Global economy is currently in reset mode, and if the economy has to grow, it cannot be done with debt, but with innovation and productivity said Steve Ballmer, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corporation, as he kicked off the Redmond major's three day event for Microsoft computing professionals at the Hyderabad International Convention center.

“There is contraction in the IT business due to the downturn but this throws open a huge opportunity for the industry to play a starring role in the economic recovery. I’m quite optimistic about the industry,” he said. Steve seized the opportunity to announce that innovation and product advancement is the way to move ahead for the global economy in the next few years, even as he touted the various facets of Microsoft's products roadmap including the failed Windows Vista operating system, the much anticipated Windows 7 to be launched end of 2009 and Microsoft's cloud strategy.

“Vista was much talked about but not quite popular while we hope that Windows 7 would be much talked about and popular as well,” said Ballmer. Windows Azure formed the backbone of Microsoft's cloud computing strategy and was being positioned as an effective next generation technology to help enterprises reduce costs in a downturn economy, he said. "Windows Azure forms the backbone of our cloud strategy. We need to tie Windows PC, mobile phones and TV technologies (Xbox) into our software-plus-services strategy.” ”In the long run,” said Ballmer,” growth is going to come disproportionately on application development and application customization types of businesses. More and more information ought to be able to go live in the Cloud.”

With a revved version of the Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft's Cloud offering, Azure, Microsoft hopes to give VMware a run for its money – 'we have come from scratch to 27 per cent in a phenomenally fast pace, and that must suggest something', said Steve.

The three day event at Hyderabad is offering the opportunity to interact with some of the leading lights in the business and technology space globally, talk to Microsoft product development teams directly, and get in-depth hands-on-trainings and certifications in the latest Microsoft Technologies. Microsoft India is offering a live stream of TechEdIndia at http://www.msteched.in/; you’ll have to install Microsoft Silverlight to view the live stream.

Devmarch is a bronze partner at Microsoft TechEd India 2009. Visit our stand at the show to learn more about Devmarch, the upcoming Saltmarch summits and how you can benefit from being a part of Saltmarch Media's products.