DEARBORN -- Group V.P. and Chief Information Officer Nick Smither announced this week Ford's plan to utilize Microsoft's new Windows 7 PC operating system, together with Exchange 2010.

"Our current Windows XP operating system is approaching the end of its life, so we began looking into alternatives," said Smither.

"We conducted a thorough review of our options to go with Microsoft Vista or the new Windows 7," he said.

Windows 7 PC Operating System Logo

The findings in favor of Windows 7 include:

• A longer lifecycle than Vista
• An XP virtualization option to allow existing applications to be supported
• Better performance and user experience than Vista
• Alignment with our Engineering Work Station strategy 

The move to Windows 7 will begin mid-2010, and will be phased in using Ford's current PC renewal cycle plan. 

Smither made the announcement in San Francisco at a Microsoft press event.  He appeared along with executives from Intel Corp., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Continental Airlines, Inc. who also plan to upgrade to the new program.

"We believe moving to Windows 7 and Exchange 2010 will provide significant productivity benefits for the global Ford team," Smither said.