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The company is reportedly spending $150 million on a new campaign covering print, television and web that will update its three-year-old "people-ready business" message with the mostly similar, "it's everybody's business" slogan.

Microsoft is hoping to cash in on the economic downturn by explaining to businesses how its software can save them money. In Microsoft's own words the campaign will be "very specific about the toll of a down economy on business, and how software and IT can help".

Among the software elements receiving a push are virtualisation, unified communications, online services and collaboration tools.

Microsoft says the campaign will be a more straightforward explanation of the benefits of its software than the slightly more surreal "I'm a PC" ads which began with a Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates double act, before switching tack to ordinary people.