Microsoft laid off several unidentified advertising and marketing jobs on Wednesday.

A company spokesperson said, “Like any company, Microsoft continually evaluates its operations and works to align the business to key priorities. We can assure you we’re thinking about the exciting new opportunities that Windows 8, Xbox and Skype present for our advertising and marketing partners.”

The Redmond-based software giant failed to explain the details regarding the scope and scale of the downsizing. However, it has already been reported over a few months earlier that Microsoft would shut down “hundreds” of marketing careers and now it has become a reality.

In a recent report by InformationWeek, one former Microsoft employee who was hit by the misfortune is the company’s longtime digital marketer Mel Carson, who has devoted seven years as a liaison for members of the advertising and publishing communities.

In his personal blog on Wednesday, Carson expressed that “While I’m sad it’s come to this […] I have nothing but fantastic memories of working at Microsoft Advertising,” and that his firing “does not involve” a lackluster job execution.

Microsoft lays off advertising and marketing jobs. Image: Robert Scoble via Flickr (CC)

In addition to InformationWeek’s report, a loss of $1.45 billion and revenue of $2.1 billion during the last nine months has been incurred and earned by Microsoft’s Online Services unit, which governs the advertising activities. This means that little is left for the company to continue on its operations.

Specifics regarding the pull outs are restricted but it arrives a week after the company declared a $6.2 billion charge against its revenues during the last quarter to fund a write-down of its aQuantive ad business, which it bought for $6.3 billion last 2007.

Lately, Microsoft has been appearing in headlines for several times, first is its Surface tablet revealing in June 18, which is likely to launch together with its Windows 8 on October, or later this year. A week after that is its official announcement of a $1.2 billion acquisition of social network Yammer.

About Francis Rey Balolong

A coffee junkie who spends most of his time writing about the latest news on social media and mobile technology. I would definitely consider myself a nerd (in the coolest most hipster way possible). That being said, I love technology, music, writing, and all things mobile. Follow me: Google+ Twitter

Don’t forget to subscribe and receive our latest posts in your inbox.