The expanded team is tipped to work on a host of mission-critical projects linked to the upcoming global release of new products such as Windows Vista (Microsoft's NextGen Windows Client Operating System), its next server release Windows Server R2 and its future Office suite christened Office 12.
Sizeable headcount expansion is also in the offing at Microsoft's Global Tech Support Centre in Bangalore. In fact, Microsoft Global Tech Support and Microsoft IDC-Hyderabad are likely to account for the bulk of the expansion. During his recent tour, Mr Gates had announced that Microsoft would add 3,000 employees in four years across its multiple technical support facilities in the country.
The manpower expansion comes at a time when Microsoft has indicated that it plans to ship its new Windows Server release, codenamed R2, in the latter half of 2005-06. While analysts felt Windows Server R2 would have new features and functionality, it won't be too different from the older versions such as Windows Server S-2003, they said. The company will release a conversion tool that will allow Office users to point to files in an older format and convert them en masse to the new Office12 XML format.
