Latest news with #Wicresoft
South China Morning Post
07-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Microsoft joint venture Wicresoft halts projects in China, lays off thousands of workers
Microsoft joint venture Wicresoft has put a halt to its China projects with the US technology giant, laying off around two thousand employees in the process, according to local media reports and some affected workers. Advertisement Employees at the Shanghai office of Wicresoft – a Bellevue, Washington-based business consulting venture founded by Microsoft and its Shanghai partners in 2002 – on Monday received emails that said their work related to the US company 'will be terminated'. According to the email, the decision to stop work on those projects was made because of 'geopolitical shifts and changes in the global business environment'. With expertise in information technology and telecommunications services as well as talent acquisition, Wicresoft provides advisory, solutions and operational support to various major brands. A Wicresoft employee, Vincent Gao, confirmed the email's authenticity. Gao, who joined the company in 2020, said Microsoft-related projects account for most of the firm's business. He said Wicresoft has set Tuesday as their last working day. Advertisement Phone calls made to Wicresoft went unanswered.
Reuters
07-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Microsoft venture Wicresoft to halt China operations, lay off staff, report says
BEIJING, April 7 (Reuters) - Microsoft's (MSFT.O), opens new tab joint venture Wicresoft will cease its China operations from Tuesday, a move that will lead to the layoff of about 2,000 staff, Chinese media outlet Caijing reported on Monday, citing sources. The move is in line with Microsoft's decision to stop outsourcing after-sales support in China to Wicresoft, according to Caijing, raising questions about how the U.S. tech firm will service China-based users of its Windows and Office products. The report said the closure would lead to layoffs mainly in the 2,000-strong Microsoft outsourcing team in China. Wicresoft did not respond to a request for comment. Microsoft is pulling back from the China market amid growing political and trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, and stiff competition from Chinese rivals like Kingsoft. IT services provider Shanghai Wicresoft Co. Ltd. was founded in 2002 as Microsoft's first joint venture company in China, and also operates in the United States, Europe and Japan with a global headcount of over 10,000, Wicresoft's website says. Microsoft closed a Shanghai lab focused on developing the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies earlier this year, the South China Morning Post reported last month, opens new tab. A screenshot of an internal email circulated on Chinese social media on Monday, indicating Microsoft was shutting down its China operations. A Microsoft spokesperson told Reuters this was inaccurate, while Caijing said it referred to Wicresoft.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft venture Wicresoft to halt China operations, lay off staff, report says
BEIJING (Reuters) - Microsoft's joint venture Wicresoft will cease its China operations from Tuesday, a move that will lead to the layoff of about 2,000 staff, Chinese media outlet Caijing reported on Monday, citing sources. The move is in line with Microsoft's decision to stop outsourcing after-sales support in China to Wicresoft, according to Caijing, raising questions about how the U.S. tech firm will service China-based users of its Windows and Office products. The report said the closure would lead to layoffs mainly in the 2,000-strong Microsoft outsourcing team in China. Wicresoft did not respond to a request for comment. Microsoft is pulling back from the China market amid growing political and trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, and stiff competition from Chinese rivals like Kingsoft. IT services provider Shanghai Wicresoft Co. Ltd. was founded in 2002 as Microsoft's first joint venture company in China, and also operates in the United States, Europe and Japan with a global headcount of over 10,000, Wicresoft's website says. Microsoft closed a Shanghai lab focused on developing the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies earlier this year, the South China Morning Post reported last month. A screenshot of an internal email circulated on Chinese social media on Monday, indicating Microsoft was shutting down its China operations. A Microsoft spokesperson told Reuters this was inaccurate, while Caijing said it referred to Wicresoft. Sign in to access your portfolio
