Microsoft says Thai floods have affected Q4 PC sales

SOFTWARE OUTFIT Microsoft has predicted that the Thai floods have affected its fourth quarter PC software sales.

According to Bloomberg, Microsoft said at an investment conference on Tuesday that PC sales will be lower than analysts expected during the fourth quarter.

Analysts estimated that PC shipments fell about one per cent last quarter. However, Tami Reller, CFO of Microsoft's Windows unit, said sales figures will be lower. Microsoft's general manager of investor relations Bill Koefoed backed up her comments at a separate event.

Koefoed said at a JP Morgan Chase conference, "As the numbers come out, you'll likely see that number decline further as the impact has been felt faster than people had anticipated."

Reller told the audience at a Nomura Holdings event that there potentially could be more downward adjustments. Both conferences were held in Las Vegas, where CES is being held this week.

Software sales at Microsoft's Windows unit have missed estimates in three of the past four quarters. µ