Microsoft Re-Aligns Divisions, Promotes Bach

Tech giant and Xbox hardware maker Microsoft Corp. has announced a realignment of the company into three newly formed divisions, each of which will be led by its own president. The Microsoft Platform Products & Services Division will be led by Kevin Johnson and Jim Allchin as co-presidents; Jeff Raikes has been named president of the Microsoft Business Division; but finally, of particular relevance to the video game industry, Chief Xbox Officer and Home and Entertainment Division Robbie Bach has been named as president of Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division. This newly created Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division, to be headed by Bach, combines the Home and Entertainment Division (including the Xbox console and games, Windows games, Microsoft TV products and consumer hardware such as keyboards and mice) with the current Mobile and Embedded Devices Division (Windows Mobile software for Pocket PCs, Smartphones and Portable Media Centers, and the Windows CE operating system). The new division, according to the company, "consolidates Microsoft's industry engagement around devices to deliver even richer and more relevant scenarios for individuals at work, at home and when they're mobile", and is seemingly intended to help aid the 'convergence' effect that Microsoft is pushing with multiple directives, including the Xbox 360's online and multimedia capabilities.