SAN FRANCISCO, May 10, 2001 — Today, Microsoft Corp. and industry partners kick off the Mobile Experience Tour, an 11-city, nationwide tour that showcases exciting developments in mobile technology. At the center of the tour is a one-of-a-kind, 45-foot rolling Mobile Theater packed with the latest wireless, server and device technologies, including a selection of mobile devices available today and demonstrations of products that will be available in the near future. The products and technologies on display in the Mobile Theater present a unified solution for customers who are ready to take part in the wireless world.
The Mobile Experience Tour will introduce customers to the advantages of wireless networks and give them the chance to experience currently available mobile devices and learn about forthcoming products.
“Microsoft® mobile solutions stand apart in a sea of competition,”
said Phil Holden, director of marketing for the Mobility Division at Microsoft,
“and we’re spreading the word by inviting customers to visit us on the Mobile Experience Tour to evaluate these technologies and devices firsthand. They can come down and tour the trailer, watch demonstrations of our products, participate in conferences, and talk with Microsoft and partner representatives. This is a great opportunity for customers to discover the benefits of wireless networks and devices and learn more about what’s on the horizon for mobile computing.”
For several days at each stop, the tour will offer a series of informative and imaginative events designed to fuel the interest of senior executives, IT decision-makers, mobile professionals and other potential users. Activities in each city include the following:
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Executive Wireless Deployment Workshop. This half-day workshop will feature leading industry experts explaining the changes, challenges and opportunities in the wireless landscape for corporate customers. The workshop include a two-hour session in the Mobile Theater as well as keynotes from industry experts from companies such as AT & T Wireless, Aether Systems and Cap Gemini.
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Enterprise Briefing: wireless and mobile device s . These informative two-hour sessions in the Mobile Theater will show participants working the end-to-end wireless Mobile Information Server, a wireless applications server whose pricing was announced and that was released to manufacturing this week, as a backend system. The session will also present the opportunity to meet with Microsoft and industry partner representatives.
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Pocket PC, Wireless and Beyond. This fun, hands-on presentation will demonstrate the power of Microsoft mobile software on Pocket PCs and cell phones that operate with a wide range of wireless services and accessories. The presentation also features a question and answer session with mobility experts and a chance to enter a drawing to win exciting prizes.*
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Pocket PC FanFest. FanFest is an evening of gadget and beaming excess for the ardent Pocket PC devotee, such as those who take their Pocket PC to bed. There’s only one catch: They must have a Pocket PC to get in.
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CompUSA Retail Demo Days. Visitors to the Mobile Experience Tour at local CompUSA in each tour city will find plenty of Pocket PCs to play with, experts to answer their questions, great deals and more.
Partnering Is Crucial
Industry partners are critical to the success of mobile technology. The partner solutions of the Mobile Devices Division extend the capabilities of Microsoft’s devices and offer customers more options to fulfill their specific needs. Many of these offerings will be showcased on the Mobile Experience Tour, including these:
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Casio Computer Company Ltd., Compaq Computer Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and UR There Productions have each created unique device offerings based on the Microsoft Pocket PC platform.
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Aether Systems Inc. has created an infrastructure for wireless and mobile solutions that is reliable, flexible, secure and used as the standard for conducting wireless business.
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Audible Inc. makes it possible for customers and mobile work forces to use a portable device to listen to audio books, speeches and lectures, public radio programs, training sessions and even newspapers and magazines while on the go.
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AvantGo Inc. enables Fortune 1000 corporations such as Ford Motor Co., American Express Co. and The New York Times to extend their existing Web-based content, applications and services to their work forces and customers using mobile devices.
More information about the Mobile Experience Tour can be found on the Web at http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/events/2001/mobileexperience/ .
About Microsoft in Mobility
Microsoft seeks to enable
“intelligent”
communications — not just by connecting devices, but by 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 the Microsoft Mobile Explorer, Pocket PC platforms and the Smart phone software currently code-named
“Stinger,” as well as Mobile Information Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, the BackOffice® family, Microsoft Windows Media™ Technologies 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.
* No purchase necessary to enter sweepstakes drawings. Open to attendees at each Mobile Experience Tour city. Game end dates coincide with each event date. See event booth for details.
Microsoft, BackOffice, Windows Media 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.
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