Windows Vista is going to create over 100,000 new jobs and drive more than $70bn in revenues for the IT industry, this is stated in a research commissioned by Microsoft .

A report conducted by IDC is concluded to believe that the launch of Vista will drive “significant economic growth” in the US during the product’s first year of shipment.

“Our research indicates that Vista will infuse new energy into the market in its first 12 months of availability, driving important job and economic growth through new industry revenues,” said John Gantz, chief research officer and senior vice president at IDC, and author of the study.

“Relatively rapid and widespread adoption of Vista means that its launch will not only affect Microsoft, but will have a positive impact on local economies throughout the world.”

The study forecasts that the release of Vista will help bolster the more than 200,000 US IT companies that will produce, sell or distribute products and services running on the new operating system.

The study also predicts that each $1 of Vista-related revenue earned by Microsoft in 2007 will generate more than $18 in revenue for the IT industry at large.

IDC expects Microsoft partners to invest approximately $10bn in Vista-related products and services between now and the end of 2007.