Microsoft investing $678M into massive ‘Project Mountain’ data center in Iowa

By Russ Boswell June 24, 2013

Microsoft Intelligent Car Technology — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft’s quest to dominate the computer space will never cease. The company’s working to get a tight grip on the “online service” sector of the consumer tech marketplace. According to CNET, Microsoft is investing $678 million into the expansion of its West Des Moines, Iowa, office. This particular location is responsible for the production and creation of online services like Office 365 and Xbox Live. The Des Moines Register is reporting that Microsoft plans to use the upgrades to work on its cloud operations. Microsoft’s plan of attack, which its named “Project Mountain,” has already received tax benefits.

According to the Greater Des Moines Partnership, which is responsible for providing resources to businesses that are moving or expanding in the West Des Moines area, Microsoft’s office will house servers and networking equipment dedicated to bettering cloud services. This project is the result of years of planning between Microsoft, the state of Iowa, and the city of West Des Moines. Microsoft is expected to receive $20 million in tax incentives from the state.

It is no surprise that Microsoft’s attempting to beef up its cloud services, due to recent developments with its next-generation gaming console, the Xbox One. Microsoft revealed at E3 that the Xbox One would contain a variety of cloud services, many of which are tied to game saves, gamer tags, and the Xbox Live service in general. We could also see new developments in Microsoft’s tablet and mobile sector as a result of this substantial upgrade.

It’s also possible that this sudden interest in cloud computing is due to Microsoft rivals beefing up their own data centers. In 2009, Google opened a center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 2012, Google announced that it would be expanding the center, and brought the total cost of the endeavor up to $1.1 billion. Facebook also opened a number of data centers, including one in Altoona, Iowa. It will be interesting to see what types of cloud-based developments appear from Microsoft in the near future, and if the investment pays off for the company.

Editors' Recommendations

Microsoft brings Windows to the cloud with Windows 365 Cloud PC

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Russ Boswell is an aspiring video game and technology journalist from Colorado. He's been an avid gamer since he was old…

Computing

This 17-inch HP laptop is on sale for just $300 — but hurry!

The HP 17t-cn300 17.3-inch laptop against a white background.

If you want to buy a laptop with a relatively large screen, the good news is that you don't have to break the bank with your purchase because you can get the HP Laptop 17t for a very affordable $300. It's on sale from HP with a $200 discount on its original price of $500, but there's no telling how much time is remaining before this offer expires. We don't think it will stay available for long because laptop deals like this almost always get sold out quickly, so complete the transaction as soon as possible to make sure that you don't miss out on the savings.

Why you should buy the HP Laptop 17t
With the 17.3-inch display of the HP Laptop 17t, you'll have a lot of screen real estate to work on your projects and watch streaming shows. It's pretty affordable for a laptop with this large screen, which offers HD+ resolution for sharp details and vibrant colors. However, despite its big display, the HP Laptop 17t maintains portability because it's only 0.78 of an inch thick, which makes it easy to slide into your bag when you're on the go, and it won't be too heavy to carry around because it only weighs about 4.6 pounds.

Computing

What to do if your Intel CPU keeps crashing

Pins on Core i9-12900K.

Despite being among the best processors you can buy, some high-end Intel CPUs have faced a wave of instability over the past few months. Intel is investigating the problem, but the company and its motherboard partners have already worked toward some temporary fixes to improve stability on high-end Intel CPUs -- even if it comes at a performance cost.

Before getting into the fixes, keep in mind that they are temporary. Intel will release a statement on the instability soon, likely with more direct guidance on what affected users should do. In addition, the scope of the problem isn't clear -- if you're not experiencing issues, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.
Who's affected

Computing

HP Envy deals: HP’s most popular laptop starts at $630

An HP Envy 17-inch laptop sits on an office desk.

HP is one of the best laptop brands in the laptop space, with a huge selection of laptops to pick from, including some of the best laptops on the market. More specifically, though, the HP lineup is probably at the top when it comes to versatile and relatively well-valued laptops. While there are quite a few variations and configurations of the HP Envy, we've gone ahead and put together the ones that we think will give you the most bang for your buck. That said, if you haven't found something you're specifically looking for, be sure to check out some of these other great laptop deals as well.
HP Envy x360 2-in-1 laptop 15Z-FH000 — $650, was $900

The HP Envy x360 convertible laptop is a great option for just about anyone, particularly anyone who enjoys the touchscreen functionality of a tablet. It’s well designed and super slim, making it a truly go-anywhere device. Despite its portability, it still has an immersive 15.6-inch touchscreen that’s great for creators, note-takers, and binge watchers. Top notch build quality and durability, fast charging technology, a fingerprint reader, and great battery life round out the top features of the HP Envy x360 convertible touchscreen laptop. It competes well with the best 2-in-1 laptops. Its versatility and all-around capability make it a worthy companion on any desk, and on any lap.