RESTON, Va., Sept. 19, 2002 — Microsoft Corp. today became the newest member of the Northern Virginia high-tech community, opening the Microsoft®
Innovation & Technology Conference Center in Reston. Governor of Virginia Mark Warner joined Craig Mundie, Microsoft’s chief technical officer, in opening the $25 million facility, which will bring jobs and new technology investment to the region.
“Microsoft’s important investment in this new center is another sign that Virginia remains on the leading edge of computing and communication technology,”
said Governor Warner.
“Virginia’s pro-business environment and proximity to the federal government were the difference in cementing our relationship with Microsoft and building this new facility.”
“I am proud that Microsoft is joining the Northern Virginia business community,”
said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft.
“Northern Virginia is a critical part of our country’s high-tech economy that we want to help grow and thrive. Our new technology center will also enable Microsoft to expand and strengthen our relationships with our many technology partners and the federal government.”
Located at Reston Town Center, Microsoft’s Innovation & Technology Conference Center is Microsoft’s first facility in Northern Virginia. It will house the latest in secure computing and telecommunication facilities and showcase solutions and systems for use by government agencies and defense subcontractors. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Fairfax Economic Development Authority worked closely with Microsoft throughout the site evaluation process.
“We are delighted to have Microsoft here in Fairfax County,”
said Katherine K. Hanley, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
“Microsoft’s presence and this center are a testament to this community’s leadership in technology, government services and homeland security.”
To demonstrate its community commitment to Reston, Microsoft also announced a $61,000 cash and technology grant to Reston Interfaith, a nonprofit human services organization that serves not only Reston, but organizations around Northern Virginia. Reston Interfaith aids people in need of food, shelter, affordable housing, child care and other community services, such as jobs skills training.
Microsoft officials led a delegation of local officials, business leaders, customers and partners on a tour of the new facility as part of the opening ceremony. The new center, which occupies four floors and 63,000 square feet, will give Microsoft and its partners the ability to showcase a vast array of products and solutions. The site eventually will house secured facilities for classified meetings with intelligence agencies, a Trusted Computing Center to allow the review of policies, practices and techniques to ensure a trusted environment, and an Executive Briefing Center. The space also includes 25 conference and meeting rooms, a Government Solutions Center, a technology lab, and capacity for more than 1,000 people at a time. In addition, the site includes office space for more than 100 Microsoft employees.
Microsoft highlighted a variety of new consumer and business technologies during the three-hour open house, and offered a look at the upcoming Tablet PC and Smartphone; new technology from MSN® , the Web’s most useful portal; advanced digital media technology; and Xbox (TM) , Microsoft’s gaming platform. Participants also could use skill stations to learn about features in the Windows®
XP operating system and Office XP.
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, Xbox and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks 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.
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