Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer sought to convince Malaysia of the benefits of cloud computing for running governments, as the company seeks a trail-blazing partnership with the nation.
The Southeast Asian country unveiled plans earlier this year for economic reforms that include an expanded high-speed broadband Internet network - part of a roadmap to achieving developed-nation status within a decade.
Officials say Microsoft is trying hard to get Malaysia to be one of its key government clients for online cloud computing services, with Ballmer meeting Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak during his two-day visit.
Cloud computing, where people and businesses save money by using applications hosted online instead of buying, installing and maintaining software, has grown in popularity during the economic downturn.
The Microsoft chief executive said the company's new suite of online services fitted Malaysia's development goals."Cloud computing... is an important part of the way that government will change and reengineer its relationship with citizens," Ballmer said on Tuesday.
However, top civil servant Mohamad Sidek Hassan, who attended Microsoft's launch of its online services, was coy as to whether the government would engage the company's services saying:"We have always invested in Cloud computing."
Last week, Ballmer said Microsoft was betting that the future of computing was in the Internet "cloud", which was also likely to play a role in the company's investments in personal computers, smartphones and Internet-enabled television."There is a broad recognition that the Cloud is the frontier, our company plans on being a leader and we plan to invest," he added.
Source - AFP
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