14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Vista, the most awaited product designed by the software giant, was again the most popular matter of a quite calm week at the company. As you probably know, there is only one more week until Vista will be available for all individual users so Microsoft tries to improve its image just before the release moment.
On Monday, the software giant announced that Windows Live OneCare, the antivirus and security solution provided by Microsoft, will be available in 16 other countries starting January 30. Windows Live OneCare was especially designed to increase the security of the Windows Vista operating system that is regarded as one of the most secure applications ever built. The program is not only Vista compatible, but it also offers powerful features like virus scanning and spyware removal, as well as backup functions to allow you to save important information.
"Starting Jan. 30, consumers in the United States and 16 other countries will be able to purchase a major release of Windows Live OneCare online or from participating retail stores. Building on versions of Microsoft's comprehensive PC care service previously available in the United States, the new Windows Live OneCare release will now offer an even simpler consumer experience. The service will feature unified virus and spyware scanning, more flexible file backup options and support for the Windows Vista operating system, which will also be available to consumers on Jan. 30. Delivering on the OneCare promise of a simple, evolving service, all active OneCare subscribers will be automatically upgraded to this latest release with new features and enhancements while they're online," Microsoft mentioned in a press release.
Windows Vista, the upcoming operating system developed by Microsoft, was built based on the idea that it can revolutionize our daily computer activities, representing the most powerful solutions for every type of internet user. That's why the company's employees tried to bundle an attracting interface, powerful security functions and multiple tools meant to make the work on the computer easier. Although Microsoft tried to make Windows Vista a full featured operating system to contain all the tools a user needs, it seems like many other companies or software developers already created multiple utilities that can be successfully used in Vista, as Microsoft said on Tuesday.
"Major media firms and other companies will be among those releasing "gadgets," miniapplications that let people instantly manage and access live information and Web-based services directly from the Windows Vista desktop. Some ultra-realistic 3-D programs and innovative applications from new-media, retail and education companies also will be available for consumer use when retail versions of Windows Vista debut on Jan. 30. Many more cutting-edge applications and programs will arrive over the coming weeks and months," the company sustained in an announcement published on the official webpage.
Even if Windows Vista is the primary concern for the software giant, its employees are also trying to pay attention to older products developed by the company, such as Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Media Center Edition. These two solutions designed by Microsoft represented some of the most popular operating systems created by the company with millions of users from all around the world. That's why the giant decided on Wednesday to announce that the company will provide support for Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Media Center Edition for five more years.
"Today, Microsoft is announcing the addition of an Extended Support phase for the Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Media Center Edition operating systems, providing consumers with an additional phase of support. With the addition of Extended Support, the support life cycle for Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Media Center Edition will include a total of five years of Mainstream Support (until April 2009) and five years of Extended Support, matching the support policy provided for Windows XP Professional. The Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy standardizes Microsoft product support policies for business and developer products as well as for consumer, hardware, multimedia and Microsoft Dynamics products," the giant announced in a press release.
Microsoft is surely one of the most known, powerful and richest companies in the entire world, being challenged by multiple other internet firms that are looking to create rival products for the ones designed by the software giant. As you probably know, Google is the company that owns the most used search engine on the internet that also represents one of the biggest rivals for Microsoft's Live Search. Yahoo is the provider of the most popular internet portal that currently competes with the software giant's MSN. Even though Microsoft is currently under pressure, the company decided on Thursday to announce its record revenues that are quite impressive.
"Microsoft Corp. today announced record revenue of $12.54 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2006, a 6% increase over the same period of the prior year. Operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $3.47 billion, $2.63 billion and $0.26, respectively. These results reflect the deferral of $1.64 billion of revenue and operating income, $1.13 billion of net income and $0.11 of diluted earnings per share from the second to the third fiscal quarter, due primarily to the technology guarantee programs that were announced on October 24, 2006 for Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office release. Revenue growth over the same period of the prior year would have been 14 percentage points higher before the technology guarantee programs," the software giant mentioned in the announcement.
Windows Vista is not only the most important product ever designed by the software giant, but it is also regarded as one of the main sources of money for the company because millions of users already preordered the operating system. That's why Microsoft made a revenues plan and published it on Friday, saying that Windows Vista might create 16.000 more jobs in California.
"California's IT industry is expected to experience a significant financial impact as a result of the launch of the Windows Vista operating system. According to a research study recently completed by IDC and commissioned by Microsoft Corp., within the first year of the Windows Vista shipment, California's IT industry will begin seeing considerable increases in new jobs and revenue. The study's findings indicate that Windows Vista will provide a foundation for the IT market, with more than 60 percent of total IT employment being related to Windows Vista. In addition, total Windows-related employment in California is expected to jump by nearly 16,000 jobs," Microsoft mentioned in a press release.
