Microsoft and IBM Announce Technology Agreement

REDMOND, Wash., and EAST FISHKILL, N.Y., Nov. 3, 2003 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has entered into a semiconductor technology agreement with IBM Corp. Under the agreement, Microsoft has licensed leading-edge semiconductor processor technology from IBM for use in future Xbox®
products and services to be announced at a later date.

“Microsoft is already developing the software and services that will drive the Digital Decade,” said Robbie Bach, senior vice president of the Home & Entertainment Division at Microsoft. “By combining our vision, software experience and R & D resources with IBM’s computer and semiconductor technologies, we plan to deliver unprecedented and unparalleled entertainment experiences to consumers while creating new engines of growth for the technology and entertainment industries.”

According to Bernie Meyerson, IBM Fellow and chief technologist for IBM’s Technology Group, the new Xbox technologies will be based on the latest in IBM’s family of state-of-the-art processors.

“IBM’s advanced chip technologies are in demand across a wide range of industries and applications,” Meyerson said. “We’re excited to be working on a project of this magnitude and that Microsoft has chosen IBM to provide technologies that will power future consumer devices and expand the boundaries of what’s possible in entertainment.”

About IBM Technology Group

IBM’s Technology Group is the source of many of IBM’s legendary silicon breakthroughs. The group plays a critical role with its OEM customers and the IBM Systems Group in creating unique, high-performance semiconductor devices. It offers engineering design services, a vast portfolio of intellectual property, industry-leading interconnect technologies, customized processors or application specific integrated circuits, that can be fabricated at IBM’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. More information about IBM Technology Group can be found at: http://www.chips.ibm.com .

About Xbox

Xbox ( http://www.xbox.com/ ) is Microsoft’s future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful games experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Xbox is now available in the continents of North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

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 and Xbox 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.

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. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .

Related Posts