LAS VEGAS, March 20, 2001 — Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer today outlined Microsoft Corp.’s vision for enabling a mobile data lifestyle and announced a series of key software technologies that begin to make this a reality. In his keynote at CTIA Wireless 2001, Ballmer emphasized the importance of the software industry partnering with the wireless industry to make robust wireless data services available to customers sooner rather than later. By working together to offer richer customer experiences on devices through connections to servers and services, Microsoft envisions enabling customers to always have access to the core information they need while on the go.
“Mobile operators have made significant infrastructure investments and are now exploring how to translate these investments into greater customer value,”
said Ballmer.
“Through software technologies based on XML and the Microsoft .NET platform, Microsoft is working to provide innovative wireless solutions, services and smart devices that end users want and that will help create growth opportunities for the wireless industry.”
Ballmer discussed the importance of the Microsoft® .NET strategy and the mutual business opportunities that exist for operators, developers, device manufacturers and others in helping enable Microsoft’s enterprise and consumer customers to extend their connectivity beyond the desktop. Some of the most frequent questions Microsoft now hears from its more than 68 million customers using the Outlook® messaging and collaboration client and the more than 90 million customers using the Hotmail® Web-based e-mail service involve accessing their data wirelessly.
Over the coming year, Microsoft mobile software will continue to mature and power a range of devices as well as provide server software for corporations and mobile operators that will enable them to deliver data and services across wireless networks.
During the keynote, Ballmer referenced a number of announcements Microsoft is making at CTIA this week, bringing this software to customers today and tomorrow and delivering on making the mobile data lifestyle a reality. These announcements include the following:
Microsoft Mobile Devices
Ballmer announced progress in the device space with the following new alliances and software solutions:
-
Microsoft smart phone software, currently code-named
“
Stinger.
” Microsoft and High Tech Computer Corp. announced that HTC is the newest company developing smart phone hardware based on
“Stinger.” “Stinger”
marries the best of the personal digital assistant with the advanced phone features in a phone form factor. HTC joins Sendo Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. (under the Trium brand) as announced hardware manufacturers for
“Stinger.” -
Microsoft Mobile Explorer
™
technology. Microsoft and Mitsubishi Wireless Communications Inc. announced plans to bring two Microsoft Mobile Explorer-enabled phones to market in the United States next year — the first MME devices for the North American market. Sony-Digital Telecommunication Europe and Benefon currently ship MME-based phones in Europe. -
Pocket PC. Microsoft and J.D. Edwards announced that J.D. Edwards’ OneWorld Xe offerings will support the Pocket PC as the exclusive PDA platform. This solution will enable enterprise customers to wirelessly access secure corporate databases in real time while away from their desks. Microsoft also highlighted new hardware from industry partners building lower-cost Pocket PCs.
Microsoft Windows Media Technology
Ballmer also demonstrated a technology preview of Windows Media™
Player on the
“Stinger”
platform, the first time Windows Media has been demonstrated on a wireless handset. The new player — currently under development — will bring the quality and size advantages of Windows Media Audio to
“Stinger”
users and support Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology.
This demonstration helps underscore Windows Media innovation in delivering the best audio and video quality in the smallest bandwidth while providing a tested second-generation DRM technology for the delivery of secure music and video. This builds on last month’s announcement that chipmaker Texas Instruments Inc. will be adding Windows Media support on TI’s DSP-based OMAP processors for wireless handsets, and the announcement in December 2000 that NTT DoCoMo, a world leader in wireless Internet, launched the first commercial service that uses Windows Media to deliver streamed audio and video to cell phones in Japan.
MSN
Ballmer introduced a new MSN® -branded Motorola T900 two-way messaging device offering consumers access to MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger services. MSN, Motorola and Arch Wireless are working together to bring this affordable solution to customers. This MSN-branded mobile messaging service will offer consumers an easy way to stay connected to family and friends on the go using MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger, the world’s most popular online communication tools.
About Microsoft in Mobility
Microsoft seeks to enable
“intelligent communications”
— not just connecting devices, but connecting people to each other and their data so they can make informed decisions.
Microsoft mobility solutions reduce the complexity and constraints that hobble the flow of personal and business communications, helping individuals and organizations achieve their productivity goals.
Microsoft mobile solutions are a key component of Microsoft’s end-to-end wireless strategy to provide mobile Internet solutions that utilize technologies such as Microsoft mobile devices, including Microsoft Mobile Explorer,
“Stinger” and Pocket PC platforms, as well as Mobile Information Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, the BackOffice® family, Microsoft Windows Media Technology and MSN Mobile service.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies 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, Outlook, Hotmail, Mobile Explorer, Windows Media, MSN and BackOffice 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.
For more information:
More information about Microsoft announcements and products highlighted at CTIA 2001 can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/ctia01/default.asp .
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.
