Morocco's Office of Vocational Training and Employment
Promotion (OFPPT) has chosen the world's largest software maker
Microsoft Corp.
(
MSFT
) for deploying vocational education across 35 fields of study
through its 327 training institutes across the African
nation.
Morocco's OFPPT opted for Microsoft Office 365 software to
improve its education and vocational training offerings provided
to students in the country. The OFPPT will create 100 new
Microsoft IT Academies throughout the country. The partnership
will benefit Morocco by improving the employability of its
people. It will also leverage Microsoft's strength in offering
quality training and vocational exercises and at the same time
help teachers and students to keep pace with the ever-evolving
technology sector.
Microsoft's Office 365 is a cloud-based, subscription-based
software service. It was officially launched in 2011. The new
Office comes with the traditional word processing, spreadsheets
and email programs.
IT certifications are gaining importance in the job market, as
certifications are considered a key factor for getting employed.
Moreover, Microsoft itself can employ the certified students.
Thus, Microsoft will have an ideal workforce for its local
businesses.
Microsoft's Office 365 is gaining traction in the market as it
recently launched its online version focusing on touch devices.
Further, it is being deployed in the stores of retailers such as
J. C. Penney Company Inc.
(
JCP
) and U.K.-based retailer Tesco.
Currently, just like other PC makers, Microsoft is also
battling the slump in the PC market caused by the sluggish
economy. In addition, the popularity of smartphones and tablets
from
Apple
(
AAPL
) and
Google
(
GOOG
) has been cannibalizing PC market sales, further deteriorating
the scenario. Whether it can come out of the slump on the back of
its new software and OS is a wait and see game.
Microsoft reported revenue, excluding deferrals, of $21.46
billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, which was up 34.0%
sequentially and 2.7% from last year, in line with our estimates.
All except the Entertainment & Devices segment grew both
sequentially and from the year-ago quarter. Entertainment &
Devices were down year over year.
Microsoft has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
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