Bangkok--Feb 16--Hill & Knowlton Thailand
Microsoft Thailand Eyes Year of Ambitious Growth
After 36% growth in 2004, company sees mounting potential for 2005
Set against a 2004 of double-digit growth in its own business and the Thai IT industry as a whole, Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd today laid out its ambitious road-map for 2005. High on the company’s agenda are four guiding principles: drive business value for customers, deliver integrated innovation through Microsoft’s .Net technology, continue the company’s commitment to lifelong learning, and build the local software ecosystem
Across all its target markets Microsoft will role out new projects and continue to drive the initiatives launched in 2004. Further training will be conducted among thousands of teachers, students and the developer community; new products, solutions and partnerships will be introduced for business; consumers will see more content and services available.
“2005 will be an unprecedented year for us as we look to increase the current 6 million customers in Thailand, commented Andrew McBean, Managing Director, Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd. “We will continue to drive business value with new products and solutions for business, deliver integrated innovation with our .Net technology, and build the local software ecosystem with extensive training in schools and the developer community. That’s what we’re all about in 2005.”
In the SME sector, Microsoft is working closely with its partners and distribution channels to offer new pricing models and customer support that drives business value. For enterprises, meanwhile, Microsoft aims to build on the 3.5 thousand new corporate customers acquired in 2004 with the launch of new products offering unprecedented levels of integration across systems and personnel, using Microsoft’s .Net technology.
Key to increasing customers in Thailand will be the enrichment of the online experience of MSN. This year Microsoft will be adding more content and services to grow the 3.5 million users currently logging onto MSN messenger, Hotmail and MSN.co.th every month. In 2004, the growth rate of MSN.co.th out-paced any other market in South East Asia.
In addition to continuing to drive business value and consumer experience, the extensive training programmes that promote lifelong learning will be expanded in schools and community centers. A further 10,000 teachers will be trained in basic ICT skills this year, adding to the 7,300 trained last year, with the aim of passing those skills on to over 200,000 students in 2005. Over the next four years, the company is seeking to train 50,000 teachers under the 2.5 billion baht Partners in Learning project.
On a more advanced level, developers and university students will be equipped with the tools and training they need to contribute towards a true software eco-system. Under a multi-year, multi-million US$ project in partnership with the Royal Thai Government, developers will be encouraged to develop crucial web services applications.
All of these projects will build on the successes of 2004. Throughout last year, multiple wide-ranging projects were launched by the company. Highlights throughout the year included promoting web services, the training of over 7,000 teachers through the ‘Partners in Learning’ project, extensive solutions installed in enterprises including the likes of AIS and BBL, and the creation of Thailand’s own MSN.co.th portal.
“Thailand is full of creativity and imagination and our successes in 2004 showed that to be true”, commented Andrew McBean, Managing Director, Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd. “In 2005 we will continue to invest in ICT and work closely with key government bodies and our partners to develop the industry in Thailand and the service to our customers.”
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Established in 1993, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited provides world-class software that is easy to use and localized to suit the local market’s needs. It also has a compelling and consistent platform to build powerful business solutions that can scale from a notebook computer to a mainframe — class multiprocessor systems using Microsoft technology. For further information, information, please visit the Microsoft (Thailand) website at: http://www.microsoft.com/thailand.
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For more information, please contact:
Jiraporn Boonnark
Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd.
Tel: 0-2257-4999 Fax: 0-2257-0096
Email: [email protected]
Suphada Jaidee
Hill & Knowlton Thailand
Tel: 0-2627 3501 ext 209 Fax: 0-2627-3510
Email: [email protected] End.