Ballmer Outlines Changes to Advance Microsoft’s .NET Strategy

REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 9, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. President and CEO Steve Ballmer today outlined organizational changes that will advance and accelerate the company’s delivery of .NET software and services, while maintaining a strong focus on the company’s core businesses.

The changes announced today expand on the work already underway at Microsoft to create the building blocks for the Next Generation Internet. Microsoft .NET is a new framework of software and services for consumers, businesses and software developers. It will provide easier, more personalized and productive Internet experiences by harnessing constellations of smart devices and Web sites with advanced software technologies and services.

“.NET is our most ambitious undertaking since Internet Strategy Day in 1995. Just as we did then, we are moving quickly to develop the core building blocks that will enable us to deliver this dynamic infrastructure,”
said Ballmer.
“We have assembled a formidable team of leaders that, with our existing software assets and our commitment to investing significantly in R & D, strongly positions Microsoft to create valuable services for the PC and a whole new set of connected devices.”

Alignment for the Future — Building on Today’s Core Business

Creating one set of building blocks that every .NET application can use is paramount to delivering the .NET infrastructure. To lead this effort, Bob Muglia will take on a new role as group vice president of the .NET Services Group.

Muglia’s primary responsibility will be to develop the software technologies, subscription services and new user interface that will help consumers, businesses and software developers realize the full potential of the Internet.

“Microsoft is investing significant resources in the .NET initiative while continuing to stay very focused on our core businesses,”
said Muglia.
“We think this is a winning strategy for consumers, businesses, software developers and Microsoft.”

The following Microsoft executives will lead the .NET efforts under Muglia:

  • David Cole , senior vice president, will lead the Personal Services Platform Division. This division will be responsible for building the back-end services that form the infrastructure for both the MSN® network of Internet services and .NET.

  • Brian MacDonald , who is being promoted to senior vice president, will lead the Subscription Service Division. MacDonald will be responsible for the development of a subscription service that will offer users a cutting edge Internet experience.

  • Kai-Fu Lee , who is being promoted to vice president of the User Interface Technologies Division, will focus on the development of a next generation user interface that incorporates natural language and speech technologies and provides users with greater control over personal information and preferences.

The .NET Services Group will become part of the newly established Personal Services and Devices Group (PSDG), which will be led by Group Vice President Rick Belluzzo . In addition, PSDG will include MSN, Microsoft’s TV Service and Platform Division, the Home and Retail Division and the Mobility group.

“Over the last year Microsoft has experienced accelerating growth and success in delivering online services,”
said Belluzzo.
“With this new team, we are bringing together the .NET Platform, the momentum of MSN, the delivery of personal subscription services, and new devices in a way that will take the Internet and the benefits of technology to a new level for consumers while creating exciting growth opportunities for Microsoft.”

Jeff Raikes , group vice president, will lead the Productivity and Business Services group, continuing to provide strong leadership and driving the growth of Microsoft’s core businesses. He will be responsible for an integrated team that includes Microsoft® Office and the future Office.NET, the Business Applications Division, the Business Tools Division (Visio® and Microsoft Project), and eMerging Technologies. Most recently, Raikes was group vice president of the worldwide Sales, Marketing and Services Group (SMSG). Previously, he was the first vice president of Office Systems, where from 1981 to 1991 he helped define the original thinking behind Microsoft’s desktop suite, and then drove its development to become one of the greatest product successes in the company’s history. Raikes’ experience in products, sales and marketing uniquely positions him to understand the needs of enterprise and business customers, and to deliver solutions that meet those needs.

Orlando Ayala , formerly senior vice president of the South Pacific and Americas Region (SPAR), has assumed Raikes’ responsibilities as group vice president of SMSG, which will play a key role in continuing to drive forward Microsoft’s core businesses as well as advancing the company’s new .NET technologies with customers.

In the Platforms Product Group, Jim Allchin , group vice president, and his team will continue to develop the Windows® platform, including the next generation Windows.NET, as well as the company’s significant e-server and digital media efforts. Paul Flessner , who has been promoted to senior vice president, will lead the .NET Enterprise Server Division, which this year is launching seven new and updated enterprise server products. These include Exchange 2000 Server, SQL Server™ 2000, BizTalk™
Server 2000, Application Center 2000, Host Integration Server 2000, Commerce Server 2000, and Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000.

The Platforms Strategy and Developer Group, under the leadership of Paul Maritz , group vice president, will continue to oversee business development, overall platform product strategy and planning, and Visual Studio® .NET. Microsoft’s Visual Studio.NET, with the .NET Framework, provides a single, rapid application development environment that enables an XML-based programming model to create and tie together highly distributed programmable web services, including the building block services built by the .NET Services Group and other groups at Microsoft.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies 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.

Microsoft, MSN, Visio, Windows, BizTalk and Visual Studio are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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