REDMOND, Wash., April 29, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the release to manufacturing of the beta 3 version of the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Advanced Server operating systems. This beta version of Windows 2000 will be distributed to more than 430,000 customers, 140,000 developers and 100,000 channel partners worldwide, making it the largest Windows beta program in Microsoft’s history.
This feature-complete beta release will empower customers to evaluate the TCO and business benefits of Windows 2000 within their organization or enterprise. For the industry, this presents an opportunity to develop, test and prepare solutions that take advantage of the Windows 2000 family of operating systems. Since quality and interoperability are key design goals for the final release, the distribution of beta code to hundreds of thousands of testers will help ensure that Windows 2000 is thoroughly tested with the applications, systems and services customers have deployed today.
“The release of Windows 2000 beta 3 marks an important milestone for our customers and the industry as a whole,”
said Jim Allchin, senior vice president of the Business and Enterprise Division at Microsoft.
“Hands-on experience with the software is the best way for customers to evaluate Windows 2000 with their existing systems and help ensure the quality and deployability of the final release planned later this year.”
Windows 2000 Professional is designed to be the most reliable mobile and business desktop operating system for organizations of all sizes. Windows 2000 Server combines integrated Web-enabled directory, network and application services with powerful end-to-end management to provide the fastest way to conduct digital business. When used together, Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server lower the total cost of ownership and provide a rich digital infrastructure for organizations of all sizes. All Windows 2000 products can be deployed incrementally and are designed to take advantage of existing IT investments.
“Windows 2000 will be very important to United Interactive Technolgies, Inc. (UIT), an Interactive Technologies.com Ltd. company (OTC BB:INTR), and the industry as a whole, especially through the substantial strides we expect to experience in scalability, reliability, security and data-center functionality,”
said Peter Tamayo, Jr., CEO of UIT.
“UIT will evaluate Windows 2000 with some of our most demanding workloads and will look forward to being an early adopter of Windows 2000 technology when the final software is available.”
New in the Beta 3 Version
Windows 2000 Professional beta 3 provides broader application and device support than the beta 2 version. It also features enhanced power management support, new support tools and numerous usability enhancements throughout the system, improving its ease of use and manageability. Windows 2000 Server beta 3 delivers IntelliMirror
™
management technologies, enhancements to the Active Directory
™
directory service, COM+, and integrated terminal services. Windows 2000 Advanced Server beta 3 delivers Windows Load Balancing Services, COM+ load balancing and rolling upgrade support for server clusters, which improves the availability and scalability of the server.
Industry Rallies Behind Windows 2000 Beta 3
Over the last three weeks, hundreds of PC manufacturers, ISVs, global systems integrators and channel partners have announced immediate availability of programs to help customers evaluate Microsoft Windows 2000 beta 3:
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Leading PC manufacturers and global systems integrators. Major industry partners have announced plans to deliver a wide array of integration, support and deployment services, as well as software and hardware solutions for Windows 2000 beta 3 ( http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1999/apr99/oemrdypr.asp ).
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Independent software vendors and developers. More than 100 ISVs have announced support for Windows 2000 beta 3, and more than 8,000 ISV members worldwide will receive in-depth information, resources and support ( http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1999/mar99/wn2000pr.asp ).
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Channel partners. Microsoft continues to prepare and engage Microsoft Certified Solution Providers (MCSPs) and the broad channel to support customers with their beta 3 evaluations and deployments (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features
/1999/04-19comdex.asp).
Availability
Customers can order Windows 2000 beta 3 via the Corporate Preview Program (CPP) from an MCSP or through the Microsoft Web site for an estimated price of $59.95 (U.S.). Customers interested in evaluating Windows 2000 with an MCSP skilled in Windows 2000 development and deployment can locate one at http://www.microsoft.com/certpartner/ . Customers can evaluate the Windows 2000 Corporate Preview Kit at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/preview/order.asp.
Final system requirements, pricing and packaging will be announced separately. For in-depth technical and deployment planning information on Windows 2000 beta 3, please see http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ .
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, Windows, IntelliMirror and Active Directory are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
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