Microsoft bets more online
Seattle PI | at | by Mike
Microsoft outlined plans to boost spending on its online businesses Thursday, even as new financial results showed the company's payoff in that area falling short of its expectations.
Fourth-quarter revenue rose to $838 million in the company's Online Services Business -- a 24 percent increase from last year but well below the 37 percent to 41 percent revenue growth that Microsoft had been predicting.
Online advertising is the one area of the company that seems to be feeling the effects of turmoil in the broader economy, said Chris Liddell, Microsoft's chief financial officer, in a conference call with analysts.