Microsoft to layoff 5,000 people
Sure, Windows 7 may be getting rave reviews, and Windows Mobile 6.5 and Internet Explorer 8 launches may be coming soon. But Microsoft, like many other companies has been hit hard by the recession. According to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, the company's second quarter revenue was $900 million below expectations (although still up 2 percent from last year).Ballmer says the company has already taken steps to cut operating expenses, but Microsoft will now eliminate as many as 5,000 jobs in research and development, marketing, sales, finance, and other departments over the next year and a half. Over a thousand job cuts take effect today. Microsoft will actually be creating some new positions, but overall, the plan is to reduce the workforce by 2,000 to 3,000 people.
Microsoft currently employs about 94,000 people.
