Microsoft Kicks Off WinHEC 2002, Highlighting Partners

SEATTLE, April 16, 2002 — Jim Allchin, group vice president of the Platforms Division at Microsoft Corp., today kicked off the 11th annual Windows® Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2002 in Seattles Washington State Convention and Trade Center Exhibition Hall with a call to action to the audience of hardware partners and software engineers. In his opening address, Allchin outlined the tremendous business opportunity that continues to exist in the personal computing marketplace for hardware and software developers alike. Citing a recent IDC study, Allchin noted that the global market for information technology products and services is expected to exceed $1 trillion in 2002 and to exceed $1.4 trillion in 2005. Ongoing industry innovation, such as wireless devices and new form factors, is the cornerstone for seizing this opportunity and continuing to drive the PC industry forward, he said.

“Its striking to see the breadth of partners at WinHEC this year committed to building innovative technologies around Windows,”
Allchin said.
“There is so much more we need to do together as an industry to create irresistible new experiences for our mutual customers.”

In particular, Allchin invited partners to work with Microsoft to raise the bar for quality and security and to embark on a collective mission to improve battery life, lower power processors, reduce ambient noise and develop smaller, more powerful devices.

Working With Industry Partners to Develop New Standards

In an effort to establish broad industry standards, the PCI-SIG and the Arapahoe Work Group will participate in several sessions on Wednesday to present the latest information about the new serial input/output (I/O) specification code-named
“Third-Generation I/O” (3GIO). The Arapahoe Work Group is a consortium of industry leaders, including Microsoft, Intel Corp., Compaq Computer Corp., Dell Computer Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM Corp. and 61 other technology companies, working together to develop a more powerful I/O technology compatible with the current PCI software environment. 3GIO will provide additional connectivity and increased bandwidth for a wide variety of innovative form factors. More specifically, 3GIO will serve as an attach point for 1394b, USB 2.0, InfiniBand® and Ethernet connections.

“3GIO will offer developers stable, scalable I/O performance and advanced features,”
said Roger Tipley, president and chairman of the PCI-SIG.
“Following the transfer of the 3GIO specification by the Arapahoe Work Group to the PCI-SIG, 3GIO will be released as an open industry standard later this year.”

Windows Technology Takes Step Forward With Windows Infrared Remote Controls

Industry partners also demonstrated their continued commitment to the Microsoft® Windows platform in the consumer marketplace, including support for
“Freestyle”
-compatible remote-control products.
“Freestyle”
is the code name for a set of Windows technologies offering consumers a new way to access their digital media using a remote control and a new easy-to-navigate user interface. Royal Philips Electronics will license its infrared (IR) remote-control protocol to manufacturers for use in Windows infrared remote controls. Licensing the technology will provide customers with a consistent experience by ensuring the uniform development of Windows infrared remote controls, which are designed to interact with the
“Freestyle”
Windows user interface on PCs or future Windows Powered devices directly or over a network. Microsoft will develop a log program for the remote control to ensure interoperability with these PCs and devices. This is an important step in bringing a
“Freestyle”
-enabled PC to life, and distinguishes Philips as the creator of the preferred hardware reference design guidelines for
“Freestyle”
-enabled remote control products. The agreement with Philips demonstrates one way in which Windows will offer consumers best-of-breed home entertainment experiences and choices, all accessible by remote control.

Ongoing WinHEC Activities

In addition to the address by Allchin and the keynote address by Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates, WinHEC 2002 will feature dozens of technology sessions with details about new technologies, road maps, case studies, and tips for hardware, firmware and driver quality. WinHEC 2002 has approximately 111 hours of technical content for attendees, about 20 more hours of content than were offered at previous WinHEC conferences. The sessions will provide partners with an in-depth look at new developments and possibilities for the Microsoft Windows platform directly from Microsoft engineers and other industry experts.

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 and Windows 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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