Millions of people have watched the series of Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld television ads with the Windows logo at the end and wondered:

"What's next?"

Today, Microsoft answers that question with the next phase of a multi-year, multi-million dollar Windows marketing effort designed to reconnect with consumers.

Something that many IT pundits have complained Microsoft has not been very good at in the past... unlike its rival Apple.

The Bill-and-Jerry "teaser" ads now give way to a new series of television ads that celebrate the diversity and passion of consumers around the world who use Windows to stay in touch with the people, information and ideas that they care about.

The new ads are just a part of this major Windows marketing initiative, all designed around connecting with consumers in meaningful ways throughout their Windows experience - whether buying a PC, using a Windows Mobile device, or living life on the Web.

"Windows is truly the shared language of creativity and connection for more than one billion people," says Bill Veghte, Senior Vice President, Online Services & Windows Business Group.

"It's a vibrant community of individuals who are passionate about how Windows helps them express their ideas and live life on their own terms. Starting today, we want to reflect the passion and excitement of this community in how we tell the story of the Windows brand."

Life Without Walls

Microsoft signaled the next phase of the Windows brand campaign with full-page newspaper ads carrying the headline: "Windows vs. Walls".

The copy in the ads lays out the driving philosophy behind the new Windows marketing approach. Veghte says: "At the core, Windows is about enabling each one of us, as individuals, to live our lives without walls... I want to work when I want to work, I want to play when I want to play. I want to communicate and share with friends and family and co-workers."

The "Life without Walls" tagline brings another key facet of the Windows brand to life: Windows connects people not only via the PC, but also via phones, devices, and the Web. The Windows platform of Windows Vista, Windows Mobile, and Windows Live were built to work together and to expand the Windows experience beyond the PC to the phone and the Web. The campaign will reflect this holistic, connected approach.

"On our journey to make sure that Windows enables a life without walls, we've taken a step back, re-evaluated and tuned and tweaked our approach. So your'e seeing that in the advertising, in the products, in the experience at retail and on Windows.com," notes Veghte.  

Those Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld Television Ads

You didn't see the ads? Here they are again: