Microsoft Teams Up With Groove Networks to Provide Customers With Better Access to Business-Critical Information

REDMOND, Wash., July 22, 2002 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Groove Networks Inc., a leading provider of desktop collaboration software, is working with Microsoft to integrate its flagship product, Groove Workspace, with SharePoint (TM) Team Services from Microsoft, to provide customers with a team Web site solution that supports online and offline use and automatic synchronization, and works securely across company firewalls.

In a global market where connections among people are critical, Microsoft and Groove Networks have led the way in developing technology for easier, less costly team collaboration and knowledge management solutions. Last fall, Microsoft invested $51 million (U.S.) in Groove Networks, and since then the companies have worked on several business and technology initiatives, including one to deliver a flexible team collaboration and knowledge management solution that improves information access. Groove Networks will deliver this solution, in the form of an integration kit that integrates SharePoint Team Services with Groove Workspace, by fall 2002. The combined SharePoint Team Services and Groove Workspace solution will offer customers easy-to-use collaboration tools that enable offline access to team content; automatic synchronization; and secure, real-time collaboration across network boundaries.

Hewlett-Packard Co., an industry-leading solutions provider for consumers and businesses, is leveraging both SharePoint Team Services and Groove Workspace today and expects to use the combined solution once it becomes available. “The integration of SharePoint Team Services and Groove Workspace is a powerful combination that extends both products significantly,” said Craig Samuel, chief knowledge officer at HP Services. “Information workers within HP need to collaborate with their teams, partners and customers, and the combined solution will make their jobs that much easier. We view the new solution as a much-needed shift in how teams will interoperate in the future.”

“Our joint team collaboration solution addresses the changing nature of how work gets done today, particularly among project teams that span company boundaries,” said Chuck Teubner, president and chief operating officer of Groove Networks. “This solution uniquely addresses the need for people to continue working, even when they aren’t connected to the Internet, and to work securely across company boundaries.”

“We are pleased to partner with Groove to deliver a combined team collaboration solution to customers,” said Kurt DelBene, vice president of Authoring and Collaboration Services at Microsoft. “Information is incredibly valuable in today’s economy. Businesses are increasingly tasked to make critical decisions without having complete access to the data they need. The relationship between Microsoft and Groove benefits information workers using collaboration technologies by giving them better access to information so they can work faster and make smarter business decisions.”

The SharePoint Team Services/Groove Workspace integration kit will be available to customers via Groove Networks distribution channels. More information about the kit and Groove Workspace can be found at http://www.groove.net/ .

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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