Microsoft will spend $500 million to market Windows Vista and Office 2007

Microsoft will pump $500 million into marketing Windows Vista and Office 2007, the latest versions of the company’s dominant desktop PC operating system and suite of clerical programs.

That’s part of the message Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer delivered to senior executives of 500 companies who traveled to New York to hear an hour-long sales pitch about the upgrades, due out late this year. Ballmer’s theme: Vista and Office 2007 are packed with “people-ready” tools designed to boost efficiency and create revenue. “People do drive business outcomes. People, people, people,” said Ballmer, in his trademark, high-energy speaking style. “And software and technology need to be a tool right there in front of people every day.”

Vista and Office 2007 are designed to tie in with new Windows server programs as well as Windows Live, a new initiative now undergoing testing, which will consolidate Hotmail.com, MSN Messenger and other similar services Microsoft is developing. More info…