Microsoft steps into cities market with new global initiative

Technology company Microsoft formally entered the cities market today by unveiling its new global initiative, CityNext, which will allow cities to tap into the Microsoft Partner Network of more than 430,000 technology experts around the world.

The new global initiative emphasises citizen’s needs as well as supporting city leaders as they reimagine how to make their cities healthier, greener, safer and more successful places to live, through cloud technology, social enterprise and big data technology. Through CityNext, Microsoft will allow people and cities to connect with Microsoft’s products and technologies, education and social programmes, and its global network of partners.

“Microsoft’s CityNext initiative puts people first and builds on this new era of collaborative technology to engage citizens, business and government leaders in new ways,” said Laura Ipsen, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Worldwide Public Sector. “Working with our vast Microsoft Partner Network, we can scale solutions and services to do ‘new with less’ enabling cities to better compete in the global marketplace, drive citizen engagement, and foster economic, social and environmental sustainability.”

The initial focus will be on energy and water; buildings; infrastructure and planning; transport; public safety and justice; tourism, recreation, and culture; education; health and social services and government administration. It will also aim to foster critical information to flow seamlessly between municipal departments and among government, businesses and citizens, driving efficiencies that can let cities put more resources back into the community.

CityNext partner Socrata Inc., a cloud software company, is working with Microsoft to bring open data technologies to cities worldwide on the Windows Azure cloud platform. One project the two companies have worked on is offering governments customisable dashboards. Citizens can access their cities’ dashboards through mobile devices or the Internet and monitor how their leaders are performing in areas such as education, healthcare and job creation.

City leaders can engage with citizens in real time, incorporate public demands into their decision-making processes and ensure that they respond to their communities’ most pressing needs. In turn, governments can bring data and citizen feedback into every decision, fostering greater transparency and community participation.

“The forward-looking CityNext initiative addresses a once-in-a-generation global shift currently taking place in government: opening up government data and using it to enhance citizen services,” said Kevin Merritt, CEO and founder at Socrata. “Through simple, familiar apps and devices, governments can now engage everyone, everywhere. We are already seeing incredible progress and, in partnership with Microsoft, we will enable global leaders to make sound decisions, drive efficiencies and help them meet citizen demands for ubiquitous access to information.”

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