PTI

New York, Jan 23: Starting with 1,400 job cuts, software giant Microsoft will slash 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months. 

"Microsoft will eliminate up to 5,000 jobs in R&D, HR, marketing, sales, finance, legal, and IT over the next 18 months, including 1,400 jobs today," the company said in a statement.

The layoff, however, would not be impacting the Indian operations. "It's not going to impact us. No job cuts in India," a Microsoft India spokesperson said in New Delhi.

In light of further deterioration of global economic conditions, extra measures to manage costs are being taken, including the reduction of head-count-related expenses, vendors and contingent staff, facilities, capital expenditures and marketing, the company, which posted a 11 per cent decline in profit for the second quarter, added in the statement.

Microsoft's net profit declined 11 per cent to $4.17bn for the quarter ended December 31, 2008. It had a net profit of $4.71bn in the year-ago period.

The company has posted revenues to the tune of $16.63bn for the second quarter. The entity's revenues stood at $16.37bn in the corresponding period a year ago.