Microsoft

It seems Mr. Bill Gates will be donning a big red suit this holiday season, as Microsoft readies its new operating system, Vista, for release in the New Year. The software giant appears ready to launch a massive upgrade program for many of its loyal ... customers, with reduced prices for those interested in replacing the Windows XP operating system with Vista. The generous upgrade offers are being called "coupons" by some, with speculation that the initiative is being driven by Microsoft's own guilt over continuously pushing back Vista's release. The "coupons" will be available any day now, and ... (view more)

Late last week, comScore Networks revealed the September 2006 ranking of the globe's top fifteen Web properties. ComScore ranks the Web properties based on the number of unique visitors that visit the site. (Source: comscore.com ) Microsoft, Yahoo, ... and Google: The Frontrunners The results are in: Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google were the top three most visited websites in September -- and all three giants of technology came in close together. Microsoft led the pack with approximately 505 million unique visitors to its site; Yahoo came in second with about 481 million unique visitors; and Google ... (view more)

It's been a long time coming. With the release of Windows Vista finally nearing at the end of January, 2007, Microsoft is pulling out all the stops to ensure that the worldwide launch goes as smoothly as possible. The company recently engaged in its ... typical, weekly international eco-political crusade, this time with the European Commission and Korea in order to affirm a timely release of the much-anticipated operating system. Microsoft has dual plans for Vista's release. Although the dates have changed a few times, the recent launch days have been written in cement by the company. Microsoft ... (view more)

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Microsoft have signed a non-exclusive memorandum of understanding that outlines the future partnership between the two organizations. The BBC recently released a statement asserting that the memorandum ... signals the intent of the two companies to determine similar interests, which can lead to the formation of a strategic alliance. (Source: betanews.com ) Although little details were provided at a press conference held on last Wednesday, BBC's Director General Mark Thompson indicated that the joint projects between the two companies involve creating ... (view more)

Although Microsoft has ownership of the globe's most used office suite, the company appears to be feeling threatened by competitors who are offering similar suite software -- for free -- to users. Microsoft released a report last month that ... identifies California-based ThinkFree, a company that offers "free, small, medium featured (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, address book, e-mail client, file manager), use online or offline." According to BusinessWeek Magazine , to regain its market share from companies such as ThinkFree, Microsoft is now considering an online version of MS ... (view more)

Microsoft reported late Monday that yet another former McAfee virus expert will join the company. He will fill the position of senior security researcher. Jimmy Kuo will join fellow former McAfee alumnus Vincent Gullotto as part of Microsoft's ... Security Research and Response team. Gullotto was hired last month as the general manager of the team. (Source: ZDNet.com ) The Security Research and Response team operates under Microsoft's Security Technology Unit, responsible for securing Microsoft products, including the Windows operating system. (Source: news.com ) Kuo formerly worked in McAfee's ... (view more)

Although Canadians were briefly flashed a cost list last week, Microsoft has officially made public its pricing for the highly anticipated Vista, its operating system (OS) set to ship in late January, 2007. The announced prices coincide with the new ... availability of Release Candidate 1 (RC1), which is Microsoft's most recent Vista beta and the very closest to the much-hyped final product. While those living north of the 49th parallel might want to check out our archives for the recent mishap involving the early release of Canadian Vista prices, the exact American numbers have been in demand ... (view more)

Although many are eagerly anticipating the release of Microsoft's new operating system (OS), Windows Vista, don't expect to ring in the New Year with it. Although Microsoft has been working feverishly to get Vista out within the first few days of ... 2007, a post for the operating system on Amazon.com has the product listed for January 30. (Source: amazon.com ) Vista is of course Microsoft's number one project as it juggles goals for the coming year. The Redmond-based company recently assigned its upcoming personal digital music player, the "Zune", to Toshiba for manufacturing, perhaps as a ... (view more)

I'm so proud to be Canadian. ;-) Months before its highly anticipated release, Microsoft Canada has -- accidentally it seems -- given the media an inside glance at Vista's pricing. Although the list was quickly ripped down, Ed Bott of ZDNet was able ... to take down many of the upcoming packages, and we'll share some of them with you here. (Source: microsoft-watch.com ) As we've discussed a bit in the past, there are two different schemes for installing (and paying for) Microsoft's new operating system. Those who have an OS upgradeable to Vista will save some significant moolah. For instance, an ... (view more)

As the major release of Vista approaches, Microsoft has officially announced that it will be buying back $16.2 billion worth of its stock by June of 2011. The move comes just hours after the close of its first tender, which included 155 million ... shares at a rate of $3.6 billion. All of these moves are said to be for the sole purpose of stimulating a rather dormant stock in the quiet moments before the release of Microsoft's anxiously awaited Vista. By officially adding the $16.2 billion buyback to its stock plans, Microsoft has now grown its total future expenditure to $36 billion. The move ... (view more)