REDMOND, Wash., and CULVER CITY, Calif., June 21, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. and IncredibleArt.com Inc. today announced a plan to help develop and deliver state-of-the-art technology and customized solutions for art buyers around the world based on the Microsoft® Windows®
DNA 2000 platform.
Primarily designed to support the hospitality, design and corporate markets, IncredibleArt.com offers tools and services that provide instant, real-time access to more than 100,000 pieces of artwork ranging from fine-art original prints or copies to one-of-a kind originals — all with customized framing, matting and delivery options. In addition to product breadth, IncredibleArt.com provides the resources necessary to procure art at the lowest price and without design fees or middleman markups. IncredibleArt.com’s clients include Marriott International Inc., Hampton Inn & Suites, Westin Hotels and Resorts, Willowbend Golf Development Club, Senior Tour Players Development Corp., Westin Rio Mar Resort and Casino in Puerto Rico and, most recently, Reebok International Ltd.
The joint effort utilizes the expertise of IncredibleArt.com in art procurement and the highly reliable and scalable software and services of Microsoft, including Microsoft Windows 2000, Commerce Server, the Visual Studio® development system and Microsoft SQL Server™
, to enable effective business-to-business (B2B) procurement. Under the agreement, IncredibleArt.com and Microsoft will work together to deliver a more-effective Internet art-procurement solution for the hospitality and design markets by implementing the robust infrastructure of the Microsoft Windows DNA 2000 platform. By utilizing Windows DNA 2000, IncredibleArt.com can realize fast time to market and will have the ability to develop and deploy integrated, adaptable and enterprise-scale Web solutions.
“At IncredibleArt.com, we pride ourselves on fulfilling the needs of our clients by offering a combination of proprietary and standardized tools that can be customized to make purchasing art effortless as well as economical,”
said Edward Mullen, president of IncredibleArt.com.
“Our relationship with Microsoft further demonstrates the ongoing commitment to our clients, and we are certain they will be as pleased as we are to conduct business on the Windows DNA 2000 platform and have Microsoft as a technology solution provider.”
Paralleling the commitments of IncredibleArt.com, Microsoft has agreed to support the IncredibleArt.com effort through consulting benefits, relationships and other services, as well as general marketing efforts to support the overall success of IncredibleArt.com and its customers.
“Through Microsoft Windows DNA-based technology, IncredibleArt is developing a scalable, reliable and customer-centric service that builds on Microsoft’s commitment to enable business-to-business commerce,”
said Peter Boit, vice president of U.S. e-business solutions for Microsoft.
“Through the inclusion of services, content and procurement, IncredibleArt.com provides a solution that the hospitality and art-procurement industries can utilize to improve their business and benefit their customers.”
Microsoft and IncredibleArt.com will work together on the roll out of specific technology and service solution packages based on the Microsoft Windows DNA 2000 platform. IncredibleArt.com has also agreed to participate in a Microsoft-led training program focused on building a team of Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers and Microsoft Certified Solution Developers. In addition, Microsoft Consulting Services personnel will engage in assisting IncredibleArt.com in knowledge transfer, solutions architecture and practice-development activities. In addition, IncredibleArt.com will engage the Microsoft Premier Support organization to provide the company with direct Microsoft support during client projects.
About IncredibleArt.com
Founded in 1998 and based in Culver City, Calif., IncredibleArt.com is a comprehensive art-procurement solution for the hospitality, commercial office and interior design markets worldwide. Leveraging an enormous selection, operational efficiency and proprietary technology into superior customer satisfaction, the company targets the corporate art market, specifically hospitality renovations as well as new construction, middle-market new-builds and office art programs. IncredibleArt.com also offers customized art-procurement solutions from the on-staff designers as well as many value added resources such as the designer forum, designer spotlight, ArtMD — a proprietary technology that leads clients to the point of sale by the use of accelerated collaborative filtering, Incredible Lens, and personal galleries. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.incredibleart.com/ or send an e-mail message to [email protected].
About Windows DNA 2000
Windows DNA 2000 is Microsoft’s platform for rapidly building and deploying next-generation e-commerce, line-of-business and Web solutions that easily integrate with customers, partners and existing applications. In addition to Windows 2000, other components of the
Windows DNA 2000 platform include SQL Server 2000, Commerce Server 2000, BizTalk™
Server 2000, Application Center 2000, Host Integration Server 2000, Exchange and Visual Studio — all best-of-breed products that take advantage of a deep pool of developer talent and third-party industries.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technology 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, Windows, Visual Studio and BizTalk 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.
