Microsoft to Donate Cloud Services Worth $1 Billion Over 3 Years
- Program aims to advance public good, solve biggest problems
- Company will also invest in Internet in developing nations
Microsoft Corp. will donate cloud services worth more than $1 billion to nonprofit groups over the next three years in a bid to "advance the public good" and help solve some of the world’s toughest problems, President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith said.
The largest part of the funds will provide free or discounted cloud services, such as Azure computing power and data storage, Office 365 Internet-based corporate programs and other products to nonprofit groups worldwide. Other donations will include expanding access to free Azure for universities, and a program that will invest in organizations providing Internet connectivity in the developing world. Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, will announce the donation in a column Wednesday in the Financial Times.