Windows 7 Is Microsoft's Focal Point for the Future

With Microsoft having come out in the open with a $44.6 billion unsolicited bid for Yahoo, the destination of the company's financial resources is pretty clear at this point. But at the same time, Microsoft remains committed to investing in additional areas. And traditionally, the Redmond company is associated with its two flagship products, the Windows platform and the Office System. February 4 was synonymous with Microsoft meeting with Wall Street analysts, and although the acquisition proposal for Yahoo was of course in the limelight, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer also came up with alternative investments for the future.

At the annual "Strategic Update" for Wall Street analysts in New York, he revealed that the investments done over at Microsoft are long-term, pointing to a maximum of up to 10 years. The company is looking at a very diversified array of investments in areas where margin growth is estimated to reach at least three-quarters of a billion dollars. And there are various products and services that fit this context, from Office 2007 to Windows Server, to Dynamics ERP and CRN, namely offerings aimed at the corporate desktop. And there is the server business with Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and virtualization, but also its MSN portal, search and online advertising, entertainment (mainly the Xbox) and Windows Mobile.

But company's focal point is still fixed on the Windows client. And in this regard, Windows 7 is an investment in the future, one that will have to take Microsoft beyond Windows Vista. Ballmer mentioned Windows 7 confirming that "we're very hard at work on the next version." Sill, Microsoft's CEO was reluctant to offer any details about the successor of Windows Vista. Ballmer however emphasized the need to better market the Windows operating system, in order to "build consumer excitement", a task failed miserably with Windows Vista. At this point in time, Ballmer indicated that the Redmond company sees the biggest growth for Windows in emerging markets around the world.