Microsoft CEO Ballmer Delivers Keynote at Blacks in Technology Summit

NEW YORK, May 10, 2002 — In keeping with Microsoft Corp.s commitment to diversity in the technology sector and equal access in the Digital Decade, Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at this years third Blacks in Technology summit. The summit — forging a bridge across the digital divide — is the nations first free consumer and business technology exchange for African-Americans and will be held May 1011 at the Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center in New York. Hosted by radio personality and consumer advocate Tavis Smiley, the Blacks in Technology summit will bring together technology experts and showcase technology solutions for African-Americans at school, at work and in the home.

“Providing technology access to underserved populations, particularly children in minority communities, is an important part of bridging the Digital Divide,”
Ballmer said.
“But there is another divide we must all work to address the business divide. With small business a key driver of American economic growth, it is important for ethnic small businesses to understand and embrace the technology that can help them succeed in the Digital Decade ahead. Closing the divide is as important to the success of minority small-business owners as it is to providing opportunities and resources for children and others in our communities.”

A symposium on Saturday, May 11, will feature noted experts discussing potential solutions to the technology divide in education, business and the home. The summit also will feature a two-day exposition to acquaint attendees with the newest generation of advanced equipment and tools through hands-on, interactive displays.

Details on the summit, including a schedule and panelist information, are available on the Web at http://www.blacksintechnology.com/ .

In addition to sponsoring the gathering, Microsoft will offer hands-on demonstrations of software products that help simplify life at school, at work and in the home. In the Microsoft® Home booth, participants will be able to virtually tour six interactive rooms, including a family room and a master bedroom, which illustrate how software lets families live better, relax and stay connected.

At the small-business workstation, Microsoft presenters will demonstrate how African-American business owners can save time and money, deliver superior customer service, and conduct business on the World Wide Web — all with existing technology.

Visitors to the consumer workstations can get hands-on experience with featured Microsoft products such as Money 2002 and Encarta® Reference Library 2002, which is a great resource tool for kids and teen-agers to use at school and home. Those visiting other sections of the Microsoft display will see examples of next-generation Microsoft technology such as the Tablet PC.

Microsoft also will host a free workshop Saturday, May 11. Attendees will learn about bridging the business divide through a special Build Your Business Tour (BYBT) seminar. The Build Your Business Tour travels the United States and presents seminars geared toward helping African-American small-business owners make technology a part of their businesses. Tour presenters will be on hand at the summit for this special presentation of the BYBT with information about upcoming BYBT seminars in the New York area.

In the kid-friendly zone, young people can participate in five areas: the Game Room, the Teen Room, the Kids Area, Encarta Africana Challenge, and Internet Safety and the Internet. Visitors to the Game Room can play the hottest games on Microsofts recently released Xbox video game system or experience real-time, interactive gameplay on a PC in the Teen Room. The Kids Area provides exploration software such as Microsofts award-winning Scholastics The Magic School Bus® series and Microsoft Creative Writer.

The BYBT and sponsorship of the Blacks in Technology Summit are two examples of Microsofts recent involvement in the greater New York community. According to Martin Taylor, director of business strategy for the office of the CEO at Microsoft,
“Since 1997, Microsoft and its employees have donated more than $28 million to more than 900 community organizations and human services agencies in the region. And that is just the beginning of our commitment.”

For example, the New York-based National Urban League, a social service and civil rights organization that helps African-Americans and the urban poor attain social and economic equality, received two separate Microsoft Technology Leadership Grants. In 1997 and 2001, the League received grants totaling more than $5.2 million in productivity software, aimed at helping the organization standardize the technology used among its more than 100 affiliates. The most recent grant will help the League expand its Digital Campus program, which provides technology access and training for youth and adults throughout Urban League communities nationwide.

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, Encarta and Xbox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Scholastic and The Magic School Bus and logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsofts corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. Journalists and analysts may contact Microsofts Rapid Response Team for additional assistance.

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