Customer satisfaction with Microsoft rises

Customer satisfaction with Microsoft software went up this year, which reflects well on the launch of Office 2010 and continued sales of Windows 7.

The American Customer Satisfaction Index reported Tuesday that satisfaction levels for Microsoft rose for the third straight year, after dropping significantly during the years when the company was selling the Windows Vista operating system.

The report said the company is selling fewer copies of Windows this year compared to last. According to the report, "This year marks a third straight year of ACSI gains for Microsoft. Nevertheless, recent sales of Windows software have declined as a result of a similar drop-off in PC shipments. Customers are more satisfied with Microsoft software, but, for now, the company is selling less of it."

Microsoft's index rating increase 2.6 percent from 76 to 78, according to ACSI, a company based in Ann Arbor, Mich. Satisfaction with software from other companies such as Symantec, Adobe and Intuit rose 3 percent.

The report also said customers were less happy with AT&T and T-Mobile. You can read more about satisfaction levels with wireless carriers in this AP story.

Jessica Paré Leelee Sobieski Teri Hatcher Lauren Bush Natalie Zea