A software giant has commented on the evolution of the desktop and laptop computer, stating they are turning into televisions due to the increased amount of hosted video content online.

Managing director and vice-president of consumer and online affairs at Microsoft UK Ashley Highfield made his comments earlier this week to the Intellect Annual Regent Conference 2009.

He said that people were buying more multifold laptops to store around the home and as a result, online TV was becoming an increasingly popular feature of day-to-day life as it is a cheap and simple option.

Mr Highfield continued: "That is a great advantage for the UK technology industry in terms of writers, broadcasters, anyone involved in this - the verification that they are actually being watched."

According to a recent report by Hitwise, BBC iPlayer is now the third-most visited video website in the UK, with the website increasing its market share by 423 per cent since its inception in December 2007.

In a recent survey of SMEs for Connect, the two most important benefits of outsourcing were guaranteed response times and allowing in-house IT staff to concentrate on more strategic issues.