Microsoft Project 2002 Product Family Now Publicly Available

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2002 — At launch events here and across the country, Microsoft Corp. today announced the general availability of Microsoft® Project 2002, the next generation of the world’s top-selling project management software, substantiating its move into the enterprise project and resource management arena.

Microsoft Project 2002 has been extensively updated and newly restructured into a family of solutions to address customers’ project management needs. The product family now includes a separate Microsoft .NET Enterprise Server solution that incorporates increased collaboration functionality, portfolio and resource management capabilities, and enterprise-scale performance and security.

“We are very proud of Microsoft Project 2002 and eager to get this productivity tool into customers’ hands,”
said Jeff Raikes, group vice president of Productivity and Business Services at Microsoft.
“Entering the enterprise project management space is a big leap for Microsoft Project. We anticipate that our enterprise solution will enable entire organizations to effectively analyze and communicate key business information for better bottom-line results.”

A Family of Project Management Solutions

The Microsoft Project 2002 product family includes offerings tailored to customers’ project management needs. Microsoft Project Professional, Microsoft Project Server and Microsoft Project Server Client Access Licenses (which enable use of Microsoft Project Web Access, a Web-based portal) work together to provide the scalable, customizable Microsoft Solution Offering for Enterprise Project Management (EPM). This solution enables portfolio and resource management, real-time reporting, and scenario analysis, offering business executives insight into the utilization of resources and the status of initiatives across their organization to facilitate informed decision-making. Because project information is shared by means of Microsoft Project Web Access, users need only have Microsoft Project Server Client Access Licenses to access information and collaborate across organizations via a Web browser.

The Microsoft Project 2002 family also includes an offering designed to meet individual project management needs. Microsoft Project Standard, which includes enhanced ease-of-use features such as the new Project Guide interactive help tool, helps business managers dynamically plan, track and manage schedules and resources, enabling them to keep projects on track and within budget.

Enterprise Customers Unveil Pilot Deployments

A number of customers got an advance look at the benefits of the Microsoft Solution Offering for Enterprise Project Management by implementing early versions of Microsoft Project 2002.

Paris-based Rhodia SA, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of specialty chemicals, selected Microsoft’s EPM solution to help a global network of innovators manage the process of transferring chemical formulations, best practices and processes across time zones, languages and cultures.

“Our goal with Microsoft Project is to continue improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our innovation process,”
said Myron Galuskin, president of Rhodia’s North American operations.
“It will help accelerate the time it takes to bring new products to market. It should also enable us to better identify the appropriate resources available for projects in the Rhodia network.”

Training Resources Available

To help customers fully implement its project management software, Microsoft has formed a relationship with FranklinCovey Co., a top productivity and effectiveness training provider offering comprehensive courses on Microsoft Project 2002. FranklinCovey also will carry the Microsoft Project 2002 product family at its retail stores and is planning several launch events for Microsoft Project at retail locations throughout the country. Information on these and other training resources can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/office/project/resources/partners.asp .

Pricing and Availability

The Microsoft Project 2002 product line is available now. Estimated retail pricing* is $599 for Microsoft Project Standard 2002, $999 for Microsoft Project Professional 2002 and $1,499 for Microsoft Project Server 2002, which includes five Microsoft Project Server Client Access Licenses. Additional Microsoft Project Server Client Access Licenses are $179 each.

Microsoft Project 2002 is available from Microsoft resellers, through Microsoft licensing programs and at http://shop.microsoft.com/ . Microsoft also offers an upgrade path for Microsoft Project 2002. Any customer who obtains maintenance on an earlier version of Microsoft Project by July 31, 2002, will have the option to upgrade to Microsoft Project Standard 2002 or Microsoft Project Professional 2002 and receive a license for Microsoft Project Server. Additional information on licensing is available at http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/sa/project.asp .

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* Reseller prices may vary.

Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. 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.

Microsoft Project 2002 Virtual Press Room:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/project2002/default.asp

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