KUWAIT: Jamie Galvis, COO of Microsoft Gulf (right) is pictured with Charles Nahas, General Manager, Microsoft Kuwait. —Photo by Joseph Shagra

KUWAIT: Game-changing technology products and solutions were displayed recently at the 'Innovation Bazaar' organized by Microsoft Kuwait at the Salwa Al-Sabah Hall in Salmiya. Guest speaker and COO of Microsoft Gulf Jaime Garviz told Kuwait Times that Microsoft had an investment of about $15 billion in research and development to achieve its objectives. "The investment is divided into three components - firstly, making the cloud more intelligent and available for everybody. The second investment is connected to productivity - how can we reinvent productivity; number three is that we make computing more personal. We could interact with technology in a more natural and personal way - technology that is able to read your movements, recognize your voice, gestures and do things for you or with you. Those are the three big areas that we have investments to continue innovation in the coming years," he explained.

The bazaar brought together speakers from Microsoft, its industry peers and partners to provide the IT industry with insights into the empowering devices, apps and solutions that represent the future. Microsoft vision, products and solutions at the event included IoT, Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and Windows 10, in addition to Surface and Lumia devices and Windows 10 tablets. The event also included interactive sessions and demonstration stations at which Microsoft experts provided insights into how Microsoft is empowering businesses, educators, governments and individuals to be most effective and productive.

Empowerment

"I find it very important that even people who cannot afford high-cost technology - through Microsoft's philanthropic work, NGOs and every entity nowadays are making this available to everyone. What we see now is empowerment and democratization; empowerment regardless of what device you are using - we are making it easier for everyone to access the technology, even people who cannot afford it. Two months ago, here in the Middle East, I was able to see a company translating voice to sign language for the deaf using our cloud technology. This will spread in the world eventually," Galviz noted.

Microsoft is growing exponentially amidst financial difficulties and the oil price slump all over the world. According to Galviz, who is the director of business, marketing and operations, Microsoft cares a lot and will continue to do so. He said Microsoft is helping communities throughout the world with 350,000 partners and it continues to hire people and employ them. "For every person we invest in, 10 or 15 dollars is generated by our partners and the number is growing very fast," Galviz added.

New technology

"We are also investing in new technology which attracts new talents in the region. We have about 50,000 people being trained in new technology for free through our virtual academy in the Middle East. We also make this technology available in schools and universities here. There is a lot of potential that is happening around us here," he said.

According to Galviz, the changes happening are also generating new opportunities for Microsoft. "We like to take advantage of the situation. We are moving fast to support companies facing tough challenges; this region has an amazing advantage, historically, they are traders and merchants, and have been connecting to people ever since," he said.

Microsoft admitted competing with tough companies worldwide, but Galviz pointed out that their greatest competitors at this point are only themselves. "We are here to do business and help find solutions. The highly-acclaimed Windows 10 was one of the main attractions, but we also have Office 365, Azure, IoT, Line-of-Business and applications designed specifically to meet the requirements of users in Kuwait looking to utilize the innovation, technology, learning and networking," he said.

By Ben Garcia