CHICAGO, April 19, 1999 — In his keynote today at COMDEX/Spring ’99 and Windows World, Microsoft Corp. Chairman and CEO Bill Gates said the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 operating system has sparked an excitement and readiness among customers, developers, retailers and other partners that he has not seen in the industry since the launch of Windows 95.
Gates also used the occasion to further elaborate on Microsoft’s enhanced mission as the company works to reinvent itself following a major reorganization announced last month. Gates said he envisions software and the Internet empowering a world in which PCs and many other devices make the way we work, play and learn simpler, easier and more powerful.
Gates described ways in which the challenge for the industry has evolved and goes well beyond the company’s original vision of helping put a computer on every desk and in every home. The new challenge is to empower customers to take advantage of the Internet anywhere and at any time.
“Customers today want the ability to access the Internet using great software tools whether they are at home, at school, at work or on the road,”
Gates said.
“Our vision and our mission is to innovate and build technologies that provide customers with the connectivity, power and ease-of-use they want no matter what device they choose.”
Windows 2000 Empowering Corporations
Gates paid special attention to the upcoming Windows 2000 platform, the infrastructure that allows for Web-integrated companies to create a
“digital nervous system,”
and demonstrated features of Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Professional. Microsoft made several other announcements today, some of which Gates touched on in his keynote, that highlighted ways in which the industry is gearing up to support Windows 2000:
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Corporate Preview Program (CPP). This program enables corporate customers to begin working with a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider (MCSP) by providing beta 3 versions of Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server as well as all the tools and information customers need to install, test and evaluate these products. In addition, the CPP kit includes more than three hours of videotaped Microsoft Official Curriculum content for Windows 2000.
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Channel readiness. New resources and investments will continue to prepare MCSPs and broad channel members to support Windows 2000. Today’s announcements include a multimillion-dollar training investment for developers, channel members and IT professionals worldwide; distribution of a Windows 2000 Channel Readiness Kit; and the availability of Windows 2000 Server and Professional Online Resource Center.
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Broad industry support. Building on last week’s statement of support from more than 75 independent software vendors (ISVs), today leading global systems integrators and PC and server manufacturers announced an array of integration, support and deployment services, as well as software and hardware solutions for assisting customers planning evaluations of Windows 2000.
Separately, at an event on Sunday night, Microsoft announced
“Winning on Windows, the ISV 75,”
a ranking of the fastest-growing ISVs for Windows in North America for 1998. These top 75 ISVs are growing at an impressive 119 percent yearly – more than 8.5 times the industry average. In addition, the ISV 75 delivered more than $1 billion in innovative IT solutions in 1998, with Windows-based solutions in more than 56 vertical and horizontal segments, including products for accounting, systems management, ERP, health care, legal services, telecommunications, financial services and more.
Microsoft is also offering a seminar track at COMDEX/Spring ’99 and Windows World,
“Road Map to Business 2000,”
designed to help customers plan, build and manage business solutions in the digital age. This series features seven sessions on topics that include Windows Distributed interNet Applications (Windows DNA), business operations, knowledge management, and commerce solutions based on the Windows 2000 platform.
IntelliEye Optical Technology and IntelliMouse Explorer
During his keynote address, Gates also showed the IntelliEye
™optical tracking technology and the new IntelliMouse® Explorer pointing device. Microsoft IntelliEye increases precision and reliability by replacing the ball and other moving parts of the pointing device with an optical sensor and digital signal processor that capture and compare images to track movements of the device on virtually any surface.
IntelliMouse Explorer combines IntelliEye technology with two new programmable function buttons for easy Internet navigation. IntelliMouse Explorer also has a sleek new design, featuring an industrial silver-toned finish and a glowing red underside and
“tail light.”
Conference and Trade Show Details
COMDEX/Spring ’99 and Windows World is being held at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center from April 19 to 22, 1999. Microsoft products will be showcased in Booth 600, and the Microsoft Partner Pavilion is located in W1562. The Microsoft Press Room is located in McCormick Place Convention Center, Room S501bc.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, Windows, IntelliEye and IntelliMouse are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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