Steve’s breakdown: Key quote of the story: Microsoft’s UK director of PR Nicola Taylor said the firm wishes to “to review competitively our commercial PR campaigns”, adding that it will be “open to new ideas”, though it wishes to keep its focus on people who use Microsoft products for business.

LONDON, UK: Tech industry giant Microsoft has kicked off an agency pitch for its UK business communications brief, with a number of firms having been approached with requests for information for the work.

The review – which is currently at an early stage – is worth up to 300,000 pounds and current incumbent Next Fifteen is set to be involved in the competitive process.

The multinational firm’s business-to-business contract has been managed by the Next Fifteen group since 2004, but Microsoft is currently under pressure to reinvigorate its brand due to the increased competition it is facing from the mobile and tablet sectors.

Its consumer partnership with 3 Monkeys will be unaffected by the move, as will its corporate work with Edelman and its brief with JCPR for the Xbox brand.

Microsoft’s UK director of PR Nicola Taylor said the firm wishes to “to review competitively our commercial PR campaigns”, adding that it will be “open to new ideas”, though it wishes to keep its focus on people who use Microsoft products for business.

Last year the company released Windows 8, the latest edition of its flagship operating system, with the first major update for the software coming later this year.

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