SAN DIEGO — July 14, 2008 — In celebration of National Council of La Raza’s (NCLR) 40th anniversary and its annual conference in San Diego, Microsoft Corp. today announced the launch of MSN Mobile Latino, as part of the company’s commitment to advance Hispanics in the United States through the use of technology.
MSN Mobile Latino is a new digital service that provides Hispanics with one-stop access to Spanish-language news, sports, entertainment, local movie listings, horoscopes, weather, money and finances, and Windows Live services such as Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Spaces and Live Search. MSN Mobile Latino gives U.S. Hispanics a quick and easy way to find the content and services they need while on the go and features specialized technologies that customize the experience for each consumer’s device. Consumers can access this free Spanish language service at http://latino.mobile.msn.com.
MSN Mobile Latino launches as a response to recent studies showing that Hispanics adopt technology faster than their African-American and Caucasian counterparts do. Mobile technology and bilingual software solutions play a key role in keeping people up to date with information and connected with their culture and their roots.
“We are committed to provide U.S. Hispanics with the right tools and solutions in their language of preference, and through content that resonates with their culture and their interests,” said José Piñero, director of Multicultural Marketing at Microsoft. “MSN Mobile Latino joins the group of products and services that Microsoft offers to Hispanics in the U.S. to help them stay connected with their communities and the rest of the world.”
Besides MSN Mobile Latino, Microsoft has other products and initiatives that have been specifically designed for the U.S. Hispanic market. They include Microsoft Office Spanish Language Pack, Microsoft Office Accounting Spanish version, Microsoft Office Live Workspaces in Spanish, Wisin & Yandel Custom Edition Zune, the MSN Latino portal and “Vida Digital Latina,” a seminar series to bring technology knowledge to the U.S. Hispanic community.
The new MSN Mobile Latino portal will provide up-to-the-minute Spanish-language news, including news from the Associated Press and FOX Sports en Español coverage for Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and motorsports.
As part of Microsoft’s commitment to Hispanics, the company is supporting various NCLR initiatives, including the NCLR Annual Conference: Building a Stronger America, via a sponsorship of Monday’s luncheon, “Honoring Service, Courage and Leadership,” where Sgt. Maj. Irene Zamora O’Neal will receive the NCLR Heroes and Heritage Award. Microsoft is also sponsoring the NCLR Affiliate Lounge and Youth Town Hall and is the exclusive sponsor of the President’s Reception.
About MSN and Windows Live
Overall, MSN, Windows Live and Microsoft.com attract more than 550 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. Most recently, MSN partnered with Control Room to stream Live Earth, the largest online entertainment event in history, with over 62 million streams worldwide.
Windows Live, a comprehensive set of personal Internet services and software, is designed to bring together in one place all the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across their PC, devices and the Web. MSN and Windows Live will be offered alongside each other as complementary services. Windows Live services and future beta updates can be found at http://ideas.live.com. Windows Live is available at http://www.live.com. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com.
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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