REDMOND, Wash., March 9, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Dow Chemical Co., the global science and technology-based company, has selected Microsoft® Windows Media TM as its digital media platform for internal corporate communications. Dow will deploy Windows Media as its end-to-end digital communications solution to more than 30,000 employees via the company intranet and will make it available to thousands more clients and suppliers via its Internet Web site. Dow selected Windows Media because its cost-effective audio- and video-streaming platform integrated easily with the existing Microsoft Windows NT® operating system and Microsoft Office environment.
Dow and its affiliates develop and manufacture a portfolio of chemical, plastic and agricultural products that reflect annual sales of more than $18 billion. Dow conducts its operations with more than 30,000 employees at workplaces in 32 nations. The corporation provides solutions that are grounded in science and technology, a principle referred to as
“good thinking”
on the firm’s Web site.
“We evaluated several other products in trying to determine the best streaming media solution,”
said Dave Kepler, vice president and CIO, Dow Chemical Co.
“In this instance, ‘good thinking’ pointed us toward Microsoft. Windows Media integrated seamlessly because we already were using Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player on all our desktops. Plus, the small size and high quality of Windows Media-based files enabled us to manage the bandwidth resources on our network while delivering a great user experience.”
Dow will deploy a network of several servers around the world, giving all 30,000 intranet users quick access to digital media files of corporate communications. Time-sensitive announcements can be quickly created and digitally broadcast worldwide. All employees are able to see or hear company news simultaneously, or view it later as an archived file.
“This new multimedia technology has greatly improved our corporate communications. Dow employees can now easily view and listen to global news announcements using their standard Dow workstations,”
Kepler said.
Providing Communication Through Innovation
Dow CEO William S. Stavropoulos has used Windows Media to communicate news personally about key business changes to all of Dow’s employees. In this way, Dow is using Windows Media to break through corporate walls that traditionally have kept executives from connecting with many other employees.
The company provides access to digital media files from its Internet Web site, http://www.dow.com/ , to better communicate with customers, communities, stockholders and suppliers.
“Dow continues to look for innovative ways to provide information to our stakeholders, and streaming media has proven to be an effective tool,”
Kepler said.
“Windows Media was designed to be the most cost-effective and scalable solution for enterprise customers,”
said Dave Fester, director of marketing for the Digital Media Division at Microsoft.
“Dow’s choice to use Windows Media is another significant example of how digital media significantly enhances enterprise communications.”
Dow joins a list of major companies that depend on Windows Media as their corporate digital media platform. That list includes Aetna Inc., SAS Institute Inc., J.D. Edwards & Co.,
Creative Artists Agency, Charles Schwab & Company Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., Partners HealthCare Systems Inc., Deere & Co., Northrop Grumman, Eastman Chemical Co., 3Com Corp. and Fujitsu PC Co.
About Windows Media
Windows Media is the leading digital media platform worldwide, providing consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations with unmatched audio and video quality. Windows Media Technologies, which includes Windows Media Player, Windows Media Services, Windows Media Tools and the Windows Media SDK, is available for free* download at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/ . The Windows Media Player, available in 24 languages, is the fastest-growing media player. More than 60 million copies have been downloaded to date – growing by more than one every second.
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.
*Connect-time charges may apply.
Microsoft, Windows Media and Windows NT 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.
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