CHICAGO, Sept. 15, 1998 — Tod Nielsen, Microsoft Corp.’s general manager of developer relations and platform marketing, today told a gathering of software developers at this year’s annual Software Publishers Association (SPA) conference that he sees vast opportunities for growth across the industry. Nielsen, who joined other esteemed speakers at the conference, delivered a keynote address to more than 600 members of SPA and the media. In his speech,
“State of the Software Industry: Myths and Facts,”
Nielsen discussed industry trends, challenges and opportunities and examined some common myths present in the industry surrounding competition, market share and innovation.
In addition, Nielsen reviewed many of the historical changes affecting the software industry and outlined Microsoft’s efforts to work with leading industry vendors and trade organizations, such as the SPA, to deliver low-cost, innovative computing solutions to consumers.
Microsoft is sponsoring this year’s SPA conference as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to working closely with industry trade organizations to encourage and facilitate industry growth and innovation. As a member of the SPA for more than years, Microsoft is committed to working with the SPA and its members to help achieve a common vision of industry growth, opportunity and education.
“We are excited to participate in the SPA’s annual conference,”
Nielsen said.
“Our membership in the SPA is an important avenue into working with leading software vendors to promote the health of the industry, provide education on key issues that impact the industry, and ensure a constant stream of exciting, innovative computing applications and solutions for business and consumer markets.”
As a Diamond Sponsor of this year’s SPA conference, Microsoft will participate in a variety of activities, including hosting last night’s social event for conference attendees at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium, which provided an opportunity for leaders from software publishers throughout the industry to exchange ideas, relax and enjoy an evening under the stars. In addition, Microsoft representatives today will participate in a panel discussion with industry leaders on emerging technologies for the enterprise market.
“We are happy to have Microsoft as a sponsor of this exciting conference,”
said Ken Wasch, president of the Software Publishers Association.
“This is a great venue for our members to gather to discuss issues and challenges facing the software and electronic commerce industries. We look forward to working more closely with Microsoft in the coming months to tackle some of these tough issues and ensure a vital and prosperous future.”
Microsoft is active in the SPA in several key areas, including Internet and education marketing and public policy initiatives. Some of these activities include the following:
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Sponsorship of this week’s SPA No Boundaries conference, Sept. 12-15 in Chicago
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Participation in the nomination process for this year’s SPA Codie awards, which are designed to recognize software excellence and encompass the vastness and diversity of the software industry
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SPA-nominated board membership for the U.S. Information Technology Office to promote trade in China
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Participation as a board member of the SPA Internet Section to help explore and address issues surrounding business online
About the Microsoft Developer Relations Group
Formed in 1984 to provide education, technology resources and support for third-party developers for the Microsoft® Windows® operating system, the developer relations group (DRG), along with other Microsoft groups such as the application developer customer unit (ADCU), now works with more than 40,000 developers annually and employs more than 2,000 people worldwide to help ensure the success of developers of Windows-based applications. Microsoft spends more than $268 million annually on developer education and support activities, including research, conferences, marketing assistance, training programs and events, product support, and publications. For more information on DRG, please visit http://msdn.microsoft.com/developer/news/drg3part.htm .
About the Software Publishers Association
SPA is the principal trade association of the software industry, representing the leading publishers as well as start-up firms in the business, home office, consumer, entertainment and education markets. SPA supports companies that develop and publish software applications and tools for use on the desktop, client/server networks and the Internet. SPA’s 1,200 member companies account for 85 percent of U.S. revenue for packaged and online software. Additional information on SPA and its activities on behalf of the software industry can be found at http://www.spa.org/ .
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.
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