It’s Not Too Late to Shop Online for the Holidays With MSN eShop

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 22, 1999 — Still trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday list? Using MSN TM eShop, the shopping service that helps people find exactly what they want to buy, online shoppers still have time to use the Web to get great gifts in time for Christmas. Nearing the end of an amazing holiday season that’s seen an up to 600 percent increase in click-through traffic to online merchants, Microsoft Corp. has updated the Express Gift section of MSN eShop to include gift selections that are easy for anyone without a lot of time to shop. In addition, the MSN eShop Procrastinator’s Guide will help consumers find gifts that are available online, are in stock and can be purchased easily on the Internet. If those options don’t satisfy a persnickety relative, or if time is too tight for delivery, shoppers can buy MSN eShop gift certificates, which can be redeemed by their choice of merchants on the MSN eShop site.

“We are pleased to offer online shoppers even more ways to help them complete their holiday gift-buying at MSN eShop,”
said Yusuf Mehdi, director of marketing in the Consumer Group at Microsoft.
“Whether the goal is to save time or to find that perfect gift, MSN eShop offers complete service to help any shopper get the job done easily and quickly.”

The Procrastinator’s Guide, available online today through Dec. 23, 1999, offers online shoppers a selection of gifts that are still in stock and don’t look last-minute. Featured items on the Procrastinator’s Guide are perfect for friends, relatives and co-workers, and include hot electronics, great toys and entertainment items. In addition, the powerful search capabilities, product-comparison tools, research capabilities and selection of leading online stores at MSN eShop make it easy for last-minute shoppers to find exactly what they are looking for.

“Microsoft is doing the right things to make sure people have a number of options online to make their shopping experience positive this holiday season,”
said Hilary Billings, president and CEO of RedEnvelope Gifts Online.
“We are excited to be able to offer users of MSN eShop great product selection and service for last-minute gift-giving.”

When timing gets really tight for buying gifts, MSN eShop gift certificates provide the perfect solution since recipients can use them at all the stores on MSN eShop. The gift certificates are available in any amount and can be sent either instantaneously or at a particular time. Gift certificates are perfect for the last-minute shopper, as a gift for a co-worker, or for the person who is really hard to shop for.

MSN eShop users can also purchase their holiday gifts faster and easier by creating a Microsoft® Passport
“wallet,”
which enables them to enter their credit card and shipping information only one time for use across multiple Web sites. For added convenience, the Express Purchase area on MSN eShop highlights the eShop merchants that support the Passport wallet service.

About MSN

MSN is the network of Internet services from Microsoft that helps people better organize the Web around what’s important to them. The network of MSN services, located on the Web at MSN.com ( http://MSN.com/ ), helps people make smart and secure purchasing decisions, easily stay in touch with friends and colleagues, and get more done. MSN offers award-winning e-mail functionality; personal communications services; wireless services information; customizable access to news; popular sites for personal finance, travel, automotive services, shopping and more; an online community; a Web search engine and directories; and top-rated Internet access.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software 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.

Microsoft and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the 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.

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