Microsoft boosts Economic Growth and Social Empowerment in India

Ayanangsha Maitra ● New Delhi

Founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975, Washington based Software giant Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services, devices and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Their brainchild Windows has become an integral part of modern life, across the world. Even, it's also Microsoft, who made mobile phones smart, much before Apple's iPhone. Presently, Windows Phone is considered to be the 2^nd largest smartphone platform in India. After Revolutionizing the IT sector, redefining the digital world and accelerating economic growth, now Microsoft has been directly contributing for social development also.

From its inception in 1990, Microsoft India is one of the fastest growing subsidiaries of Microsoft Corporation and is an active partner in the country's growth. Presently Microsoft India runs six business units as part of its operations in India. Microsoft Research India, also known as MSR India, is based in Bangalore. Another unit, Microsoft IT is responsible for security, infrastructure, messaging and business applications for all of Microsoft, including support of the product groups, corporate business groups, and global sales and marketing organizations. This includes supporting desktop, integrated communications, network and global data centers. The business unit works on applications to run the business of Microsoft and enables end-to-end company-wide processes to function seamlessly. Other units are Microsoft India Development Center, Microsoft India Global Technical Support Center (IGTSC). 

About Business of Microsoft 

Microsoft Corp.'s revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and grew to $21.7 billion. While the Devices and Consumer revenue grew 8% (up 11% in constant currency) to $9.0 billion and the Commercial revenue grew 5% (up 7% in constant currency) to $12.8 billion.

Microsoft provides software and solutions for a number of different user groups, including Consumers, Developers, Enterprises, Public Sector and Small & Medium Businesses (SMBs). These solutions/ products fall into the following broad categories:

1. Windows, this includes Microsoft® Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating system, online services such as Bing, Internet Explorer, OneDrive, Outlook.com, among others, as well as Microsoft hardware across keyboards, mice, headsets and webcams

2. Windows Phone, Microsoft Mobile Devices & Services (MMDS) and other third party device partners

3. MSN, online consumer portal

4. Bing, a search engine that provides relevant results

5. Skype, a free service from Microsoft which allows people to speak, see and instant message each other

6. Xbox, including Xbox One, Xbox 360 gaming console, Kinect, Xbox Live, the stellar games portfolio as well as Kinect for Windows

7. Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Lync, Yammer, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Visio®, Microsoft Project, and other related applications

8. Microsoft Advertising, representing all of Microsoft's digital advertising products, services and platforms

9. Microsoft Cloud Services, including offerings across all service layers of the cloud – infrastructure, platform and applications, including Office 365, Windows Azure and CRM Online, to name just a few

10. Business Solutions, encompassing Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Dynamics CRM Online

11. Server Platforms and developer tools, including the Microsoft Windows Server System™ integrated server software, SQL Server, System Center, .NET framework, Visual Studio and MSDN®. This also includes the recently added Enterprise Mobility Suite.

Key Executive in India 

Mr. Bhaskar Pramanik is the Chairman of Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd . With over 35 years of experience in the Indian IT industry, he provides leadership for all Microsoft assets in India including R&D facilities and leads Microsoft's interactions with policy makers, customers, and business partners.

He is responsible for all marketing, operations, and business development efforts of Microsoft in the country. His focus is on defining Microsoft's devices and services strategy for India to help businesses and individuals to realize their true potential. He believes in developing people, promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace and harnessing India's talent and innovation to bring the power of IT to positively impact society at large.

Microsoft has offices in 9 locations across India, comprising Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, the NCR (including New Delhi and Gurgaon), and Pune. The main campus is in Hyderabad, which houses research and development, IT, and global services. Microsoft India's Sales and marketing is headquartered in Gurgaon while research and technical support centers are based in Bangalore. It has headcount of 6,500 employees across its various offices and business units in India.

The company believes that technology innovation is critical to sustainable economic growth and social development. Its India wing has been directly contributing in social development through various projects. Microsoft India's Project Shiksha won Gold Standard Award for public-private partnership.

"Microsoft is committed to empower every individual and every organization in India to achieve more, making a real difference in the lives of billions of people. For 25 years, the company has been functioning as a key contributor towards India's economic growth and socio-economic development through its efforts in the areas of education, digital economy, digital inclusion and cyber security among others. " a spokesperson from Microsoft said to The CEO.

Microsoft continues to be an active partner in India's growth, working closely with all stakeholders, including governments, Indian IT industry and academia, to ensure technology is leveraged as a catalyst to drive a real impact in people's lives. Through its programs, Microsoft has engaged over 50 million students, academicians and entrepreneurs in the last 25 years. It has received the 'Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility Award' at The 10th Indo-American Trade Excellence Awards 2014. Very recently, it was inducted into the Hall of Fame category by Randstad in 2015 for winning the coveted Randstad Award for the 'Most Attractive Employer' in India, for four consecutive years. Microsoft is also a recipient of 'Award for Corporate Excellence' by the US Department of State.

But it's very crucial period for the company, since different platforms are emerging fast, their competitors are also stepping up. Techies are raising their doubt, in this regard. Has the company giving more priority to cellphone device and service than PC? or Will outlook be able to compete with Gmail? These questions become significant in this "Post-PC Era".

Timeline
Since first setting up operations in the country in 1990, Microsoft India has grown leaps and bounds and vastly expanded
its operations.

1998: The Microsoft India Development Centre (MSIDC) was launched in Hyderabad. This is the second largest development centre outside of the US facility in Redmond. 2000: Alliance with Infosys announced by Bill Gates.

2002: Microsoft IT's India operations were launched. In the same year, Bill Gates announced plans to invest $100 million in the Hyderabad centre.

2003: Microsoft India Global Technical Support Center (India GTSC) was opened in Bangalore, the only 24×7 support center across the world.

2005: Microsoft Research India was launched in Bengaluru. In the same year, Bill Gates announced a $1.7 million investment in India.

2006: Microsoft Services Global Delivery (GD) commenced operations in Hyderabad.

2011: The New Global Delivery Centre & R&D facility was launched in Bengaluru.

2012: India GTSC began delivering cloud support to partners across the globe.

2013: Decision to acquire Nokia Devices and services business, license Nokia's patents and mapping services was announced. In addition, Microsoft CityNext – company's expertise and offerings for smart cities, was launched in India. This year also marked an important milestone for Microsoft with Windows Phones becoming the 2nd largest smartphone platform in India.

2014: Satya Nadella was named the CEO of Microsoft. In his first trip to India as the company CEO, Nadella announced extending commercial cloud services from local datacenters in the India. Microsoft India also launched the industry-wide initiative, Women in Tech, with the aim to double the number of women in the IT industry over the next few years.