Ballmer details MSN spending plans
C|Net | at | by Mike
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on Thursday detailed just how much of Microsoft's extra spending will be devoted to bulking up its Internet services business.
Ballmer, acknowledging that Microsoft's stock has plunged over the uncertainty created by Microsoft's investment plans, said the MSN unit plans to spend $1.1 billion next fiscal year on research and development, up from $700 million in planned spending this year and $500 million in the prior year. The online unit also plans to spend $500 million on capital expenses in fiscal 2007, up from $100 million in fiscal 2005 and an estimated $300 million this year.