Microsoft and PeopleSoft Combine Strengths to Offer World-Class Solutions for Middle-Market Companies

SEATTLE, Oct. 6, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. and PeopleSoft Inc., a leading provider of enterprise application software, today announced their commitment to join forces to offer world-class software solutions to the middle market. The two companies have agreed to market the Microsoft® Backoffice® family as the platform of choice for PeopleSoft Select, PeopleSoft’s new solution for this growing market. Microsoft and PeopleSoft are dedicated to providing companies in the middle market with easy-to-use, flexible and affordable packaged business applications.

“With this commitment in place, customers of PeopleSoft and Microsoft are getting a first-rate integrated business-application solution,” said Steve Ballmer, executive vice president of sales and support at Microsoft. “PeopleSoft can truly take best advantage of the superior integration, low cost of ownership and ease of use of Microsoft BackOffice by making it the platform of choice for its middle-market customers.”

PeopleSoft Select is a complete software, hardware and services solution that offers implementation services and hardware with PeopleSoft applications running on the Windows NT® operating system and the Microsoft SQL Server
™
database. PeopleSoft Select enables middle-market customers to get up and running with an entire packaged solution, including implementation and services, from a single source. In addition to selecting Microsoft BackOffice as its platform of choice, PeopleSoft announced it will be assisted by Microsoft channel providers to source and service hardware and software, as well as to provide infrastructure building services.

“PeopleSoft offers one-stop shopping for middle-market customers that require world-class functionality and rapid return on investment,” said John Stammen, vice president and general manager of the PeopleSoft Select division. “The combined strengths of PeopleSoft and the Microsoft BackOffice platform will contribute to the delivery of those benefits to PeopleSoft Select customers.”

BackOffice has been made the platform of choice for PeopleSoft Select because the Windows NT Server network operating system is easy to set up, deploy, manage and use. Microsoft SQL Server is a scalable, high-performance database management application for Windows NT-based systems. The combination of Windows NT and Microsoft SQL Server lowers the cost and complexity of distributed computing, which means that easier-to-use business solutions can be developed faster and at lower costs.

A premier provider of financial, materials management, distribution, supply-chain planning, manufacturing and human resources applications, PeopleSoft has built its reputation on high-quality software and services. To assist PeopleSoft in optimizing its products for the BackOffice family, Microsoft is working with PeopleSoft’s development team to help ensure the development of the highest-quality products for the best-performing solution package.

This technical investment builds on the foundation set in May when PeopleSoft adopted Microsoft SQL Server and Windows NT as the primary development and demonstration platform for its software applications.

“PeopleSoft’s commitment to Microsoft SQL Server and Windows NT sets the stage for ongoing development efforts in cooperation with Microsoft to optimize performance and better serve customers,” said Aneel Bhusri, senior vice president of product strategy at PeopleSoft. “PeopleSoft has already seen tremendous market acceptance for Windows NT and Microsoft SQL Server and is now supporting more than 100 customers running PeopleSoft applications on Microsoft BackOffice.”

About PeopleSoft

PeopleSoft Inc. (NASDAQ “PSFT”) was established in 1987 to provide innovative software solutions that meet the changing business demands of enterprises worldwide. A client/server applications pioneer and market leader, PeopleSoft develops, markets and supports a complete suite of enterprise solutions for finance, materials management, distribution, supply-chain planning, manufacturing and human resources. In addition, PeopleSoft provides industry-specific enterprise solutions to customers in select markets including communications, financial services, health care, manufacturing, higher education, public sector, services, transportation, U.S. federal government and utilities. With more than 1,700 customers around the world, the company has been recognized for both its award-winning customer service and its remarkable growth. PeopleSoft was listed by Fortune Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in America in 1994, 1995, 1996, and again in 1997. PeopleSoft product and service information is located on the World Wide Web at (http://www.peoplesoft.com/) .

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft, BackOffice and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

PeopleSoft, the PeopleSoft logo and PeopleTools are registered trademarks of PeopleSoft, Inc. ã 1997 PeopleSoft, Inc. All rights reserved.

Other product and company names herein may be 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. Additional information on Microsoft in ERP can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/entapp/ (url will go live later today 10/6/97).

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