REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 16, 2003 — Delivering on Microsoft Corp.’s efforts to provide customers with the most useful online experience, the MSN® network of Internet services today announced MSN Encarta®
Premium, a comprehensive learning and research resource that extends the innovative and compelling features of Encarta Reference Library 2004 to help make the Internet more useful for families. MSN Encarta Premium is available today in the United States and Japan 1 as a stand-alone MSN premium web service offering and will also be available as a feature in the upcoming premier MSN all-in-one subscription service offering called MSN Premium, which is scheduled to launch in the United States on Jan. 8, 2004.
“One of our goals at MSN is to help customers be more efficient online. MSN Encarta Premium helps us deliver this by bringing our best-selling software reference suite to life, providing valuable learning tools and premium content together in one spot for easy access,” said Lisa Gurry, group product manager for MSN. “We’re thrilled that MSN customers seeking compelling and up-to-date reference information and educational tools now will have two MSN choices for accessing innovative technology from Encarta.”
Encarta Makes the Internet More Useful for Families
MSN Encarta Premium brings new tools and content from Encarta Reference Library 2004 to life, offering customers the flexibility of accessing information any time and any place through the Internet. Built on the No. 1 best-selling encyclopedia brand, 2 MSN Encarta Premium provides families with a valuable source for learning tools and premium content that enhance learning productivity:
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Best reference content online. The right trusted information for research papers, projects and the entire family’s daily reference needs, MSN Encarta Premium includes a comprehensive online encyclopedia that could fill a 30-volume print encyclopedia; the Encarta Interactive World Atlas; the Encarta World English Dictionary and Thesaurus and translation dictionary; and a multimedia center. MSN Encarta Premium also includes a searchable magazine collection to complete learning and research needs.
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Homework Center. A collection of powerful tools helps ease homework frustrations in a number of subjects, including math, English and foreign languages. MSN Encarta Premium includes smart enhancements to guide students through research and creative projects from start to finish. Features include expanded Literature Guides to help students better understand classic and contemporary literary works; Homework Starters for guidance on how to approach a paper or report; and a Web directory for finding subject-specific content on the Internet.
Math Homework Help Technology Makes Homework Easier
One of the exciting, innovative enhancements to MSN Encarta Premium is Math Help in the homework center. Microsoft worked with Design Science Inc. to provide MathPlayer (TM) technology for the Homework Center to give students step-by-step guidance with problems in commonly used textbooks. Students can select a textbook, navigate to a specific problem and review detailed explanations by expert mathematicians on how to solve a similar problem.
Availability
MSN Encarta Premium is available today for $4.95 per month or $29.95 per year 3 at http://encarta.msn.com/ in the United States. MSN Encarta Premium also will be available as a feature in the upcoming MSN Premium offering, beginning Jan. 8, 2004. MSN Premium is priced at $9.95 per month or $99.95 per year in the United States.3 MSN Encarta Premium also is available today in Japan with many of the same features of the U.S. version of the service. Additional local versions1 are expected for release in several international markets in 2004 including, but not limited to, Germany and Italy.
About MSN
MSN attracts more than 350 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 38 markets and 18 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and ad sales to businesses worldwide. MSN 8 is the first Internet software product to have earned the trusted Good Housekeeping Seal. The most useful and innovative online service today, MSN brings consumers everything they need from the Web to make the most of their time online. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com/ . MSN worldwide sites are located at h http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx .
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.
1 Features and content available in international versions may vary.
2 NPDTechworldSM, March 1993–March 2003. Based on total U.S. sales.
3 Available to new subscribers, in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. After the trial period (if any), the then current price for your MSN plan will be automatically charged to your credit card until you cancel your account or select an alternative plan. You must agree to the MSN Subscription Agreement to access the service. A major credit card is required. MSN is available only for personal noncommercial use. MSN Premium and MSN Encarta Premium Details: For users of Windows®
98 or later operating systems only. Prices are subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Microsoft, MSN, Encarta and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
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