Recent News

Microsoft is trying to lure more startups onto its Azure cloud services by offering a substantial US$120,000 credit for companies that qualify for its BizSpark Plus program. Starting July 1, qualifying companies will receive $10,000 worth of Azure credits every month for a year, which they can spend on services to power their business.

Microsoft has announced the availability of celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s Recipe App, developed in association with Hungama Digital Entertainment, on Windows Phone 8.1. Windows Phone users can now learn and cook various cuisines from a repository of more than 8500 recipes from India and around the world, all handpicked by Sanjeev Kapoor and his team of culinary masters.

Microsoft are tweaking a batch of 100 last gen titles to be playable on the latest console, and gamers will (thankfully) not have to pay for titles they already own. Titles on the list of the first 100 include Mass Effect, Banjo Kazooie, Super Meat Boy, and Perfect Dark, among others. There’s also a new “Elite” Xbox controller, a customisable gamepad that works on Windows 10 as well.

Snapdeal and Microsoft today announced the launch of the official Microsoft online store on Snapdeal. Speaking on the occasion, Sharlin Thayil, Group OEM Director Microsoft India said, “Our latest store on Snapdeal will help us reach more such customers and offer excellent choice, value and service that customers expect from Microsoft stores.”

Indian and multinational companies in the information technology sector are seeing a steady growth in number of women in technical roles, reflecting the impact of their efforts to increase diversity. “A large number of women workers are entry-level and present in certain sectors, such as BPO and IT-enabled services. This is why we are focused on enhancing the diversity ratio in India’s IT sector, for we believe women in IT can have a strong business impact,” said Rohit Thakur, head of human resources, Microsoft India.

Windows 10 aims to achieve unification of platform, meaning users will have the same operating system for phones, tablets, notebooks and desktops. And this will be the impetus for Microsoft Mobile Devices (India) to come ahead with its flagship devices, Ajey Mehta, its Managing Director, pointed out. In an interview to Business Line, Mehta talks about flagship devices, the strategy surrounding the brand, and, on competition.

Microsoft has launched a branded online store with ecommerce major Snapdeal, which will include the full range of US-based company’s products, including phones, tablets, PCs and software. “Increasingly consumers are going online to shop… mobiles, devices, software and accessories. We therefore see tremendous opportunity in delivering Microsoft products and services through our online store,” said, Sharlin Thayil, Microsoft India Group OEM Director.