Adobe and Microsoft join forces on cloud and marketing services

Two of the biggest software and services companies have teamed up to collaborate and share their strengths. One of the key announcements at the Microsoft Ignite conference in Atlanta today is that Adobe Systems Incorporated and Microsoft Corp. announced a strategic partnership to help enterprise companies embrace digital transformation and deliver compelling, personalized experiences through every phase of their customer relationships.

Together, the two companies will enable businesses to dramatically strengthen their brands through solutions with Microsoft Azure, Adobe Marketing Cloud and Microsoft Dynamics 365.

“Business leaders in every industry are focused on how to better engage their digital customers, wherever they are,” said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. “Together, Adobe and Microsoft are bringing the most advanced marketing capabilities on the most powerful and intelligent cloud to help companies digitally transform and engage customers in new ways.”

“Customers today expect a well-designed, personalized and consistent experience every time they engage with a brand,” said Shantanu Narayen, Adobe president and chief executive officer. “Adobe and Microsoft will bring together the cloud horsepower and end-to-end capabilities brands need to design and deliver great digital experiences.”

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More job cuts at Microsoft as it sheds its phone business

Just when you think there couldn’t anymore layoffs, Microsoft is restructuring further and cutting 2,850 more jobs. The company is in the middle of ridding itself of its Windows phone business and at this point they have shed almost all of its Nokia mobile phone business which they bought for US$7.2 billion back in 2014. Around 900 of the workers have already been informed of the layoff. This also comes on top of a 1,850 layoff back in May.

Instead of forcing people to use Windows phone, which the world hasn’t really taken to, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is making their technology more available on the more popular Android and iOS platforms.

Source: Recode

Microsoft opens state of the art facility in Vancouver, promising a $90 million yearly investment

This morning, Microsoft  officially opened the Microsoft Canada Excellence Centre (MCEC) – a new, first-rate facility in the heart of downtown Vancouver that will bring together the best and brightest minds from Canada and around the world. 

The MCEC will allow Microsoft’s presence in Vancouver to grow to more than 750 positions. It will inject $90 million in direct investment in the city annually. Across the province, it will have an estimated economic impact of $180 million each year.

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Microsoft buys LinkedIn professional social network for $26 Billion

Microsoft just bought LinkedIn in a bombshell deal for an all-cash transaction valued at $26.2 billion inclusive of LinkedIn's net cash. LinkedIn will retain its distinct brand, culture and independence while Jeff Weiner will remain CEO of LinkedIn, reporting to Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. LinkedIn is the world's largest and most valuable professional network and continues to build a strong and growing business.

Founded in 2002, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the Internet with more than 433 million members in over 200 countries and territories. It currently offers free as well as paid membership options that allows people to connect with business contacts as well as seek employment. What does Microsoft, a services and devices company, want with a social network whose growth has been somewhat quastionable of late?

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