微軟表現(xiàn)出的一些跡象逐漸說(shuō)明,新冠疫情所導(dǎo)致的經(jīng)濟(jì)低迷對(duì)其業(yè)務(wù)產(chǎn)生了一定的影響。
7月22日,這家科技巨頭宣布,上年第四財(cái)季的整體收入高達(dá)380億美元,同比躍升了13%。這樣的數(shù)據(jù)對(duì)于大多數(shù)在新冠疫情期間仍然堅(jiān)持運(yùn)營(yíng)的公司來(lái)說(shuō),都算是一件值得高興的事情。不過(guò),在當(dāng)天的交易后時(shí)段,微軟的股價(jià)下跌了2.3%,報(bào)收206.93美元,很有可能是因?yàn)樵摴局陵P(guān)重要的Azure云計(jì)算業(yè)務(wù)發(fā)展步伐有所減緩。
上年第四季度,Azure業(yè)務(wù)的銷售額增長(zhǎng)了47%,雖然看似是在飛速擴(kuò)張中,但這是該業(yè)務(wù)的同比銷售額增長(zhǎng)率首次沒(méi)有超過(guò)50%。微軟一向不對(duì)外公布包括Azure在內(nèi)許多項(xiàng)業(yè)務(wù)的具體銷售額,只會(huì)透露它們的百分比增長(zhǎng)率。
目前,投資者們已經(jīng)習(xí)慣了云計(jì)算服務(wù)的驚人增長(zhǎng)速度,這項(xiàng)服務(wù)也是微軟推銷自家產(chǎn)品時(shí)的核心賣(mài)點(diǎn)。然而,調(diào)查公司Gartner在7月初發(fā)布的報(bào)告顯示,受新冠疫情的影響,各公司在IT方面的開(kāi)支似乎都有所削減,因此,Azure業(yè)務(wù)的發(fā)展步伐也有所減緩。
微軟的另外一些業(yè)務(wù)最近也遇到了阻礙。上周早些時(shí)候,領(lǐng)英表示將裁減960名員工,其中大多都是負(fù)責(zé)招聘的人員。領(lǐng)英的首席執(zhí)行官賴安?羅斯蘭斯基也在一份公開(kāi)聲明中說(shuō):“包括我們公司在內(nèi),需要按照從前的頻率招聘的公司已經(jīng)越來(lái)越少了?!?
微軟旗下必應(yīng)的搜索引擎廣告業(yè)績(jī)下滑了18%,這表明,各個(gè)公司正在紛紛叫停網(wǎng)絡(luò)廣告方面的支付計(jì)劃。
雖然遇到了這些小難題,但在其投入了大筆資金的游戲行業(yè)里,微軟正經(jīng)歷著高速發(fā)展。新冠疫情的爆發(fā)和隨之而來(lái)的“居家令”意味著人們將擁有比以往多得多的居家空閑時(shí)間,因此,許多人都想用電子游戲來(lái)填補(bǔ)這份空白。
上年第四財(cái)季,微軟Xbox游戲業(yè)務(wù)(包括Xbox游戲機(jī)、電子游戲和游戲訂閱軟件)的銷售額同比飆升了65%。作為比較,前一年微軟Xbox的銷售額同比僅增長(zhǎng)了2%。
該公司的首席執(zhí)行官薩蒂亞?納德拉在與分析師召開(kāi)的電話會(huì)議中說(shuō):“這一季度,游戲業(yè)務(wù)實(shí)現(xiàn)了突破性的發(fā)展?!?
盡管納德拉沒(méi)有透露具體數(shù)字,但他表示,Xbox Game Pass訂閱服務(wù)的“用戶數(shù)量創(chuàng)下了新紀(jì)錄”。今年4月時(shí),微軟宣布,已經(jīng)有1000萬(wàn)Game Pass用戶通過(guò)該項(xiàng)服務(wù)下載、在線玩電子游戲并與其他人進(jìn)行了互動(dòng)。本月早些時(shí)候,微軟宣布,將允許Game Pass高端版訂閱用戶免費(fèi)試用xCloud云游戲服務(wù)——用戶能夠通過(guò)該項(xiàng)服務(wù)將游戲傳輸?shù)阶约旱闹悄苁謾C(jī)或平板電腦上,還可以使用其它一些功能。這一舉措意義重大,因?yàn)槲④浺约鞍ü雀韬蛠嗰R遜在內(nèi)的一眾同行業(yè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)者都認(rèn)為,云游戲服務(wù)擁有巨大的發(fā)展?jié)撃堋?
不過(guò),對(duì)云游戲業(yè)務(wù)的投資并不意味著微軟會(huì)放棄Xbox游戲業(yè)務(wù)。納德拉表示,今年秋季,Xbox游戲機(jī)的新版本——Xbox系列X仍將如期發(fā)布。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:殷圓圓
微軟表現(xiàn)出的一些跡象逐漸說(shuō)明,新冠疫情所導(dǎo)致的經(jīng)濟(jì)低迷對(duì)其業(yè)務(wù)產(chǎn)生了一定的影響。
7月22日,這家科技巨頭宣布,上年第四財(cái)季的整體收入高達(dá)380億美元,同比躍升了13%。這樣的數(shù)據(jù)對(duì)于大多數(shù)在新冠疫情期間仍然堅(jiān)持運(yùn)營(yíng)的公司來(lái)說(shuō),都算是一件值得高興的事情。不過(guò),在當(dāng)天的交易后時(shí)段,微軟的股價(jià)下跌了2.3%,報(bào)收206.93美元,很有可能是因?yàn)樵摴局陵P(guān)重要的Azure云計(jì)算業(yè)務(wù)發(fā)展步伐有所減緩。
上年第四季度,Azure業(yè)務(wù)的銷售額增長(zhǎng)了47%,雖然看似是在飛速擴(kuò)張中,但這是該業(yè)務(wù)的同比銷售額增長(zhǎng)率首次沒(méi)有超過(guò)50%。微軟一向不對(duì)外公布包括Azure在內(nèi)許多項(xiàng)業(yè)務(wù)的具體銷售額,只會(huì)透露它們的百分比增長(zhǎng)率。
目前,投資者們已經(jīng)習(xí)慣了云計(jì)算服務(wù)的驚人增長(zhǎng)速度,這項(xiàng)服務(wù)也是微軟推銷自家產(chǎn)品時(shí)的核心賣(mài)點(diǎn)。然而,調(diào)查公司Gartner在7月初發(fā)布的報(bào)告顯示,受新冠疫情的影響,各公司在IT方面的開(kāi)支似乎都有所削減,因此,Azure業(yè)務(wù)的發(fā)展步伐也有所減緩。
微軟的另外一些業(yè)務(wù)最近也遇到了阻礙。上周早些時(shí)候,領(lǐng)英表示將裁減960名員工,其中大多都是負(fù)責(zé)招聘的人員。領(lǐng)英的首席執(zhí)行官賴安?羅斯蘭斯基也在一份公開(kāi)聲明中說(shuō):“包括我們公司在內(nèi),需要按照從前的頻率招聘的公司已經(jīng)越來(lái)越少了。”
微軟旗下必應(yīng)的搜索引擎廣告業(yè)績(jī)下滑了18%,這表明,各個(gè)公司正在紛紛叫停網(wǎng)絡(luò)廣告方面的支付計(jì)劃。
雖然遇到了這些小難題,但在其投入了大筆資金的游戲行業(yè)里,微軟正經(jīng)歷著高速發(fā)展。新冠疫情的爆發(fā)和隨之而來(lái)的“居家令”意味著人們將擁有比以往多得多的居家空閑時(shí)間,因此,許多人都想用電子游戲來(lái)填補(bǔ)這份空白。
上年第四財(cái)季,微軟Xbox游戲業(yè)務(wù)(包括Xbox游戲機(jī)、電子游戲和游戲訂閱軟件)的銷售額同比飆升了65%。作為比較,前一年微軟Xbox的銷售額同比僅增長(zhǎng)了2%。
該公司的首席執(zhí)行官薩蒂亞?納德拉在與分析師召開(kāi)的電話會(huì)議中說(shuō):“這一季度,游戲業(yè)務(wù)實(shí)現(xiàn)了突破性的發(fā)展?!?
盡管納德拉沒(méi)有透露具體數(shù)字,但他表示,Xbox Game Pass訂閱服務(wù)的“用戶數(shù)量創(chuàng)下了新紀(jì)錄”。今年4月時(shí),微軟宣布,已經(jīng)有1000萬(wàn)Game Pass用戶通過(guò)該項(xiàng)服務(wù)下載、在線玩電子游戲并與其他人進(jìn)行了互動(dòng)。本月早些時(shí)候,微軟宣布,將允許Game Pass高端版訂閱用戶免費(fèi)試用xCloud云游戲服務(wù)——用戶能夠通過(guò)該項(xiàng)服務(wù)將游戲傳輸?shù)阶约旱闹悄苁謾C(jī)或平板電腦上,還可以使用其它一些功能。這一舉措意義重大,因?yàn)槲④浺约鞍ü雀韬蛠嗰R遜在內(nèi)的一眾同行業(yè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)者都認(rèn)為,云游戲服務(wù)擁有巨大的發(fā)展?jié)撃堋?
不過(guò),對(duì)云游戲業(yè)務(wù)的投資并不意味著微軟會(huì)放棄Xbox游戲業(yè)務(wù)。納德拉表示,今年秋季,Xbox游戲機(jī)的新版本——Xbox系列X仍將如期發(fā)布。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:殷圓圓
Microsoft is beginning to show some signs that the economic malaise related to the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting its business.
The technology giant said on July 22 that its overall revenue jumped 13% year-over-year to $38 billion in its fiscal fourth quarter, which for most companies operating amid the coronavirus pandemic would be something to cheer. But Microsoft shares nonetheless declined 2.3% in after-hours trading, to $206.93, likely due to slowing growth in the company’s all-important Azure cloud-computing unit.
Azure sales were up 47% in the fourth quarter, which again sounds like a breakneck pace—but which marked the first time ever that the unit didn't deliver year-over-year revenue growth of 50% or higher. Microsoft does not disclose specific sales numbers for many of its units, including Azure, only how much they've grown on a percentage basis.
Investors have grown accustomed to breathtaking growth in the cloud computing service that serves as the core of everything Microsoft sells to customers. But the coronavirus pandemic appears to be causing companies to slow their IT spending, as research firm Gartner reported earlier in July, which seems to have caused a bit of a slowdown for Azure.
Other aspects of Microsoft’s business have hit roadblocks as of late as well. Earlier last week, the company’s LinkedIn unit said it would lay off 960 employees, particularly affecting the unit that’s responsible for hiring and recruiting services. As LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky said in a public note, “fewer companies, including ours, need to hire at the same volume they did previously.”
And Microsoft’s Bing search advertising business plunged 18%, an indication that companies are pausing their online ad spending.
Despite these hiccups, however, Microsoft is experiencing massive growth in one area of its business where it's investing heavily—gaming. The advent of the coronavirus and ensuing shelter-in-place orders have meant that people have a lot more free time at home than they once did, and they are turning to video games to help fill the void.
Sales in Microsoft’s Xbox gaming unit (a combination of Xbox console sales, video games, and gaming subscription software) skyrocketed 65% year-over-year in the company’s fourth quarter. For comparison, the Xbox unit only grew 2% year-over-year in Microsoft’s previous quarter.
“It is simply a breakthrough quarter for gaming,” CEO Satya Nadella said during a call with analysts.
Although Nadella didn’t reveal specific numbers, he said that the company’s Xbox Game Pass subscription service “is seeing record subscribers.” In April, Microsoft said it now has 10 million Game Pass subscribers who use the service to download and play video games online and interact with others. Earlier this month, Microsoft said it would let subscribers of the premium version of Game Pass access the experimental xCloud cloud gaming service—which lets people stream games to their smartphones or tablets, among other features—for free. That was a big deal because Microsoft, like rivals including Google and Amazon, believes cloud gaming represents a potentially massive future business.
But just because Microsoft is investing in cloud gaming doesn’t mean it's forsaking its Xbox gaming console business. The new version of its Xbox console, the Xbox Series X, is still slated to be released this fall, Nadella said.