Microsoft Announces Special Free Offer for Outlook 98
LOS ANGELES, March 11, 1998 — At Spring Internet World, Microsoft Corp. today announced final pricing and distribution information for the Microsoft® Outlook
™
98 messaging and collaboration client – its client for Internet-based messaging servers, including Microsoft Exchange Server, and a member of the leading desktop productivity suite family, Microsoft Office. As part of a special introductory promotion, Microsoft announced that the final version of the Outlook 98 product will be made available free of charge (connect-time charges may apply) to all customers for its first 90 days of availability. Outlook 98 is scheduled to ship at the end of this month.
”
The work that Microsoft has done to improve its e-mail offering with Outlook 98, combined with this free offer, shows that the company is serious about winning over Internet
e-mail users,”
said Woody Leonhard, publisher of Woody’s Office Watch (WOW) newsletter.
“Microsoft is making sure that users have every reason to take Outlook 98 for a spin.”
Users will have the option of either downloading the full Outlook 98 client for free from the Web (connect-time charges may apply) or ordering an Outlook 98 CD-ROM for $9.95 (U.S.) or $14.95 (CDN) to cover the costs of CD production, shipping and handling. Both options will be available on the Outlook Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/outlook/ . After the first 90 days, Outlook 98 will continue to be free on the Web only to registered users of Microsoft Office 97, Outlook 97 and Exchange Server via the Office Update site at http://www.microsoft.com/office/ .
“We’ve seen that customers who try Outlook 98 really like it – particularly its unmatched integration between Internet e-mail and contact, calendar and task management,”
said Jon Reingold, vice president, desktop applications marketing at Microsoft.
“We wanted to make it incredibly easy for any and everyone to try Outlook 98 – and if they like it, they can simply keep it.”
In addition to the Web download and CD-ROM fulfillment options, Outlook 98 will be available through the usual Microsoft distribution channels, including software retail locations (estimated retail price of $109) beginning in late April. Eventually, the Outlook 98 client will also be slipstreamed into an Exchange Server service pack at a date to be determined.
“Compaq is excited about the Outlook 98 e-mail offering,”
said John W. White, chief information officer at Compaq Computer Corp.
“We have been very engaged in the Outlook 98 beta process, and we will be rolling it out aggressively as soon as the final version is available. We are especially excited about the background synchronization functionality for our field users.”
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft and Outlook are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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