Global software major Microsoft will slash hundreds of jobs globally as part of its effort to realign business activities.

The layoffs are expected to be across different locations and businesses. Sources said the number of possible lay-offs could be close to 800.

When contacted, a Microsoft India spokesperson said the impact on the company's India headcount would be in single digits. The firm currently employs about 5,300 in the country.

"We continue to review our business needs and align our resources accordingly, be it our headcount or our spending.

The impact on India remains minimal and in single digit. At the same time, we continue to hire in priority areas," the spokesperson said.

In January, the software major had announced plans to trim 5,000 jobs.

At that time, Microsoft said it would cut up to 5,000 jobs in R&D, HR, marketing, sales, finance, legal, and IT. Four months later, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer had warned the company might axe more jobs depending on the impact of the economic downturn.

"As we move forward, we will continue to closely monitor the impact of the economic downturn on the company and if necessary, take further actions on our cost structure, including additional job eliminations," Ballmer had said in May.