Microsoft's India MD Neelam Dhawan to join Hewlett-Packard

Microsoft's India MD Neelam Dhawan to join Hewlett-Packard
6 Jun 2008, 2109 hrs IST,PTI

NEW DELHI: In a major setback to IT giant Microsoft, its India Managing Director Neelam Dhawan has decided to call it quits and will join Hewlett-Packard.

"I am sorry to announce that Neelam Dhawan will be leaving Microsoft to join HP as the Managing Director of HP India," Microsoft India Chairman Ravi Venkatesan said in a statement.

"We are losing a strong leader who has, over the past three years, helped position Microsoft very strongly in the Indian market. We wish her continued success in all her endeavours," he added.

He, however, said Dhawan's move would only strengthen Microsoft's relationship with one of its most important partners, HP.

"Being a part of the leadership team at Microsoft India has been one of the most rewarding roles of my professional life and the decision to leave was a difficult one to make. I am, of course, excited about my new role at HP, and the opportunity it gives me to further strengthen the partnership between the two companies," Dhawan said.

Dhawan joined Microsoft India in March 2005, and was responsible for the business strategy of the company. Her last working day at Microsoft would be June 30, 2008.

Bill Gates signals end of computer mouse era

Bill Gates signals end of computer mouse era
Friday, 30 May , 2008, 17:50



London: Microsoft is developing a system that could spell an end to the use of computer mouse, Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft, said.


"The way you interact with the system will change dramatically," the billionaire said at a conference in Canada, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph today.

He said that computer users of the future would control their machines by voice and pen as well as touch. Users of Windows - 7 will issue commands by touching the screen rather than by the traditional keyboard and mouse combination that has dominated since the 1970s.

Windows - 7 is due to be released in 2010 and is Microsoft's attempt to catch up with Apple, whose touch screen iPhone has proved popular.

Touch screens are appearing on a host of other devices, including satellite navigation (sat-navs), mobile phones and remote controls. A touch screen BlackBerry is also expected shortly.