Microsoft Earnings Exceed Expectations: In fiscal 2011, Microsoft earned $4.8 billion more than fiscal 2010, primarily due to its enterprise products, which now represent 75 percent of the company’s business. Profit in the company's fourth quarter increased 30 percent, to $5.9 billion. Seattle Times Microsoft Hires 1,000 New People: Microsoft added more than 1,000 employees worldwide during the second quarter of this calendar year, the largest quarterly growth in its workforce in more than two years. About 450 of the jobs are in the U.S., with 144 in the Seattle region. The hires bring Microsoft’s total headcount to more than 90,000. Geekwire Seattle’s Startup Scene is Thriving: Seattle has one of the fastest growing tech job markets in the U.S., but it’s small enough to have a tight-knit and insular startup scene. Insular or not, good companies thrive here. Some of the success stories aren't what you'd call tiny, but as Sfgate points out, neither was PopCap when it was acquired by Electronic Arts. SFGate.com Inside Seattle Facebook: Facebook's local office has the look and feel of a Seattle tech start up, with video game consoles, baskets of toys, and 35 software engineers writing code. What you don't see is the pressure: Each engineer is responsible for roughly 1 million Facebook users. King5.com The Last Aerospace Supplier Leaves Town: Avtech Corp. is moving across the border into Snohomish County. The company -- which makes aircraft lighting, power and communications systems -- is Seattle’s last remaining large aerospace supplier. Puget Sound Business Journal Varolii Raises $8 Million for Communications Software: Seattle-based Varolii raised $8 million in venture capital funds to help with its development of next-generation smartphone apps and other projects. The company creates communications software that allows banks, airlines, utilities and other organizations to send automated alerts or messages. Puget Sound Business Journal Seattle: Microsoft Revenue Jumps, So Does Its Headcount
Microsoft Earnings Exceed Expectations: In fiscal 2011, Microsoft earned $4.8 billion more than fiscal 2010, primarily due to its enterprise products, which now represent 75 percent of the company’s business. Profit in the company's fourth quarter increased 30 percent, to $5.9 billion. Seattle Times Microsoft Hires 1,000 New People: Microsoft added more than 1,000 employees worldwide during the second quarter of this calendar year, the largest quarterly growth in its workforce in more than two years. About 450 of the jobs are in the U.S., with 144 in the Seattle region. The hires bring Microsoft’s total headcount to more than 90,000. Geekwire Seattle’s Startup Scene is Thriving: Seattle has one of the fastest growing tech job markets in the U.S., but it’s small enough to have a tight-knit and insular startup scene. Insular or not, good companies thrive here. Some of the success stories aren't what you'd call tiny, but as Sfgate points out, neither was PopCap when it was acquired by Electronic Arts. SFGate.com Inside Seattle Facebook: Facebook's local office has the look and feel of a Seattle tech start up, with video game consoles, baskets of toys, and 35 software engineers writing code. What you don't see is the pressure: Each engineer is responsible for roughly 1 million Facebook users. King5.com The Last Aerospace Supplier Leaves Town: Avtech Corp. is moving across the border into Snohomish County. The company -- which makes aircraft lighting, power and communications systems -- is Seattle’s last remaining large aerospace supplier. Puget Sound Business Journal Varolii Raises $8 Million for Communications Software: Seattle-based Varolii raised $8 million in venture capital funds to help with its development of next-generation smartphone apps and other projects. The company creates communications software that allows banks, airlines, utilities and other organizations to send automated alerts or messages. Puget Sound Business Journal 
