Microsoft Announces Customer and Partner Programs For Windows .NET Server

REDMOND, Wash., July 24, 2002 — Microsoft Corp. today detailed several programs to help customers and software developers prepare for the release of Windows® .NET Server. The Customer Preview Program, the Microsoft®
Enterprise Engineering Center (EEC) and the Certified for Windows program help ensure that customers and industry partners enjoy optimized performance and reliability from the Windows .NET Server platform. The programs were announced in conjunction with Windows .NET Server reaching release candidate 1 (RC1) status.

“This is all about customer satisfaction and quality,” said Bill Veghte, vice president of the Windows Server Group at Microsoft. “The customer, partner and engineering programs we are introducing underscore Microsoft’s commitment to delivering the highest-quality, higher-customer-satisfaction Windows .NET Server possible. These programs help our customers and partners better prepare for the upcoming release and enable us to make certain that Windows .NET Server is the most productive platform available for powering connected applications, networks and Web services.”

Customer Preview Program Enables Early Adopter Evaluation

Microsoft’s Customer Preview Program for Windows .NET Server will make RC1 code available to customers worldwide at no charge through downloads and through CD kits available for the cost of shipping only. The Customer Preview Program provides an easy method for all interested customers to obtain and evaluate Windows .NET Server RC1 within their own test environments. Customers can share information with fellow customers through the Windows .NET Server Newsgroups’ set of hosted community Web sites and also can provide feedback about the product to Microsoft.

Beginning today, customers can subscribe to receive fully functioning preview code of Windows .NET Server at http://www.microsoft.com/windows.netserver/preview/ . RC1 preview code for customers will be available for download from the Web next week, and preview CD kits will begin to be sent next month. Server manufacturers and ISVs can distribute the RC1 software to their customers next month.

Enterprise Engineering Center Testing Re-creates Enterprise Deployments

Microsoft, with the help of OEM partners Dell Computer Corp., EMC Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM Corp. and Unisys Corp., has developed the Microsoft Enterprise Engineering Center. The EEC is an infrastructure laboratory where businesses can test complex business-computing scenarios with in-house-developed or third-party applications on systems configured to match their customers’ enterprise environments. By testing their deployment scenarios in advance, customers obtain hands-on experience and are better prepared to quickly deploy Windows .NET Server to meet the business needs of their enterprise.

Customers participating in this program can have their environments tested on an ongoing basis by Microsoft engineers, or they can visit the center in person to do additional testing, meet with developers and program managers, and give direct, real-time feedback on Windows .NET Server. The result is a better-quality product for all customers.

“The Enterprise Engineering Center represents a major investment by Microsoft and its partners to ensure optimal performance and reliability in meeting the business needs of our customers,” said George Santino, manager of the Microsoft Enterprise Engineering Center at Microsoft. “Customers are invited to conduct thorough ‘road tests’ of their components with our developers to ensure an optimal configuration for their environment. The feedback we obtain in this process directly affects the quality and readiness of Windows .NET Server yielding superior value for our customers.”

Additional information regarding the Microsoft Enterprise Engineering Center can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windows.netserver/evaluation/news/bulletins/eec.mspx .

Certified for Windows Program Builds Industry Partner and Customer Confidence

Microsoft today also introduced the Certified for Windows .NET Server program, which will enable ISVs to have their applications tested and certified for use with Windows .NET Standard Server, Enterprise Server and Datacenter Server products. The program provides customers with the confidence of knowing that certified applications have proven high reliability, availability, security and supportability on Windows .NET Server platforms.

VeriTest, an independent product-testing and certification company, is the exclusive provider of the Certified for Windows .NET Server testing service. Already, more than 30 early-adopter ISVs are involved in the Certified for Windows .NET Server program, affirming the value of certified applications to Windows Server customers and their support for the Windows .NET Server family.

Microsoft is working with VeriTest to begin the Certified for Windows program for Windows .NET Server at the RC1 phase of the product. By defining criteria for application certification tests at RC1, ISVs can more readily take advantage of market opportunities when the Windows .NET Server family becomes available.

Additional information regarding the Certified for Windows .NET Server program can be found at http://www.veritest.com/mslogos/cfw/ .

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For more information on Windows .NET Server: Visit http://www.microsoft.com/windows.netserver/

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