UPDATE 1-Microsoft expects to double Asia customer service staff

* Sees Asia customer service headcount doubling in 5 years on strong growth in the region's IT sector

* Customer service headcount in Asia 850 currently (Adds details)

By Sophie Taylor

SHANGHAI, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) said on Thursday that it expects strong growth in Asia's IT sector to more than double headcount for its customer service centre in the region in five years time.

Wing-Dar Ker, general manager for Microsoft Customer Service and Support in the Asia Pacific and Greater China region, said in an interview that the centre currently has around 850 staff.

"We have huge growth across the board, not only just in China but all across Asia as well," he said on the sidelines of an event to mark the centre's tenth anniversary in China.

"With rapid growth, of course the need for services will come along."

The centre, founded in 1997, offers technical support to customers in mainland China, Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America.

While the majority of its staff are located at its Shanghai headquarters, the centre also has offices in Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

"We're taking advantage of the talent pool within Shanghai with a very cost-effective model," he said.

The centre also offers training to Chinese information technology employees, and works with 400 to 500 outsourcing agents in the Asia-Pacific region, Ker added.

According to research firm Gartner, the information technology services market is set to grow 8.7 percent globally to more than $730 billion this year. (Additional reporting by David Lin; Editing by Quentin Bryar)