Microsoft partners made $580 billion last year, IDC says

Microsoft must be getting tired of all those stories about Apple app developers striking it rich.

The company today posted details of a study it commissioned from IDC saying that Microsoft partners -- companies offering Microsoft-based technology products and services -- generated $580 billion in sales last year, up from $537 billion the year before.

This comes as worldwide IT spending grew less than half a percent, Microsoft noted in its release.

IDC estimated that for every dollar of Microsoft sales in 2009, "local members of the Microsoft ecosystem" generated revenues of $8.70.

This is like a global version of the multiplier effect cited in Microsoft's local economic impact reports. Last year's report on Microsoft's effect on Washington's economy said every job at Microsoft supported 5.8 other jobs in the state.

Here's the Microsoft graphic accompanying the IDC report:

SYNNEX SYMANTEC SYKES ENTERPRISES INORATED SYBASE SUN MICROSYSTEMS