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Microsoft Revenue Up, Tries to Hook Third World

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the one-born-every-minute dept.

rocketjam writes "Microsoft reported record revenue for the last quarter Thursday due to increased sales of personal computers. Analysts were impressed with the company's overall performance, however they expressed concern about the continuing drop in unearned revenue, reflecting Microsoft's difficulty in signing up customers for long-term, sustainable business contracts. The $400 million drop in unearned revenue was less than the drop in the last quarter but still exceeded many analyst's expectations. The company's continuing problem in gaining long-term contracts is generally attributed to growing security concerns among customers and company's unwillingness to go along with Microsoft's 'Software Assurance' upgrade subscription plan." Also in the news: Microsoft is donating a pile of software to the United Nations -- retail value, $1 billion; wholesale value, maybe $1 million or so -- attempting to hook the Third World on Microsoft software.

9 of 489 comments (clear)

  1. You're kidding, right? by inertia187 · · Score: 4, Funny

    retail value, $1 billion; wholesale value, maybe $1 million or so -- attempting to hook the Third World on Microsoft software.

    That's the difference between Microsoft's wholesale and the MSRP? Amazing...and that's without the Software Assurance, I'd imagine. Man, am I in the wrong business or what?

    I'm glad you're here to tell us these things.

    --
    A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
  2. unearned revenue ?? by giampy · · Score: 2, Funny

    > $400 million drop in unearned revenue

    call me old fashioned but shouldn't any
    revenue be EARNED ??? :))

    --
    We learn from history that we learn nothing from history - Tom Veneziano
  3. Weapons of Mass .... by jvmatthe · · Score: 3, Funny

    Isn't giving away tons of Microsoft software like trafficking in weapons of mass infection? Shouldn't that be against some international law or something? I mean, what could be worse than a million extra Outlook and IE clients all unpatched and ready to act as virus broadcast stations?

    Yeah, yeah, I know. Not fair. So mod me down. :^D

    --
    Curmudgeon Gamer: Not happy
  4. Double negative by BillsPetMonkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    "however they expressed concern about the continuing drop in unearned revenue"

    Isn't that the same as saying:

    "however they expressed concern about the continuing rise in earned revenue"

    Wow. I don't like the company but I'd like to share their FD's revenue concerns.

    --
    "It's not your information. It's information about you" - John Ford, Vice President, Equifax
  5. You'd think the 3rd world would... by FerretFrottage · · Score: 3, Funny

    get it right after all the first two worlds has been throught with MS products. Then again, maybe McBride is in the 3rd world as we speak preaching the evils of the GPL. Here's to the the 4th world!

    --
    "Look Lois, the two symbols of the Republican Party: an elephant, and a fat white guy who is threatened by change."
  6. We can donate software too! by mrgreenfur · · Score: 1, Funny

    oh wait... we already are... hrmm.. well, maybe someone can mail some debian cds?

  7. I love you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    You took a thread about Microsoft and turned it around so I'm now picturing big, beautiful milk-surged titties. AWESOME.

  8. Re:Come on, Michael... by Aumaden · · Score: 2, Funny
    What about Microsoft Money?

    (Ducks flying produce.)

  9. Re:Come on, Michael... by Chess_the_cat · · Score: 2, Funny
    It's very much akin to a drug dealer: "The first one's free"

    Where are drug dealers giving out free drugs? No. Really. I'd like to know.

    --
    Support the First Amendment. Read at -1