South Africa Edition 2

which has achieved near-ubiquity in the desktop
computer market. Microsoft has footholds in
other markets, with assets such as the MSNBC
cable television network, the MSN Internet
portal, and the Microsoft Encarta multimedia
encyclopaedia.
The company also markets both computer
hardware products such as the Microsoft mouse
as well as home entertainment products such as
the Xbox, Xbox 360 and MSN TV.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Microsoft Windows Vista - said by management
to be “Microsoft’s greatest product launch this
decade” had close on R70 billion and hundreds of
thousands of man hours invested in its development.
It was tested by millions of users across 125
countries and will ultimately be available in 34
languages worldwide.
Development was completed on November
8,2006 and over the next three months it was
released in stages to computer hardware and
software manufacturers, business customers,
and retail channels. On January 30,2007, it was
released worldwide to the public. The release of
Windows Vista came more than five years after
the introduction of its predecessor, Windows XP.
Windows Vista contains many new features.
The most significant include an updated
graphical user interface and visual style dubbed
Windows Aero, improved searching features, new
multimedia creation tools such as Windows DVD
Maker, and completely redesigned networking,
audio, print, and display sub-systems. A new
version of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office
2007, was launched alongside Vista.
In 2006, the company launched Microsoft
adCenter, a service that offers pay-per-click
advertisements, in an effort to further develop
their search marketing revenue.
PROMOTION
Microsoft’s ad campaigns communicate the
company’s mission: helping people to realise their
potential. Microsoft uses print and television for
campaigns, all conveying Microsoft’s optimism
about peoples’ potential, and the role that
technology plays in helping them to realise that
potential.
September 2006 marked the arrival of the
revolutionary Xbox 360 in South Africa. Having
launched in other countries nine months before
landing on local soil, gaming enthusiasts eagerly
anticipated the arrival of the next generation
gaming console. rAGE, the country’s major
annual gaming event, at the Dome “super bowl”
in Johannesburg, provided an ideal platform for
the launch.
Microsoft makes particular use of businessto-business
publications, and also ran a television
campaign in 2006, which ended in September.
Its main target audience, however, is the online
community and Microsoft invests heavily in
Internet initiatives.
BRAND VALUES
Microsoft promotes a culture of accountability
and collaboration. The company strives to ensure
quality and integrity in all business relationships
and operations through strong corporate
governance, full legal compliance and constructive
engagements. The company’s mission is to enable
people and businesses throughout the world to
realise their full potential.
The tenets central to accomplishing this
mission stem from Microsoft’s core company
values:
Broad customer connection: Connecting with
customers, understanding their needs and how
they use technology, and providing value through
information and support.
A global, inclusive approach: Thinking and
acting globally, enabling a diverse workforce that
generates innovative decision-making for a broad
spectrum of customers and partners. The company
strives to be innovative in lowering the costs of
technology, and supporting its communities.
Excellence: In everything the company does.
Trustworthy computing: Deepening customer
trust through the quality of products and
services, responsiveness and accountability, and
predictability.
Great people with great values: Delivering on
the Microsoft mission requires great people who
are bright, creative and energetic, who share the
following values:
• Integrity and honesty
• Passion for customers, partners and
technology
• Openness and respect towards others, being
dedicated to making them better
• Willingness to take on big challenges and see
them through
• Self-critical, questioning and committed to
personal excellence and self-improvement
• Accountability for commitments, results and
quality to customers, shareholders, partners,
and employees
Innovative and responsible platform
leadership: Expanding platform innovation,
benefits and opportunities for customers and
partners; openness in discussing Microsoft’s
future directions; getting feedback; and working
with others to ensure that their products and our
platforms work well together.
Enabling people to do new things:
Broadening customer options by identifying new
areas of business and incubating new products;
integrating new scenarios into existing businesses
and exploring acquisitions of key talent and
experience.
Microsoft is committed to its mission of
helping customers scale new heights and achieve
goals they never thought possible.
THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT
MICROSOFT
Microsoft has made a commitment to
provide technology access and skills
training to a quarter of a billion people by
2010
Windows XP Service Pack 2 brings users
of Windows XP stronger default security
settings and the ability to automatically
install new security features that help
them protect their computer from hackers,
viruses, and other security risks
Microsoft South Africa launched the
Afrikaans, Setswana and other Language
Interface language packs (LIP) for
Windows XP, part of Microsoft’s global
Local Language programme