Industry Leaders Team With Microsoft To Deliver Office 2000-Based Small Business Solutions

SAN FRANCISCO, June 7, 1999 — At today’s launch of Microsoft® Office 2000, Microsoft Corp. announced broad industry support for Office 2000 from vendors that specialize in software and systems for small businesses. With the release of Office 2000, which will be available through retail channels nationwide on Thursday, leading independent software vendors (ISVs) and PC manufacturers are delivering solutions that give small businesses the ability to communicate more effectively, make better decisions and operate more efficiently.

“Our work with these industry-leading companies demonstrates our commitment to providing comprehensive solutions for the challenges that small businesses face,” said David Thacher, general manager of the Office 2000 Small Business Products Group at Microsoft. “There is no better time for small businesses to take advantage of Office 2000 and the Microsoft Small Business Tools-based solutions available to help them run their businesses.”

Worldwide, more than 50 leading vendors of accounting software, including Peachtree Software Inc., MYOB U.S. Inc. and Intuit Inc. are offering filters that support Small Business Customer Manager and Small Business Financial Manager, two of the innovative Small Business Tools included in some versions of Office 2000. By using either of these tools with accounting software, small businesses can easily access and act on key customer and business data. “We’ve worked with Microsoft so that our customers can seamlessly transfer customer and financial data between our application and the Small Business Tools in Microsoft Office 2000,” said Connie Certusi, vice president of Product Management at Peachtree Software. “This makes it possible for our customers to share, understand and act on their business data in ways they never could before.”

Leading PC manufacturers, including Dell Computer Corp., Compaq Computer Corp., Gateway Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Micron Electronics Inc., are currently shipping Office 2000 Small Business-based systems, which come with Microsoft Small Business Tools preinstalled. “As a small business owner, I look to get the solutions software I need when I purchase a PC,” said Michael Starke, president of the Binghamton Tennis Center. “The availability of Office 2000 and Small Business Tools on PCs from leading manufacturers gives me the flexibility to choose the system that best meets my business needs.”

Several third parties are introducing promotions designed to take advantage of Direct Mail Manager, a Microsoft Small Business Tool that makes it possible for a small business to easily conceive of, create and finish a cost-effective direct mail campaign. Office 2000 customers who order targeted mailing lists online from infoUSA Inc. will receive their first 250 names (a $300 value) free for use with Microsoft Direct Mail Manager. In addition, infoUSA will offer Office 2000 users a 50 percent discount off its regular Internet mailing list pricing. Pitney Bowes DirectNET, which provides small businesses with “hands-free” automation of the direct mailing process, is offering users of Direct Mail Manager their first automated mailing campaign (up to 250 pieces) at no charge (a $100 value).

To provide small businesses with maximum flexibility in choosing the Office 2000 suite that best meets their needs, Microsoft Small Business Tools and Microsoft Publisher 2000 will be available in Office 2000 Small Business, Office 2000 Professional and Office 2000 Premium.

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