Software major Microsoft today launched its new research and development facility spread across 1,54,000 square feet.

This facility will house the Bangalore Microsoft India Development Center (MSIDC) team, which contributes to Microsoft Corp's adCenter technologies, as well as the researchers from Microsoft Research India.

"For the last one decade India has been a key player in Microsoft's strategy of global shared development. Our second R&D center in Bangalore reinforces Microsoft's commitment towards India," Microsoft Corp President Online Services Division Qi Lu said in a statement.

Microsoft India R&D commenced its activities in Hyderabad in 1998 with about 20 people and at present has a headcount of 3,900 plus contributing to global and internal product engineering of Microsoft Corp.

"Last April, we had announced the extension of our engineering efforts to Bangalore as part of the Search alliance between Microsoft Corp and Yahoo Inc. The process of transition is now complete," Qi added.