COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Nov. 11, 2003 — Today, more than 3,000 European technology professionals are attending Microsoft
® IT Forum 2003, running 11–14 November. With more than 160 special breakout sessions, more than 40 hands-on labs, and Chalk & Talk sessions, attendees will learn about reducing enterprise costs and complexity with integrated innovation, Microsoft®
Windows Server System (TM) and the Dynamic Systems Initiative.
In his keynote presentation, Kirill Tatarinov, corporate vice president of the Enterprise Management Division at Microsoft Corp., laid out the company’s vision for “integrated innovation,” Microsoft’s approach to delivering an integrated platform for both Microsoft and heterogeneous environments, thereby allowing enterprise customers to focus on innovation to deliver increased business value. As part of the integrated innovation vision, the Windows Server System provides a complete server infrastructure, enabling IT professionals to lower their total cost of ownership. In addition, with the Dynamic Systems Initiative (DSI), Microsoft is also simplifying and automating the way enterprise customers develop, deploy and operate distributed systems.
Microsoft also launched Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003, a new version of Microsoft’s change and configuration management solution offering customers critical patch and application deployment and asset management capabilities, which Tatarinov demonstrated during his keynote address. Also at the show, Kevin McCuistion, director of Exchange Server at Microsoft, highlighted customers deploying Exchange Server 2003. Together with Windows Server (TM) 2003 and Microsoft Office Outlook®
2003, Exchange 2003 delivers pervasive productivity to information workers through secure, ubiquitous access to business-critical communications.
“Customers tell us their enterprise networks are increasingly complex and IT managers spend most of their time just managing these systems,” Tatarinov said. “Integrated innovation is designed to provide products that are even better integrated to ease management and allow IT managers to focus on increasing business value within their organizations.”
Global Industry Leaders
Recognised as Europe’s leading infrastructure conference, Microsoft IT Forum 2003 attracts global industry leaders as sponsors. This year’s sponsors include the following:
-
Platinum Sponsors. Dell, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, HP, Intel Corp. and KVS
-
Gold Sponsors. Advanced Micro Devices Inc., EMC Corp. and VERITAS Software Corp.
-
Silver Sponsors. Altiris Inc., Citrix Systems Inc., CommVault Systems Inc., IXOS Software Inc., Proxim Corp., Quest Software Inc. and Sybari Software Inc.
The Sponsor and Exhibition Hall features more than 70 leading companies displaying information on the latest technologies, products and services. New to the Exhibition this year is a Microsoft Office System Partner Zone and Presentation Theatre, focusing on building strong working relationships that will drive adoption of the new Microsoft Office System. Sixteen key service providers and independent software vendors, which have built compelling business solutions on the next-generation Microsoft Office System, are demonstrating their solutions in the Partner Zone. Also new to the Exhibition this year is the SMS Partner Zone with five partners highlighting their recent work with Systems Management Server 2003.
The Communications Network features more than 300 networked computers giving attendees instant access to the Internet and the Microsoft IT Forum 2003 Attendee Web site. A new addition to the network is that each attendee has been allocated a Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 e-mail account to keep in touch with the office and other attendees, receive updates from the organisers, and send e-mail directly to speakers regarding issues brought up in their sessions. Hardware sponsors for the Communications Network are Dell and HP. Software features a series of new products including: Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, Windows Server 2003, Systems Management Server 2003 and the Microsoft Office System. There is also a stock of Wireless LAN cards for free loan to attendees on site, giving access to a high-bandwidth wireless network throughout the Conference Centre.
This year, Microsoft celebrates the 20th anniversary of its operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
About 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, Windows Server System, Windows Server and Outlook 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.
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 Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .
