• June 27, 2001 •
Windows XP marketing to hit $1 billion
Rick Belluzzo, president and chief operating officer of Microsoft Corp., addressed more than 600 industry leaders at Partner Marketing Day in Las Vegas, sharing Microsoft's plans for the marketing frenzy behind Microsoft Windows XP and launching an unprecedented campaign for the revolutionary new operating system, including a total of $500 million from Microsoft and Intel Corp. alone to promote Windows XP and Pentium® 4 PCs. Other PC makers and retailers will also spend $500 million, making the total marketing campaign to run at $1 billion.
"Never before have we seen such industry wide support and such strong enthusiasm or investment in the launch of a Microsoft product," Belluzzo said. "With release candidate 1 of Windows XP coming in the next 10 days, we are working together with our top software, hardware, channel and retailing partners to communicate the amazing set of experiences delivered with Windows XP."
"We are delighted to be working with Microsoft on the Windows XP campaign," said Ann Lewnes, vice president of Consumer Marketing at Intel. "A Windows XP-based PC with the Pentium 4 processor is the perfect combination to enable consumers to take advantage of the digital media phenomenon. We will be working with Microsoft to invigorate the industry with these exciting new products."
The marketing campaign won't be targeted towards Windows XP only, but marketing Windows XP PCs. Forcasters have predicted that year-over-year PC sales in the US are likely to decline by 6.3 percent, but Microsoft's Greg Sullivan, Windows XP lead product manager, believes that the Windows XP release may lift sagging PC sales in the fourth quarter.