Alright, here's another thing Microshit is doing that's pissing me off. From Yahoo today:

Microsoft to Invest in India, Add Jobs

NEW DELHI - Microsoft plans to nearly double its work force in India over the next four years, investing $1.7 billion and adding 3,000 jobs in a vote of confidence in one of the world's fastest-growing markets.

The investment would be among the largest an information technology company has made in this country of 1 billion people that Microsoft Corp. has long viewed as having huge potential in human capital and for sales.

"We are keen to grow Microsoft activities in India," Bill Gates, the company's chairman and co-founder, told reporters. "The growth in employment for Microsoft will be more in India than the United States."

A substantial part of the money would go to creating a Windows operating system designed specifically for India and available in nine Indian languages. That could help Microsoft fend off challenges from cheaper open-source operating systems led by Linux, which has made deep inroads in India.

Half the money would go to improving Microsoft's research and development capabilities, including the creation of a new facility in the southern city of Bangalore, India's technology hub, the company said.

On a previous visit to India in 2002, Gates announced similar plans for $400 million in investments. On Wednesday, he called the company's progress since then "fantastic," and said, "that's part of the reason we are able to make such a strong and increased commitment."

Gates' announcement was the latest in a string of recently announced investments in India by American technology firms.

On Monday, chipmaker Intel Corp. said it planned to invest more than $1 billion over the next five years to expand its operations in India and invest in local technology companies.

Cisco Systems Inc. said in October that it plans to spend $1.1 billion in India over the next three years.

Earlier this year, Microsoft opened a research center in the southern city of Hyderabad, its fourth such facility worldwide. The Bangalore center is to be opened next month.

The expansion plans will nearly double Microsoft's work force in India by adding 3,000 jobs over the next three years to its existing pool of 4,000, Gates told business leaders on Wednesday.

Microsoft's efforts in India are aimed at narrowing the digital divide by creating products that are not only affordable for the poor but also address their "unique needs," he said.

One idea Gates raised has long been a holy grail in computing: developing thinking machines that respond to speech

 

Now this is something you can't prevent and I would be surprised if Apple isn't doing it too. I also don't think the effects have been as devastating as initially predicted.

My company has huge operations in India and China but they still have lots of work for people to do in the states. And my last job was with Cisco!

The fact is, a publicly traded company will get trashed by the mutual funds if they don't find ways to reduce their labor costs.

 

It's called globalization. You starting thinking like that, and you wont be able to buy anything soon. The rich are getting richer and the poor and middle class are getting squeezed. I'm not going to say if it is wrong or right, just know that's how things are going and will continue to happen. First the poor working class was hurt by over seas manufacturing, now white collar workers are at risk. To me this says it's risky to think your job is safe. The only thing you can do is prepare. I got out of the rate race six years ago. I gave up a pay cut for a while, but I can now say things look pretty damn rosey. I have friends in the engineering field, and I feel sorry for them, because I see things changing quickly.

Sam

 

So what are you doing now that's so damn rosey?

Warren

 

I just received my new iMac G5. It was shipped from China.

 

Same for my Video iPod.

 

You should switch just based on merits and aesthetics.

 

Apple does have small India presence (mainly outsourcing - if you get an Indian, just hang up and try again for an American or Irish person - much better), but I'm surprised that MS is going so big into India now when most US companies are moving away from far-shore support (India) and towards near-shore (Mexico, Canada) and US-based call centers because far shore centers have proven so bad for customer support.

Dell is opening a new call center in my town. Maybe MS doesn't care about good customer service??? Fwiw, I called MS support four days ago and got an American - still didn't know anything about what I needed though. Imo, the skill level and professionalism of people who work in conact centers is greatly dependant on the market where the center is. if its the only job in town, you get better people working there, no matter where the center is located.

 

Sure and you can guarantee better support by speaking to someone from Canada or Mexico or even the US ...... riiiigggghhttt!!!

 

I'm thinking a large portion of this is R&D and not just support.