MicrosoftCEOtoutsnewWindowstabletsvsiPad

　　SEATTLE,Jul12(Reuters)-MicrosoftCorpChiefExecutiveSteveBallmertoutednewtablet-styledevicesrunningtheWindows7operatingsystemfromabout20manufacturersataconferenceonMonday,underliningthegiantsoftwarecompany'seagernesstocountertheexplosionofinterestinAppleInc'siPad.

　　NewWindows-poweredtabletorslatedevices--small,hand-held,wirelesscomputers--areinthepipelinefromAcerInc,DellInc,SamsungElectronicsCoLtd,ToshibaCorp,SonyCorpandadozenotherPCmakers,Ballmersaidatthecompany'sannualpartnerconferenceinWashington,D.C.,whichwaswebcast.

　　"Thisyear,oneofthemostimportantthingsthatwewilldointhesmartdevicecategoryisreallypushforwardwithWindows7-basedslates,"saidBallmer."Thisisaterriblyimportantareaforus."

　　Apple'siPad,launchedinApril,hasalreadysoldmorethan2millionunitsworldwide,andthreatenstotakecustomersawayfromMicrosoft-dominateddesktopcomputing.

　　BallmerdidnotmentionHewlett-PackardCo,theworld'sNo.1PCmaker,whichhassaiditplanstobuildslatedevicesrunningtheoperatingsystemdevisedbyPalmInc,whichHPboughtthisyear.However,HP'slogodidappearonaslidelistingPCmakersworkingonslateswhichwasdisplayedasBallmerspoke.

　　Atthesameconference,MicrosoftannouncedthatonlineauctionfirmeBayInc,techservicescompanyFujitsuLtdandPCmakerDellareamongthecompaniestestingMicrosoft'snewWindowsAzureplatformappliance,whichletscustomersimplementMicrosoft'snewest"cloud"servertechnologyinitsowndatacenters.

　　Microsoftisheavilyemphasizing"cloud"servicesattheconference,essentiallyhelpingcompaniesmanagetheirdataandcomputingpower--andthoseoftheircustomers--overtheInternet.

　　Microsoftshareswereupalmost2percentat$24.75onNasdaq.