REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 15, 2002 — On Monday, Feb. 18, Microsoft Corp. will launch its first global .NET advertising campaign simultaneously in 10 of the worlds largest media markets. The new
“One Degree of Separation” advertising campaign will focus on how Microsoft® enterprise software and .NET technology can make companies more agile by integrating all their business systems, enabling a free flow of information among customers, partners and employees. The campaign also will highlight leading-edge companies such as Dollar Rent A Car, The Nasdaq Stock Market Inc., Pfizer Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corp. FYE Brand, which have already begun to realize business benefits from .NET, Microsofts strategy for delivering an XML Web services platform.
“Dollar Rent A Car was one of the first global companies to take advantage of .NET more than a year ago, connecting in less than six months with a major airline partner in a solution that integrated our legacy reservations system to its corporate Web site,”
said Larry Zucker, executive director of application development at Dollar Rent A Car.
“At the time of deployment, we estimated that the solution would account for millions of dollars in incremental revenue, and today were rapidly closing in on that number. In addition, we have already taken advantage of our XML Web service architecture to integrate with three additional trading partners. A year ago we were taking a bet on a technology that few had deployed or even heard of. Now were ahead of the competition and have witnessed the business productivity firsthand.”
“Building one degree of separation between customers, partners and employees is .NETs unique business proposition and one that has already allowed companies to capitalize on new business opportunities and quickly react to the dynamic needs of their customers,”
said Rick Belluzzo, president and chief operating officer of Microsoft.
“Those business benefits were clearly demonstrated by our customers at this weeks Visual Studio® .NET launch, and this landmark campaign aims to share those benefits and success stories to enterprise customers around the world.”
Throughout the coming year, Microsoft will invest more than $200 million in advertising to create awareness and excitement for .NET among enterprise customers. The new campaign continues on Microsofts successful
“Software for the Agile Business” marketing campaign, which was launched in January 2001. That campaign helped expand the revenue for Microsofts enterprise software by more than 20 percent in fiscal year 2001. Microsofts enterprise software revenue significantly outpaced the overall industry and continues to be the fastest-growing business in pure dollar terms within the company. This weeks launch of Visual Studio .NET, coupled with Microsoft Windows® 2000 Server and the family of Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers, is an enterprise offering that provides not only the reliability and scalability todays companies require, but the flexibility and agility they need to compete and succeed in the current global economy.
“This past year Microsoft demonstrated how it could succeed in the $90 billion enterprise software industry by providing companies with flexible technology solutions built on Windows 2000 and the family of .NET Enterprise Servers,”
said Mike Delman, general manager of advertising at Microsoft.
“This campaign marks a milestone for Microsoft as we take our first strategic step in demonstrating that .NET is now not only possible, but available to enterprise customers worldwide.”
Developed by McCann-Erickson San Francisco, the new campaign features integrated themes across broadcast and print advertisements targeting top-level business managers as well as information technology professionals. The ads will be featured in prime-time TV spots and during major sporting events. The campaign will launch simultaneously in 10 countries, including Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.
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.
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Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft or comments from Steve Ballmer on Microsofts agility efforts, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsofts corporate information pages. Web links, phone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed.
