Microsoft Plans Software Development Center in India
REDMOND, Wash., March 24, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. today announced plans to establish a software development center in Hyderabad, India. Subject to clearance by regulatory agencies, the facility is scheduled to become operational during the second half of 1998 and will focus development work on interoperability of the Microsoft® Windows NT® operating system and the BackOffice® family with non-Microsoft platforms.
“This group’s focus on interoperability and Windows NT is vital to our company’s future. Microsoft Windows NT and Microsoft BackOffice technologies today are the fastest growing area for Microsoft’s business,” said Paul Maritz, group vice president of platforms and applications at Microsoft. “The majority of our development work will always be based in the United States, but we have a great deal of faith in the IT skills of India. Although this center is initially relatively small, the work will be highly valued and strategically important to Microsoft’s platform initiatives.”
The development center initially will employ about 25 people. An exact opening date is unavailable. Microsoft currently has over 25,000 employees worldwide and plans to hire over 3,000 more during fiscal year 1998. In addition to 14,000 employees in Washington state, Microsoft provides another 3,000 jobs in other U.S. states.
“India is strategically important to Microsoft, and the investment in a development center is a tremendous addition to the commitments we have already made,” said Rajiv Nair, Microsoft
regional director, Indian subcontinent. “India has incredible software talent and a high level of acceptance for Windows NT in the developer community.”
S. Somasegar, director of Windows NT in Redmond, Wash., will oversee the effort from the corporate headquarters. Srini Koppolu, as general manager for the India development center, will report to Somasegar. Koppolu, who has been with Microsoft for over nine years in a variety of product development roles, will relocate to Hyderabad from Redmond.
“The development center in India will be an extension to our product team in Redmond,” said Moshe Dunie, vice president of the Windows® operating systems division at Microsoft. “This will enable us to leverage the strong engineering talent available in India to strengthen our overall development efforts and meet the increasing need of our customers.”
Microsoft’s plan to set up a development center in India is the result of a long evaluation process that began over a year ago and culminated only when Microsoft determined that it had a compelling task for the center, the right location and the right management.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
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