Microsoft Hardware Adds Convenience to Digital Communications Connections

REDMOND, Wash. — March 6, 2007 — The Microsoft Hardware Group is making it easier than ever to stay connected by offering two new product pairings designed to help people have meaningful digital communications experiences whether they are traveling or at home. The Microsoft® LifeCam VX-3000 Pack includes two LifeCam VX-3000 desktop webcams, and the Microsoft Mobility Pack features a LifeCam NX-6000 notebook webcam and a Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 6000. These new product packs are focused on offering consumers the products they need for superior Internet communication1 in one convenient package for a great value.

“Every day, people are experiencing how fun and easy it is to stay connected with their friends and family using LifeCams,” said Michael Cowan, product marketing manager for Microsoft Hardware. “Our LifeCams make it a breeze to stay in touch over the Internet, and they bring the best combination of hardware and software together through integration with Windows Live™ Messenger. These new packs provide a simple communications solution for those looking to keep in touch while at home, in the office or on the road.”

Optimized for use with Windows Live Messenger, the LifeCam VX-3000 and the LifeCam NX-6000 have several industry-first features:

  • The Windows LiveCall Button, located on top of the LifeCam, allows consumers to open the Contact Picker with one touch to quickly initiate video calls to friends and family members.

  • The LifeCam Dashboard integrates full LifeCam navigational controls within the Windows Live Messenger interface, enabling a seamless and easy navigating experience.

  • One-Touch Blogging lets consumers immediately post photos to their Windows Live Spaces site.

LifeCam VX-3000 Pack: Two Times the Fun

Staying in touch with family and friends while apart can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be with the LifeCam VX-3000 Pack. It includes two desktop webcams, so users can keep one and give the other to a friend or family member around the world to see, hear and share life experiences together over the Internet.

The LifeCam VX-3000 also features a built-in acoustic noise-canceling microphone for crystal-clear audio performance, automatic face-tracking technology that keeps the subject in the camera’s field of view even when he or she is moving, and fun Video Effects — such as falling snowflakes and twinkling stars — to personalize and enhance video conversations. And the Universal Attachment Base allows the LifeCam to be easily attached to a monitor of virtually any size.

Mobility Pack: All Users Need While On the Go

The Microsoft Mobility Pack has everything a “road warrior” could ask for. It combines Microsoft Corp.’s top-of-the-line notebook webcam, the LifeCam NX-6000, and the Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 6000 into one convenient set that is a must-have for every notebook user.

The Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 offers the highest-resolution video (2.0 megapixels) and still photography (7.6 megapixels interpolated) on the market, and is designed for mobility and durability. The LifeCam NX-6000 has a fully collapsible lens that retracts inside the body of the webcam when it’s not in use, and a protective case that lets users carry the webcam in a briefcase or laptop bag. For added convenience, the LifeCam NX-6000’s versatile attachment base enables it to be easily and securely placed on most laptop screens.

The accompanying Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 6000 features High Definition Laser Technology and a snap-in Universal Serial Bus (USB) receiver. With an average of more than six months of battery life on just one AA battery, this mouse enables users to work anytime and anywhere.

Pricing and Availability

The new Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 Pack and the Microsoft Mobility Pack will be widely available in April 2007 for the following estimated retail prices:

  • Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 Pack: $79.95 (U.S.)

  • Microsoft Mobility Pack: $119.95 (U.S.)

About Microsoft Hardware

For more than two decades, the Hardware Group has employed innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC. Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial design, and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easier, more convenient and more enjoyable computing experience. Microsoft IntelliMouse® Explorer, which was launched in 1999, earned a place on PCWorld.com’s December 2005 list of “The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years” as the first mainstream optical mouse that “brought gunk-free pointing devices” to a broad consumer base. More information about the Hardware Group is available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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