KUALA LUMPUR: Microsoft Corp CEO Steve Ballmer will be in town on May 25 to launch the Microsoft Online Services.

In a statement on Thursday, May 20, the software giant said its latest offering was a push towards cloud computing, and promised to enhance the productivity, efficiency and innovation of local businesses and government bodies.

"Cloud computing represents a new world that will bring a lot of change, from the way we do business to how we can learn more cost-effective ways of leveraging technology to realise its role as a business enabler," said Ballmer in the statement.

He said cloud computing was the next phase of the technology industry.

"Today, we have 40,000 people employed building software around the globe, and about 70% of them are working on cloud products and services. A year from now, it will be 90%," he said.

Microsoft Malaysia managing director Ananth Lazarus said computing had moved beyond the traditional PC and laptop. He said "the cloud" was a collection of devices including servers, PCs and mobile devices using the network to pool resources and work together.

"The cloud can help governments save money and gain efficiencies, as well as become more innovative with public service delivery systems," Lazarus said, elaborating that cloud computing could help transform the civil service delivery in line with Malaysia's government transformation plan (GTP).