PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 15, 1999 — At SAPPHIRE Ò ’99, Microsoft Corp. announced that it will provide the MSN TM Hotmail TM Web-based e-mail service for mySAP.com™ Marketplace. mySAP.com provides an open collaborative business environment of personalized solutions on demand. This enables companies of all sizes and industries to fully engage their employees, customers and partners to capitalize upon the new Internet economy. SAP will also integrate MSN LinkExchange into mySAP.com to help its small-business customers increase their online traffic and sales.
In addition, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates participated via satellite in the SAPPHIRE ’99 keynote address delivered by Hasso Plattner, SAP co-chairman and co-CEO. Gates discussed the long-term relationship between Microsoft and SAP, the Microsoft® platform for Internet-enabled enterprise solutions, and his thoughts on the future of the Internet and e-commerce. SAP and Microsoft demonstrated customer scenarios of pervasive computing that connect SAP TM inter-enterprise software solutions with Microsoft Windows® CE operating system-based mobile devices. These scenarios are based on technology architectures that connect Windows CE-based and other mobile devices to SAP solutions using the Internet and the BizTalk TM Framework.
“SAP is pleased to work with Microsoft to make MSN Hotmail available on mySAP.com as well as joining efforts on pervasive computing,”
said Plattner.
“By linking the SAP offerings with MSN, Windows CE and the BizTalk Framework, we’re providing our customers with a complete platform that embraces Internet standards.”
“Microsoft has worked with SAP for many years to deliver a strong platform for business software, and we’ve now extended this platform to the Internet with new value-added services that make pervasive computing and e-commerce available to our joint customers,”
said Gates.
“The work being done on mySAP.com and pervasive computing provides additional benefits to our customers because they can continue to gain value from their existing solutions.”
Collaborating to Deliver Pervasive Computing
SAP and Microsoft are developing open application architectures that enable flexible and complete integration of mobile devices in a wide range of potential customer scenarios ranging from the use of industrial devices to smart phones. Microsoft and SAP demonstrated the following customer solutions and will make these available through their consulting operations:
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Mobile management. This solution gives the executive manager offline access to favorite reports and key performance indicators through an online subscription. Via a user-defined quick-start menu, other business tools such as a calendar, to-do lists, e-mail and the Web will be at the mobile manager’s fingertips.
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Mobile sales. Interconnected sales force information, such as customer and product details, appointments, task lists and sales order entry are provided on mobile devices.
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Mobile service. Service management information about notifications, maintenance histories, work reports, installations and equipment are available online and offline, linking service staff in the field to their offices and call centers.
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Mobile industrial solutions. Low-cost radio frequency network-enabled Windows CE-based devices provide intuitive and easy-to-use data collection and automation solutions.
The cooperation between Microsoft and SAP on pervasive computing takes advantage of the Microsoft BizTalk Framework initiative and the work SAP is doing to integrate a new set of technologies that will enable handheld or wearable Internet appliances to intelligently interoperate and interact with mySAP.com. The Microsoft pervasive computing frameworks will use the Windows CE 3.0 operating system.
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, MSN, Hotmail, Windows and BizTalk are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
SAP, mySAP.com, SAPPHIRE and all SAP product and service names herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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