Microsoft unveiled the next generation of Cloud and Productivity technology products and services including Windows 8, Office 2013 and Windows Server 2012 at the company's annual 'Open Door' event held in Bahrain.

Microsoft Open Door was held  yesterday (March 11) under the auspices of the Central Informatics Organization (CIO) at The Gulf Convention Center in The Gulf Hotel.

It was the second one-day event that brought together speakers from Microsoft and partners to provide the IT professional and business community with insights into the latest technology innovations.

"Microsoft Open Door presents a unique opportunity for IT professionals and enthusiasts in Bahrain to experience tomorrow's technologies today," said Microsoft regional manager for Bahrain Oman Tareq Hijazi.

Windows 8, Office 2013 and Windows Server 2012 were the highlights from the technology portfolio that participants experienced during the event.

"As a company, we place innovation at the heart of everything we do and our belief that technology enables change goes hand-in-hand with Bahrain's vision of a competitive and diversified economy. We are confident that innovation and technology will contribute to the future development of the kingdom," he noted.

"We are committed, through working with our partners, to providing IT professionals and businesses in Bahrain the latest technology to enhance productivity, enable innovation and reduce security risks," Hijazi said.

CIO president Dr Mohammed Al Amer expressed delight at partnering with Microsoft in hosting the event and said its participation comes as part of Bahrain government's commitment to the kingdom's development in ICT sector.

"We have long enjoyed a productive relationship with Microsoft and we are pleased to deepen our collaboration through various initiatives to bring the latest technologies closer to the business and IT sectors in Bahrain," he noted.

During the event, Microsoft provided access to next-generation IT solutions and discussed ways and means to help businesses improve their productivity and return on investment using technology.

A special focus was also given to cloud computing, with Microsoft showcasing its latest innovations and the cloud capabilities that Microsoft Office 365, Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 bring to businesses and consumers.

The 'Open Door Bahrain' was one of five Microsoft experiential technology showcases taking place in the Gulf region in 2013.

Regional sponsors for the event were Nokia and HP. Additional partners include Exceed IT Services and Training, Lenovo and Toshiba.-TradeArabia News Service