Texas," said Jennifer Heard, South Central District general manager at Microsoft. "This launch is generating economic opportunities in Texas 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."