Iconic Albuquerque Photo Re-Created

The original employees of Microsoft, looking a bit more clean-cut, reconvene to honor Bill Gates as he starts a new chapter in his life.

Microsoft’s founding employees gathered in 1978 to take a portrait before the company moved to Washington. Front row (left to right): Bill Gates, Andrea Lewis, Marla Wood, and Paul Allen. Middle row: Bob O’Rear, Bob Greenberg, Marc McDonald, and Gordon Letwin. Back row: Steve Wood, Bob Wallace, and Jim Lane. Not pictured is Miriam Lubow.

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REDMOND, Wash., — June 25, 2008 — The bushy beards and big hair are gone, replaced with receding hairlines and streaks of gray.

For the first time in 30 years, 11 of Microsoft’s 12 original employees got together to re-create a famous photo taken just before the company moved from its Albuquerque birthplace to the Pacific Northwest in 1978.

“Paul doesn’t have his mustache,” quipped Bill Gates at the April photo shoot at Microsoft’s Redmond campus. “Facial hair is on the decline, I guess,” answered Paul Allen.

Reshooting an image known for its young faces (and of course groovy outfits and far-out hair) gave the company’s founders a chance to look back at what Microsoft has accomplished over three tumultuous decades. Everyone was there except Bob Wallace, who passed away in 2002.

Many at the reunion wished they had stayed on longer. All but Gates left the company by the mid-1990s. None of them knew how big Microsoft was going to get, except maybe Gates.

As Allen tells it, thinking big in the early days meant just getting the company off the ground. When he and Gates talked about forming the company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, “we thought, wow, God, if we’re successful, maybe we’ll have 30 people.”

Still, it was obvious to everyone that Gates had big plans for Microsoft.

“Right from the start…Bill knew this was going someplace, and we were along for the ride,” said Bob Greenberg, one of Microsoft’s original “hardcore coders.” “I joked with him about lots of different things, but I learned very quickly the one thing you couldn’t joke about was the company itself. You couldn’t touch that ground.” Today, Greenberg manages several investments, is an officer with several Jewish organizations, and is an investor in a start-up company.

Microsoft’s original employees got together to reshoot the famous photo in April. Front row (left to right): Bill Gates, Andrea Lewis, Miriam Lubow, Marla Wood, and Paul Allen. Back row: Bob O’Rear, Steve Wood, Bob Greenberg, Marc McDonald, Gordon Letwin, and Jim Lane. Not pictured is Bob Wallace, who has passed away.

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Allen added, “Bill was Bill,” driving the company hard and driving himself harder.

“I think Bill tried to set a very high benchmark,” he said. “He wanted to make sure everybody emulated that [work ethic].” Gates said it was in Albuquerque where he laid out his famous vision for Microsoft. “‘A computer on every desk and in every home running Microsoft software’ was the slogan of the company,” he recounted in a roundtable discussion that took place after the photo shoot.

A young Gates wasn’t always taken seriously, though. Just ask Miriam Lubow, who was the original receptionist for the company. (She missed the Albuquerque photo shoot because of a snowstorm.) She was hired by Steve Wood while Gates was away. She is retired and actively involved in many projects, including an autobiography.

“One morning in comes this kid, sneakers and blue jeans and hair disheveled, and I’m thinking this kid doesn’t belong here, what is he doing?” Lubow recounted to many laughs from her old colleagues. “He runs by my office and goes into the computer room that Steve said ‘nobody should go in there; it’s private. Don’t let anybody in there.’”

She quickly went to tell Wood. “I said, look Steve, this kid runs in there, and he’s in that room, and he’s working like he owns this place, and Steve says, ‘Well, you know what, he does. He’s your boss. He’s the president.’”

Once the company started to grow, Gates and Allen found they were having trouble wooing people to New Mexico, so they decided to move home.

From left to right, Marla Wood, Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Bob O’Rear, and Marc McDonald participate in an April roundtable discussion about the first-ever reunion of Microsoft’s original employees.

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“Bill and I used to talk about the fact that a lot of people didn’t even know what state Albuquerque was in,” Allen said.

Aside from Andrea Lewis, “nobody was based in Albuquerque,” Gates said, so there were no real ties there except for the good weather and the difficulties associated with moving everyone.

There was some initial resistance to the move, but everyone decided to make a go of it. It was at that time that Greenberg won a free portrait with a local photographer by correctly guessing the name of an assassinated president on a local radio program.

Perhaps foretelling what would soon become a major moment in Microsoft’s history, he wrote a memo to the team on December 6, 1978, titled “Esprit De Corps.”

“As a suitable culmination of Microsoft’s productive stay in Albuquerque, I have arranged a sitting to make a company-wide portrait,” Greenberg wrote. The photo was to be taken at Royal Frontier Studios with “regular informal attire.”

“Regular informal attire” turned out to be a blend of earth tones, collars, tweed, and just maybe a bit of velvet. Gates and Allen are in the front row with their torsos mostly cut off, making it hard to tell what they are wearing.

When asked about their choice of clothing, the jokes started flying. “We didn’t know of anything else to wear,” one person said. Another said, what’s the big deal, “we were all wearing clothes,” while someone else said “we’re engineers—don’t ask us that.”

Gordon Letwin (left) and Bill Gates take a break as a Newsweek photographer puts other members of the original 11 Microsoft employees into position for the remaking of the original Albuquerque photo. Redmond, Wash. , April 2008

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The photo has gained a foothold in history for its look but also because “it’s the only photo” from that era, explained Marc McDonald, who left Microsoft in 1984. He returned to work with Design Intelligence in 2000 and still works at the company.

For many in that original group, the photo is how they are most often recognized.

“It’s iconic,” Greenberg said. “It’s taken on a life larger than any of ours, really.”

For Allen, the photo brings back memories of what it was like to work at Microsoft in the beginning.

	Our legacy is what we’ve done, not a picture.
	– Gordon Letwin

“It does capture a moment in time and the spirit that we had there in the office,” he said. “You see we’re all smiling. We’re all really having fun. When you try to explain to people about the early days of Microsoft, it’s just hard to explain how much fun it was. Some people, especially Bill, would sleep in the office. You’d come in the office, sometimes you’d see his feet sticking out the door.”

In the end, the early pioneers would like to be known for the work that they did to build the company’s foundation.

“[The Albuquerque photo] represents our legacy, but it’s not our legacy,” said Gordon Letwin, who, for the record, had to be coaxed to tuck in his shirt during the photo re-take, something he did begrudgingly. “Our legacy is what we’ve done, not a picture.”

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June 26, 2008 · Filed Under Microsoft

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Armored Car Company Chooses Microsoft Dynamics CRM

From an integrated database, Dunbar will provide its locations nationwide with access to all customer and prospect information.

REDMOND, Wash. — June 25, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Dunbar Armored, the largest independently owned American armored car company, has selected Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 to provide its sales teams with all prospect and customer information from an integrated database. Dunbar, headquartered in Hunt Valley, Md., will bring together data from its 80 facilities and 5,200 employees across the United States. In addition to its armored car operations, Dunbar also provides cash vault and cash management services.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides powerful, role-based customer relationship management capabilities. Dunbar will replace its current system with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, which will be the repository for all the company’s prospect information. The Microsoft solution will be integrated with Dunbar’s legacy software, which houses current customer information, routing programs and other modules. Previously, Dunbar staff members needed to bridge the gap between prospect information and customer information with spreadsheets and a number of manual processes. Microsoft Dynamics CRM is expected to automate the process, eliminating manual operations and making all relative data available to Dunbar teams across the nation.

“We will use Microsoft Dynamics CRM as a sales force automation tool,” said Seth McElroy, vice president for marketing and sales administration for Dunbar. “When a prospect converts to a win, the technology will feed that information directly into our customer data with no additional manual keying or replication of data entry.

“One of the main reasons for choosing the Microsoft solution was its integration into and synchronization with Microsoft Outlook, as well as the ability to customize the application,” McElroy said. “We had migrated all of our sales team members to Outlook for e-mail and appointments 18 months ago, so adding a system that’s similar in look and feel will speed adoption.”

McElroy also cited Microsoft’s reputation in the industry, his company’s familiarity with Microsoft Office applications and a desire for an on-premise (rather than Web-hosted) solution as factors in the decision.

As its technology partner, Dunbar chose Ascentium Corp., a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, a 2008 Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner of the Year finalist and the Overall Excellence winner of the 2008 Customer Excellence Awards. Ascentium’s Baltimore office will lead the engagement, and it had recommended Microsoft Dynamics CRM as the right fit for Dunbar.

With Ascentium, Dunbar will implement the sales force automation capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. “Seventy-four of our 80 offices have sales force teams that will tap into the integrated database,” McElroy said. “Our Microsoft technology also will promote cross-selling. For example, when a franchise location in one geography chooses our services, Microsoft Dynamics CRM will alert and share information with a Dunbar office in another part of the country that may apply that knowledge to similar franchise outlets in its locality.”

Dunbar expects to gain a number of benefits from the new processes, integration and automation afforded by Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

•	Increased sales effectiveness. Dunbar anticipates that the administrative load on its teams will be reduced with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, providing them more selling time and resulting in more revenue and more customer attention, which should increase retention. Many of the administrative functions now will be handled automatically within the integrated database, which is expected to eliminate the manual processes and spreadsheets previously used.
•	Cost savings. Internal labor costs are expected to be lower with elimination of the need for multiple entries of data. Dunbar is examining whether the company’s universal access to integrated data will increase the return on investment of travel costs accrued by sales teams traveling for face-to-face meetings.
•	Improved reporting. The Microsoft technology will allow Dunbar to have a dashboard of its field activities, showing its pipeline, sales by services and other indicators in real time. It also enables salespeople to pull their own reports, rather than requesting them from headquarters, and pinpoint prospects that may be easily accessible on their routes.
•	Time savings. Salespeople for Dunbar will save time because they can use Microsoft Dynamics CRM for booking and recording appointments and tasks directly, rather than sending a spreadsheet to the headquarters at the end of each week to advise management of each individual’s activity. At headquarters, management no longer will need to spend hours rolling up data from the company’s eight regions into an aggregate snapshot. With a dashboard, all the data will be available in real time, with activity indicated by individual and service line.
•	Better data accuracy. Microsoft Dynamics CRM aggregates and offers up all customer and prospect data automatically, doing away with the need for multiple people to send data to headquarters or to recompile that data into reports. In addition, the originators and users of the data — the members of the sales force — are the ones who will be entering it, further improving its accuracy. Data will be much timelier with the integrated Microsoft Dynamics CRM technology than with the previous system, and management will have visibility into the system.
•	Improvement in revenue. The company will use Microsoft Dynamics CRM to provide new cross-selling opportunities. For instance, the salesperson for a major retailer whose deposits are transported by Dunbar Armored can be linked with salespeople for a major bank where Dunbar provides cash vault services, bringing those relationships together and providing multiple revenue streams.
•	Support for growth. By bringing together information from multiple offices, Microsoft Dynamics CRM will serve as a tool to help Dunbar determine where it should open new offices to serve a growing account base.
•	Integration throughout the company. The company’s marketing team will be tied into the Microsoft Dynamics CRM database so that it can create e-mail campaigns for sales staff and mine the data for marketing information. For the first time, the client services team will be able to place its notes regarding resolution of issues directly on the same system with other customer information that is accessible to the field sales team.
•	IT support and management. By automating reports and automatically moving information to the customer database when prospects turn into wins, Microsoft Dynamics saves time for the IT team. Further, with data feeding directly into CRM initially, the IT staff will avoid the considerable time devoted to a steep learning curve for users, troubleshooting and managing errors.

“We believe Microsoft Dynamics CRM can make a sales force far more efficient than less-integrated systems do,” said Michael Park, corporate vice president for Microsoft’s U.S. Dynamics business. “By effectively automating the sales and customer relationship processes, Microsoft Dynamics CRM can expose new opportunities for cross-selling, customer-service improvements and marketing that may not have been apparent with stand-alone or manual systems.”

About Dunbar

The Dunbar Companies, America’s largest independent, 100% American-owned, full-service security organization is composed of six operating companies, including Dunbar Armored — America’s largest independent armored transportation carrier serving major retailers, financial institutions and government entities nationwide; Dunbar Cash Vault Services — state-of-the-art money rooms providing a complete line of cash management services to major banks and retailers; Dunbar Global Logistics — providing secure transportation solutions for the movement of vulnerable cargo worldwide; Dunbar BankPak — designer and distributor of the world’s finest security containers; Dunbar Guard Services — supplier of professionally trained, uniformed guards and Dunbar Security Systems — designer and installer of electronic alarm and 24-hour monitoring systems supported by a UL^®-approved central station.

About Ascentium

Ascentium is ranked 27th largest digital agency in the nation according to Advertising Age’s Top 50 Digital Agencies annual list. The award-winning company is focused on customer loyalty and branding through integrated creative and technical solutions. Headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, Ascentium has offices across the U.S. and in the U.K. Clients include Amazon, AT&T, Boeing, Dell, Expedia, InfoSpace, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Nintendo and Providence Health Systems. For more information, please visit www.ascentium.com.

About Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics is a line of financial, customer relationship and supply chain management solutions that helps businesses work more effectively. Delivered through a network of channel partners providing specialized services, these integrated, adaptable business management solutions work like and with familiar Microsoft software to streamline processes across an entire business.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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June 26, 2008 · Filed Under Microsoft

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Microsoft Rolls Out Red Carpet for PC Gaming’s Brightest Stars

Spotlight shines on all-star lineup of titles and exciting new hardware at Games for Windows Presents: The Big Picture showcase event.

SAN FRANCISCO — June 25, 2008 — Windows gaming takes center stage, as today Microsoft Corp. hosts the Games for Windows Presents: The Big Picture showcase event, highlighting some of the most eagerly anticipated Microsoft Games for Windows titles of 2008, while also announcing exciting new additions to the portfolio. Attendees will get hands-on experience with new games in a variety of genres, including debut gameplay of “Call of Duty^®: World at War,” while some of the biggest names in the business will display new hardware that truly pushes the boundaries of gaming technology.

“The big picture of the PC gaming market is unparalleled growth,” said Kevin Unangst, senior global director of Windows gaming in the Entertainment and Devices division at Microsoft. “By all accounts, Windows continues to lead the gaming industry worldwide in both users and total revenue, and DFC Intelligence expects the PC gaming market to grow by a staggering 73 percent from 2007 to 2013. Compelling online experiences, industry-leading graphics, high-quality games and innovative hardware are driving that growth, and we’re proud to partner with other leaders and showcase the best of Windows gaming at this event.”

Prestigious Cast of Titles

Microsoft raised the curtain on its Games for Windows lineup, displaying eight games from some of the top publishers in the industry, including 2K Games, Activision Inc., Capcom Entertainment Inc., Codemasters Software Co. Ltd., SEGA, Sierra Entertainment and THQ Inc. From action-packed shooters to fun and family-friendly games based on this summer’s hottest films, the Games for Windows brand has all the best titles for young and old, hard-core and casual gamers:

•	“Bionic Commando” (Capcom). The first true sequel to the classic 1988 Nintendo Entertainment System original, “Bionic Commando” sees the return of the bionically enhanced Nathan “Rad” Spencer, voiced by Mike Patton, the former lead singer of Faith No More. “Bionic Commando” transposes the swing-and-shoot gameplay of the 8-bit original to a stunning 3-D environment of towering buildings, suspended roadways and monorails, deep canyons, and sheer rock faces, where every environment is scalable using swinging, scaling, climbing and wall-walking techniques.
•	“Call of Duty: World at War” (Activision). “Call of Duty: World at War” re-defines the World War II experience, pitting players against enemies in the Pacific and European theaters who know no surrender and will unleash surprising new tactics in a fight to the death. Gamers can harness four-player co-op gameplay to coordinate assault strategies with their teammates like never before.
•	“Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Colonization™” (2K Games). In “Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Colonization,” players lead one of four European nations on a quest to conquer and rule the New World. Players will be challenged to guide their people from the oppressive motherland, discover the New World, and negotiate, trade and fight with both the natives and other nations as they acquire power and fight for freedom and independence. As a complete reimagining of the 1994 classic, “Colonization” is a total conversion of “Civilization IV^®” that combines the latter’s addictive “just one more turn” gameplay with all-new graphics and features that add more depth to the franchise. (“Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Colonization” does not require the original “Civilization IV” product in order to be played.)
•	“Devil May Cry 4” (Capcom). “Devil May Cry 4” is the next installment in the hugely successful stylized action series, immersing gamers in a gothic supernatural world, where a new protagonist clashes with a familiar hero. As the new leading man, Nero, players will unleash incredible attacks and nonstop combos using a unique new gameplay mechanic, his powerful “Devil Bringer” arm.
•	“Ghostbusters™: The Video Game” (Sierra Entertainment). Who you gonna call? The Ghostbusters are back in “Ghostbusters: The Video Game.” With Manhattan newly overrun by ghosts and other supernatural creatures, gamers take on the role of a new recruit joining the famous Ghostbusters team. Equipped with a variety of unique weapons and gadgets, players will hunt, fight and capture a wide range of uncanny phantasms in an all-new funny and frightening battle to save New York City from its latest paranormal plague.
•	“Kung Fu Panda™” (Activision). Players embark on an epic, action-packed adventure as they master the specialized kung fu fighting styles of Po the Panda. They must work their way to become the Dragon Warrior and defeat the ultimate enemy, Tai Lung, as they battle a variety of foes, overcome dangerous obstacles, navigate multi-tiered environments and solve challenging puzzles.
•	“Space Siege” (SEGA). After a massive alien attack on Earth, the last survivors flee aboard a massive colony ship. As Seth Walker, players will fight the alien scourge by augmenting their bodies with cybernetic upgrades, enabling them to perform superhuman feats. But with each cybernetic improvement they can never return to being fully human.
•	“WALL·E” (THQ). Players will take control of WALL·E and EVE through a fast-paced adventure based on the upcoming Disney Pixar film. The game will allow fans to relive some of the movie’s most thrilling moments as they explore 10 worlds filled with nonstop action and adventure, along with head-to-head multiplayer challenges. Players will recognize the storyline, characters and key locations from the “WALL·E” film as they carry out intense missions, dodge dangerous enemies and navigate their way through a futuristic world. In addition, the game will contain new storylines and environments that moviegoers will not see in theaters.

Microsoft also announced 16 all-new additions to the Games for Windows portfolio, including “Crysis Warhead,” the highly anticipated follow-up to Crytek’s runaway hit, “Crysis.” Games for Windows now heralds more than 85 branded titles from nearly every major publisher, which together with Microsoft continue to raise the bar for quality and entertainment in PC gaming:

•	“Battlestations: Midway” (Eidos)
•	“Battlestations: Pacific” (Eidos)
•	“Borderlands” (2K Games)
•	“Call of Duty: World at War” (Activision)
•	“Crysis Warhead” (Crytek/EA Partners)
•	“Dawn of War 2” (THQ)
•	“Devil May Cry 4” (Capcom)
•	“Ghostbusters: The Video Game” (Sierra Entertainment)
•	“Quantum of Solace” (Activision)
•	“LEGO Batman: The Videogame” (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
•	“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa™ Video Game” (Activision)
•	“Mafia® II” (2K Games)
•	“Project Origin” (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
•	“Red Faction: Guerilla” (THQ)
•	“Saints Row 2” (THQ)
•	“Zoo Tycoon 2: Ultimate Collection” (Microsoft Game Studios)

The Center of Innovation

Not to be outdone by the exciting portfolio announcements, some of the industry’s biggest hardware players will be on hand with cutting-edge new products.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) will demonstrate its latest gaming innovations for Windows. AMD will show off its new ATI Radeon™ HD 4800 Series graphics card accompanied by the AMD Phenom™ X4 processor and AMD 7-Series Chipset, optimized to provide PC users with an exceptional gaming experience as part of the AMD GAME! platform.

Meanwhile, NVIDIA Corp. will show a variety of physics demos and games running on the latest graphics hardware, including the GeForce GTX 280 desktop graphics processing unit (GPU) and new GeForce 9M notebook GPU, reinforcing the PC’s position at the center of innovation in gaming.

The Most Popular Gaming Platform in the World

The new Games for Windows portfolio announcements come hot on the heels of the most successful PC gaming launch of 2008, as the Games for Windows-branded title “Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures” shipped an astounding 1 million units worldwide in its first three weeks on the market, according to Funcom. This achievement marks one of the biggest debuts in Games for Windows history, and the most successful massively multiplayer online (MMO) game launch since “World of Warcraft.”

“We’re incredibly proud to have made history with Microsoft Games for Windows,” said Jørgen Tharaldsen, Funcom’s product director for “Age of Conan.” “The success of ‘Age of Conan’ reminds us once again that the Windows-based PC is truly the world’s gaming platform and the driving force in online gaming.”

Sales figures for “Age of Conan” come as no surprise to those who follow the industry. With Yankee Group Research Inc. expecting online PC gaming revenue in North America to reach $3.89 billion by 2012, the big picture continues to look bright.

About Games for Windows

Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system in the world for games, delivering the widest range of titles, the most gaming hardware choices, and advanced gaming technology for players of all types. With Windows as the cornerstone, the Games for Windows platform offers publishers and gamers the most enjoyable and innovative gaming experiences available on a PC. More information can be found online at http://www.gamesforwindows.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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June 26, 2008 · Filed Under Microsoft

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Microsoft Announces Appointment of Michael Delman as Corporate VP marketing

Delman to oversee worldwide marketing strategies for Xbox, Games for Windows and Microsoft Game Studios

REDMOND, Wash. — June 24, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that marketing veteran Michael Delman has been named corporate vice president of global marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business (IEB) in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. Delman, who currently serves as the corporate vice president of the Global Marketing Communications Group at Microsoft, will be assuming his role with IEB starting in August.

Reporting to Don Mattrick, senior vice president of IEB, Delman will be responsible for the global marketing strategies for the Xbox and Games for Windows businesses. He will drive initiatives to market Microsoft Game Studios games, grow the Xbox and Games for Windows platforms and brands, lead global marketing for Xbox LIVE, and manage customer insights and relationships. Delman will partner with subsidiary organizations to develop world-class global marketing strategies, in addition to working with internal and external groups to advance strategic global brand partnerships.

“I couldn’t imagine a more exciting time to be joining the IEB team — we’re on the cusp of revolutionizing the gaming industry, and changing how people interact with their television and connect with others,” Delman said. “I look forward to applying my experience in global marketing to extend the reach of our products and propel the business into the next phase of growth.”

In his two decades as a global marketer, Delman has worked across various business sectors and regions. Delman most recently managed worldwide advertising, relationship marketing and events for the majority of Microsoft’s business groups, which included running Microsoft’s $1 billion global agency relationships with McCann Worldgroup and Young & Rubicam Brands. Delman also served as director of marketing for Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), where he was responsible for pan-European distribution strategy, pricing, licensing, market research and public relations. Before his position in EMEA, Delman served as general manager of the MSN Internet access business, managing product support, network operations and all international markets. Before joining Microsoft, Delman was a vice president at Ogilvy & Mather in addition to managing the Toshiba computer and corporate image accounts at NW Ayer and the First Interstate Bank business.

“Michael’s global experience and work in Europe is a strategic asset as the Interactive Entertainment Business gears up for the next wave of growth and audience expansion,” Mattrick said. “We welcome him to the team and look forward to utilizing his expertise to take our brand to new heights.”

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a superior video game and entertainment system delivering the best games, unique entertainment features and a unified online gaming network that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 has a portfolio of nearly 400 games in 37 countries. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.

About Xbox LIVE

Xbox LIVE is the first and most comprehensive unified online entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire console experience, making it easy for people to find the friends, games and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360 system. Xbox LIVE connects more than 12 million members across 37 countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox LIVE Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, TV shows and movies in the United States as well as new game levels, characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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June 26, 2008 · Filed Under Microsoft

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Winner of $100,000 Microsoft Office Live Workspace Sweepstakes Selected

David Austin, graduate student, wins grand prize for using Office Live Workspace.

REDMOND, Wash. — June 23, 2008 — The Microsoft Office Live Workspace team presented David Austin with his $100,000 grand prize today, as part of the Office Live Workspace sweepstakes that kicked off when the service launched on March 3, 2008. Participants entered for a chance to win by signing up for their own Workspace, and earned up to two bonus entries for uploading their first document to their

David Austin uses Microsoft Office Live Workspace to keep his important classroom documents in one highly secure place. Seattle, June 23, 2008

Click for high-res version.

Austin, a Seattle-based graduate student in the Library and Information Science program at the University of Washington (UW), was introduced to Office Live Workspace during one of his courses at UW, where he was studying various collaborative solutions such as Office Live Workspace.

The access to documents from virtually anywhere that Office Live Workspace provided was an attractive feature for Austin.

“I was drawn to the portability and access to my documents, even when I didn’t have my laptop with me, so I signed up for it as soon as I heard about it,” Austin said. “I currently use Office Live Workspace to keep my work schedule and school papers — both Word and Excel files — in one safe place. I plan to use this service even more in my grad program next year as I work on projects that will require me to share and collaborate on Microsoft Office documents with others.”

University of Washington Professor and His Students Collaborate Using Workspace

In another classroom at the University of Washington, Michael Eisenberg, professor of informatics, invited approximately 35 students in his INFO 300 class to use Office Live Workspace for a series of collaborative group projects and labs. The students worked together on assignments and presentations within their Workspaces and could share them with each other or Eisenberg via their individual or group Workspaces for feedback. The students and Eisenberg also collaborated on classwide documents such as a compilation of definitions and explanations of key emerging technologies.

“Office Live Workspace allows for highly secure access of documents and collaboration among my students, and between my students and me,” Eisenberg said. “The collaborative properties of Workspace are beneficial in that my students are working more efficiently — there’s no flooding of e-mail inboxes with multiple drafts of a common document, and when working on a project together they’re able to see other classmates’ changes to documents in real time.”

Eisenberg said this Live service also offers him some peace of mind: “My curriculum materials are in one very secure place — my Workspace,” Eisenberg said. “I’m confident that my syllabus won’t disappear or my draft of an exam isn’t on a USB drive somewhere. My students have shared similar feedback. To me, Office Live Workspace brings to life the key benefits of online cloud computing — anywhere access, collaboration and information security.”

How Will He Spend the Grand Prize?

David Austin, a graduate student at the University of Washington, is the Microsoft Office Live Workspace sweepstakes grand prize winner. David plans to use the $100,000 to fund his graduate education. Seattle, June 23, 2008

Click for high-res version.

Austin was selected randomly from a pool of hundreds of thousands of entries. Once the shock wears off, he plans to use the $100,000 toward funding his graduate education, and may put money toward a down payment on a house in the future.

In total, an assortment of more than 30,000 daily and weekly prizes were given away as part of the sweepstakes, including Xbox 360 Elite video game systems, Samsung Blackjack II Smartphone devices, 30GB Zune digital media players, Expedia hotel and package coupons, and Microsoft Office Professional 2007.

Office Live Workspace is available at http://www.workspace.officelive.com. People can contribute to the Office Live Workspace forum and provide feedback at http://www.officeliveworkspacecommunity.com.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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June 26, 2008 · Filed Under Microsoft

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