Microsoft Hardware beefs up presence in RP market

MANILA, Philippines - Microsoft Corp. is expanding its hardware presence in the Philippine market with a comprehensive range of stylish and high-performance peripherals.

This expansion kicks off with the appointment of MSI-ECS Philippines as the new exclusive local distributor of Microsoft Hardware products, as well as the introduction of several new Microsoft-branded peripherals.

A division of Microsoft since 1982, Microsoft Hardware’s mission has been to create peripherals that enhance the computing experience, especially on the Windows platform.

The division’s innovations include the first Microsoft two-button mouse to pair with Microsoft Word 1.0 in 1982 and the launch of the first commercial optical mouse in 1996.

“For 28 years, Microsoft Hardware has been creating premium products to enable consumers to bring their computing experience to the next level,” said Simon Tan, Microsoft’s senior director for Southeast Asia for retail sales and marketing.

“We are pleased to partner with MSI-ECS to bring our products to the Philippine market and both parties share a strong desire to grow the market and meet the needs of our customers,” Tan added.

“MSI-ECS is delighted to have been appointed as the Philippine authorized distributor of Microsoft for its hardware portfolio,” said Jimmy Go, president and CEO of MSI-ECS Phils. Inc.

“This new line-up further strengthens our already impressive product portfolio, allowing us to better provide our resellers with leading-edge solutions and better business opportunities,” Go said.

“By leveraging on Microsoft’s technological leadership, we are confident to offer the market with innovative, reliable, and stylish peripherals,” he added.

With the Microsoft-MSI-ECS partnership, Filipino consumers can discover the difference with Microsoft Hardware, led by the following groundbreaking range of products that embody the idea of “Style That Works.”

The Arc family

The Arc Mouse was launched in 2008 to widespread acclaim and today remains one of the bestselling wireless mice in the world, thanks to its unique design and top performance.

The Arc Mouse’s elegant, foldable crescent shape allows it to easily slip into any bag while on the go, and expand to a comfortable full size while in use. Its micro transceiver quickly snaps into the bottom of the mouse using a magnet, and is so small it sticks out less than one centimeter while plugged in. There is no need to remove it from a laptop while traveling.

The same design language is also found in the Arc Keyboard, with its beautifully curved profile, clean lines, light weight and portable shape. To give the Arc Keyboard a homey, comfortable feel, Microsoft Hardware’s industrial design team drew its inspiration from modern home accessories such as flatware, lighting fixtures and vases.

The BlueTrack Series

BlueTrack Technology was developed by Microsoft in response to people’s increasingly mobile lifestyles, letting them ditch their mouse pad and use their BlueTrack mouse virtually anywhere — from the granite kitchen counter and the wood table at the coffee shop to the armrest at the airport. Microsoft’s first-of-its-kind innovative tracking technology combines the power of optical technology with the precision of laser tracking.

BlueTrack Technology is now available in eight Microsoft mice to suit different tastes and needs. The range includes the entry-level Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500, the sporty Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000, and the gaming-oriented SideWinder X8 Mouse.

Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000

Microsoft’s thinnest keyboard ever (just a few millimeters thicker than a AAA battery at the back), the Blue-tooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 tapers down toward the front, so the keyboard is light and easy to pick up.

And to enable the small footprint to still deliver ultimate comfort, the keyboard uses a Comfort Curve design for a more ergonomic typing experience over the straight keyboard layout of notebook computers.

Microsoft’s Comfort Curve design encourages natural wrist posture with a slight six-degree curve that is easy to use with virtually no learning curve. With more than 10 million Comfort Curve keyboards sold, it’s a consumer favorite, with 94 percent of users who own a Comfort Curve keyboard saying they would recommend it to friends and family.

One of the top consumer pain points when using a notebook or netbook is the lack of a number pad. Accompanying the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 is a stand-alone Bluetooth number pad that can be used with the keyboard or by itself to help increase productivity. The number pad comes with a carrying case for added portability.

High-definition LifeCams

Enjoy vivid video calls with Microsoft’s HD LifeCam’s TrueColor Technology, a groundbreaking new image processing technology that provides superior color and brightness in even the worst lighting conditions.

Microsoft’s new image processing technology analyzes the user’s environment and automatically adjusts the LifeCam settings to provide brighter and more colorful video.

TrueColor Technology includes face-tracking technology developed by Microsoft Research, which can detect a person’s face and help ensure it’s not overexposed or underexposed, so the video call picture looks great even in the most challenging lighting scenarios.

It is found in the LifeCam HD-5000, LifeCam HD-6000 for notebooks and the flagship LifeCam Cinema (via a software upgrade). These LifeCams feature 720p HD sensors and Auto Focus technology. 720p videocalls are enabled in the upcoming Wave 4 upgrade of Windows Live Messenger.