REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 23, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. today announced a strategic relationship with BroadBand Office Inc., a leading national provider of next-generation communications services, to integrate advanced applications solutions for BroadBand Office customers across the country.
The agreement, which follows a $25 million equity investment from Microsoft in BroadBand Office, will provide BroadBand Office customers with the most advanced applications technology and services by leveraging BroadBand Office’s existing broadband network and core Microsoft® technologies. The solutions, which will be developed on the Microsoft platform, will focus on messaging, e-commerce, Web- and application-hosting, and media services. BroadBand Office will use the funds from the equity investment to develop these Microsoft-based application solutions and expand its nationwide build-out.
The relationship further represents Microsoft’s commitment to providing the technology building blocks that will enable the deployment of new services that provide customers with access to information anywhere, any time and from any device. For BroadBand Office, the agreement complements its ongoing efforts to provide its customers with an integrated bundle of applications, data and voice solutions. Over the last six months, BroadBand Office has doubled its network footprint to nearly 20 percent of all commercial office space nationwide and is currently deploying services in eight major markets.
“The solutions resulting from this agreement will bring BroadBand Office customers some of the most advanced sets of applications available, based on the strength of the Microsoft platform,”
said Thomas Koll, vice president, Network Solutions Group, Microsoft.
“These services are just the kind of solutions that small and medium-sized businesses need to actively compete and operate like Fortune 500 companies.”
“Delivering an integrated bundle of solutions to our customers has been our No. 1 priority since the formation of BBO,”
said Johnson Agogbua, vice president of Engineering at BroadBand Office.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to use Microsoft’s platform and applications to deliver a rich combination of messaging, desktop, media, e-commerce and Web-hosting solutions.”
BroadBand Office was launched in July 1999 by leading venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, the country’s leading real estate companies, and senior executives from the largest communications companies in the world.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
