14 DAY TRIAL // With just 10 examples, Microsoft has authored the Windows Vista symphony. Released to the corporate environment in November 2006 and to the general public in January 2007, Vista pushed, according to Microsoft, in excess of 60 million licenses in just the first six months of 2007. The Redmond company emphasized the fact that this figure does not include the machines automatically covered for Vista via the Software Assurance agreements. No less than 42 million computers worldwide are eligible for Vista upgrades through SA, in addition to the 60 million licenses already shipped, out of which Microsoft confirmed as actually sold some 40 million.
One of the largest concerns over Windows Vista was the adoption in the corporate environment. Businesses manage operating system migration in accordance with internal upgrade cycles. Large corporations such as Intel and Dell have postponed Vista deployment after the release of the service pack for the operating system. Connected in various scenarios with hardware upgrades, a corporate deployment of Vista involves extensive testing on the infrastructure and in this respect, businesses have been notably slow to embrace the latest operating system from Microsoft.
Windows XP, although launched in 2001, is still regarded as a viable alternative to Vista, despite Microsoft's efforts to evolve customer perception with Vista. Additionally, in order to catalyze both Vista deployments in corporate environments and the uptake and renewal of Software Assurance agreements Microsoft revealed that Windows 7 (Seven), the upcoming major release of the Windows operating system is planned for 2010. In the wake of the announcement, Gartner analysts advised businesses not to wait for Windows 7 on Windows XP, but to make the jump to Vista.
And as Microsoft is getting closer and closer to Windows Vista Service Pack 1, the company is also applauding examples of the operating system's adoption into corporate environments around the world. The Redmond company highlighted no less than 10 Vista success stories including Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec), based in Hamilton, New Zealand; Tuas Power from Singapore; Symphony Services from India; the SEC Thailand; Schroders from Singapore; the Malaysian Chinese Association ICT Resource Center; Guinness Gallagher from New Zealand; Bangkok Bank from Thailand; Ascendas from Singapore and Allco Finance Group from Australia.
"Running leading edge technology is essential to maintain our competitive advantage. Our company needed to invest in the best solution available, which for us is Microsoft Windows Vista and 2007 Office," said Michael Sim, Chief Technical Officer, Allco Finance Group Limited.