Microsoft Windows Vista designed to curb piracy

Software giant Microsoft expects less availability of counterfeit products of its newest software available in the market, owing to the strong protection installed by these products to curb piracy problem.

"Obviously the goal is to demonstrate that there is no value in using pirated software," said Stephane Kimmerlane director for product marketing, Windows Client Business Group in Asia Pacific region.

Because the Bill Gates controlled company has recognized the threat of piracy in every product it introduces to the market, Kimmerlane said the introduction of the 2007 Microsoft Office System Windows Vista, and Exchange Server 2007 could contribute in solving the piracy problem, as these products come with heavy protection system.

Although he admitted that these new software products are not 100 percent protected from counterfeits, he said users will be frustrated to note that this time, there is big difference in using pirated software, from original ones.

"There is an increased differentiation between the genuine and counterfeit ones," Kimmerlane said in an interview on the sidelines during the launching of these new software products in Cebu Tuesday.

He said over four million users and beta testers worldwide reviewed the products in terms of security, testing, and usability.

According to Kimmerlane Microsoft spends over US$6 billion for its Research and Development (R&D), aside from introducing enhanced software products, protection from illegal counterfeit is heavily developed in every new software to be introduced in the market.

It took five years for Microsoft to introduce an enhanced version of the Windows XP. This time, users will be awed by the improved features of the products, which provides among others, easy usage, safety, more entertaining, and improved connectivity.

This is also the first time, that Microsoft introduced three new products altogether, he added.

Dubbed as the next generation products, Karmie Iligan Microsoft Philippines director for business marketing organization, said these simplify how people work together, find, use and share information, manage documents, and create powerful outputs.

The new operating system (OS) Office Suite and Exchange Server will enable users to communicate and connect easily through its enhanced mobility features and the more powerful Internet Explorer 7.

"During the last decade, Windows 95 and Office 95 transformed the way people work. These revolutionary products we are launching today are the most advanced work that Microsoft has ever done, and these will signal the beginning of the new day for businesses," Iligan said.