While the Open Door experiential technology event expected to  tour 6 African countries reaching over 6000 people,   Nigeria’s technology professionals and enthusiasts experienced  the latest generation of products and services from Microsoft and its partners,  designed to improve the way Africans communicate at work and in their personal lives.

At the capacity building event that attracted more  than 250 people at  the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos,  Open Doors’ is one of Microsoft’s experiential  technology showcases , reaching  6000 people  across 6 African countries over the next six months. Each event will provide attendees with exclusive access to Microsoft’s latest consumer and business tools, including the Lync communication platform.

Microsoft currently has 50 employees in three offices in Lagos, Abuja and Accra and 400 partners in Nigeria and Ghana, but has never before gathered so many leaders across the technology industry to share its product and services vision.

“The growth of internet access and mobile penetration across the region has resulted in a technology tipping point in terms of the opportunities available to business and consumers,” said Dele Akinsade Technology Lead, Microsoft Nigeria.

“This event has allowed us to engage more directly with customers, developers and partners, providing a platform to showcase our broad Microsoft-based technology offering.”

Microsoft Anglophone West Africa General Manager Emmanuel Onyeje and Moji Shodunke, General Manager Ha-Shem Network Services Ltd discussed the social impact and business opportunities presented by accessing high-speed Internet and genuine software.  Attendees explored Microsoft’s latest generation of technologies, including:

Lync is unique in the marketplace, integrating various modes of communication tools. It is an open extensible platform, bringing together video and audio conferencing, application and desktop sharing, instant messaging and telephony.

Products and services on display highlighted Microsoft’s continuing focus on providing solutions for government, businesses and individuals across Nigeria:

*Connection: With emails, contacts, photos and documents scattered among different personal computers and devices, Windows 7 and the free Windows Live Essentials 2011 use the power of the Internet to help businesses create, connect and share what’s important anytime, from virtually anywhere.

* Collaboration: Microsoft Office 2010, along with popular productivity applications – Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Microsoft Visio 2010 and Microsoft Project 2010 – help businesses and consumers in Africa to share ideas and information across their PC, mobile phone and Web browser.

*Productivity:  Exchange Server 2010 customers are reporting productivity gains of more than 20 per cent with a universal inbox that delivers email, voice mail, instant messaging and text messaging consistently across virtually any device.

* Cost-savings: By using Microsoft virtualisation solutions, businesses can reduce their operations and capital expenses significantly, as well as reduce electrical power consumption and cooling within datacenters.

“Participating with Microsoft in this Open Door event emphasizes our joint commitment to delivering the latest technology solutions to consumers, business and developers alike across Nigeria” said Moji Shodunke  from Ha-Shem  Network Services Limited.