Petricescu credited Microsoft with helping move Vodafone Romania quickly into the subscription computing program by building its understanding of the PC market, training sales representatives and aiding in marketing campaigns.

The company started the subscription programs in May, offering a range of devices with mobile data packages costing from €9 to €27 per month for 12 to 24 months, including unlimited data traffic.

The program has caught on so well in some areas that Microsoft plans to pour more resources into the program.

The company will launch a new e-learning portal later this year for subscribers, to offer software training. The portal will start out as a pilot program to see how people and partners respond.

The new Web site is one of many initiatives designed to draw people to computing and attract new partners for Microsoft. Gitlin said over a dozen new partners have signed on with Microsoft over the past month.