Microsoft’s Irish workforce played key role in Windows 7 build

22 Oct 2009

Microsoft’s European Development Centre played an integral role in the building of the software giant’s latest operating system Windows 7 and was responsible for 1 million copies reaching 25,000 stores in 42 countries.

Today, Windows 7 goes on worldwide release and computer users can purchase software upgrades to the new operating system or buy Windows 7 PCs from all the usual retailers.

What Windows 7 offers

“With Windows 7, there’s never been a better time to be a PC,” said Microsoft Ireland managing director Paul Rellis. “Together with our partners, we’re introducing more choice, flexibility and value in the market than ever before. With Windows 7, you’re sure to find a PC that fits your lifestyle.”

Rellis said that building Windows 7 has been a collaborative process from the beginning, with Microsoft’s engineers and designers working with customers and partners to build an operating system that delivers on the vision of the PC, simplified.

“A project with the global customer reach of Windows can only be done as a team, and employees in Microsoft Ireland played a huge role in developing Windows7 and delivering it to customers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa,” Rellis explained.

“With Windows 7, there’s never been a better time to be a PC.”

– Microsoft Ireland managing director Paul Rellis

“Our involvement included developing key features, like elements of media centre and biometric support in our European Development Centre. The European Operations Centre was responsible for 1 million copies of Windows 7 reaching over 25,000 retail stores in more than 42 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in time for today’s launch,” Rellis said.

“Add to that the work the sales and marketing team is doing on the ground in Ireland to ensure that customers get the best experience possible through demos and training sessions in-store, and you get some sense of how central the Irish team was to bringing Windows 7 to life and getting it into the hands of consumers,” Rellis concluded.

By John Kennedy

Photo: Microsoft Ireland managing director Paul Rellis.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com