REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 23, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that, effective Feb. 17, all Visio® products and volume licensing agreements are now available through existing Microsoft sales channels, having been acquired with Microsoft’s purchase of Visio Corp. earlier this year. The products will be retailed as standalone applications and will be known as Microsoft® Visio 2000 Standard, Technical, Professional and Enterprise editions.
“One of our primary goals for this merger was to capitalize on Microsoft’s sales and marketing expertise to make it easier for customers to license Visio products. This announcement marks our first step toward achieving that goal,”
said Morris Beton, director of marketing in the Visio Division of Microsoft.
“As with any merger, rapid integration of products, people and systems is key and our plan is continue at this increased pace to reach more customers both in the United States and internationally.”
The Microsoft Visio 2000 product editions are separate from, but complementary to, the Microsoft Office family. Initially, they will have stickers identifying them as Microsoft Visio products, but will be delivered in the existing Visio packaging. By early in the second quarter of this year, new packaging and product branding enhancements will further integrate the Visio editions into the Microsoft line. Customers wanting more information should call (800) 24-VISIO (248-4746), extension 93W.
Microsoft’s Visio Division
On Jan. 7, 2000, the acquisition of Visio Corp. by Microsoft Corp. was completed. The Visio Division is part of the Microsoft Business Productivity Group led by Group Vice President Bob Muglia. Jeremy Jaech, co-founder and former CEO of Visio Corp., remains in charge of the Visio product line as the of vice president of the Microsoft Business Tools Division. Additional information can be found at http://www.visio.com/ .
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.
