Editor’s note – Nov. 9, 2012 – This press release was updated to correct the number of students and locations involved.

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 9, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today kicked off WOWZAPP 2012: Worldwide Hackathon for Windows, the first simultaneous global hackathon for students, startups and professional developers in the company’s history. Following the recent Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 launches, more than 100 locations across five continents will hold weekend-long hackathons for students and other participants to create apps for the Windows ecosystem.

Participants in the United States, India, Finland, Pakistan, Greece, Malaysia, Turkey, Brazil and many other countries will work together for 48 hours, creating Windows Store apps for consumers to enjoy, building off the momentum of the release of Windows 8, which saw sales of more than 4 million upgrades in the three days following its launch on Oct. 26.

U.S. locations include Austin, Texas; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Redmond, Wash.; and more than 20 others. A complete list of participating locations is posted at http://www.WOWZAPP2012.com.

“With more than 16,000 students registered to participate, WOWZAPP 2012 will be the largest simultaneous hackathon of student developers ever, acting as a catalyst to bring a wealth of new, exciting and quality apps to the Windows Store,” said Moorthy Uppaluri, general manager of Worldwide Academic Programs at Microsoft. “Microsoft is committed to empowering students with the tools and resources they need to showcase their creativity and make money through app development.”

With the global youth unemployment rate at 12.7 percent* — double the overall unemployment rate — students are seeking new ways to build their skills and start their careers. Microsoft offers students a variety of programs to help them learn new app development skills and differentiate themselves in a competitive job market. WOWZAPP 2012 is a chance for students to explore a different professional path, and is just one way that Microsoft is equipping students with free tools and resources to build apps.

Microsoft will provide students at each hackathon location with free software to create apps, such as Visual Studio Express for Windows 8, and with free Windows Store registration codes through Microsoft DreamSpark. Developer experts and trainers will be available around the clock to answer questions, and Microsoft executives such as Uppaluri and Drew Robbins, director, Technical Evangelism, will be on hand at many locations to discuss what it takes to build great apps for the Windows ecosystem.

Den Delimarsky, a student at Wichita State University in the United States, is one of three developers who created the official Microsoft WOWZAPP 2012 app, which is currently available on the Windows Store. Besides keeping up with his schoolwork, Delimarsky is a Microsoft Student Partner and is also in the middle of building two additional Windows Store apps. He said, “The Windows Store provides a great opportunity for both professional and student developers worldwide. WOWZAPP 2012 is a part of that opportunity, and I am excited to see what new applications will be added as a result of this event to the Windows 8 ecosystem.”

Students can also choose to enter the apps they create in Microsoft’s annual technology competition, Imagine Cup, where they will be eligible to compete for a total of $300,000 in prize money.

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

*Source: International Labour Organization, “Global Employment Outlook: Bleak Labour Market Prospects for Youth,” September 2012

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

LONDON and PALO ALTO, Calif. — Nov. 8, 2012 — Skype today launched to the public Skype in the workspace (SITW), a new online platform for small businesses to instantly connect with potential customers, partners and suppliers across the globe.

The free-to-use tool makes use of the huge network already offered by Skype, allowing millions of small businesses to promote their products and services to new networks and connections. Users can improve existing connections and establish new ones by instantly sending messages and talking to or meeting face-to-face with peers and business prospects over Skype.

The SITW community is already active because today’s launch comes at the end of a six-month beta trial, which enabled 500 businesses, offering more than 140 different services, to sign up, try out and test the platform.

“With more than 280 million connected users each month, Skype offers a huge range of contacts for the small-business community,” said Ural Cebeci, head of SMB Marketing at Skype. “We aim to connect millions of small businesses with Skype in the workspace and believe that, by taking advantage of this shared network, businesses can develop the range of tools they need to grow, regardless of location or industry. From the designer in San Francisco looking to source textile suppliers in Thailand to the London consultant connecting with clients in Milan, the possibilities are endless.”

SITW will provide a central hub for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses to connect with experts, coaches and consultants who can help them develop their businesses. Users join the community using their existing Skype accounts, then through a series of promotional tools can create public “offers” or “opportunities” inviting community members to live sessions on Skype to demonstrate services or products to a wider audience. Users can also book appointments with potential customers or suppliers and keep track of them with a meeting notification service. When an opportunity is over, users can instantly give testimonials on the product or service offered.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy,” Cebeci said. “For these businesses to survive and grow in what is still a tough economic climate, we understand that good communication and connections are key to their success.

“This is why today we are opening the Skype in the workspace platform to the public,” Cebeci said. “We feel we’re helping connect businesses face-to-face with their customers and prospects, no matter where they are located. It opens up a world of opportunity for them.”

Alison Coward, an avid user of Skype and owner of the London creative collaboration agency Bracket, said, “Skype in the workspace is a real breakthrough. It’s the perfect platform for me to promote my business and connect with the people who can help it to grow. My business is about getting in front of people and helping them to solve their problems. With Skype in the workspace, I am visible to quality leads without even leaving the office. With no travel time to contend with, it’s also now far more feasible for me to grow my business outside the U.K. into Europe and the U.S.”

Jorge Parra, an avid user of Skype and owner of Florida-based Jorge Parra photography, said, “There’s a big difference between a professional network and a social network, and Skype in the workspace seems to understand this distinction. It is the perfect companion to my existing online presence and generates connections that will actually bring me business.”

Cindy Bidar, owner of All Quality Websites, a U.S. startup providing expert advice on how to design, build and maintain an online presence, added, “Skype in the workspace has offered something other online platforms couldn’t — a community of business-focused individuals who can explore my services and interact with me in real time.”

SITW is available to all Skype users starting today. Those wanting to sign up for the community can register their details here.

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

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 7, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. announced today that it signed patent licensing agreements for the use of the latest Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) with five companies, spanning industries including high-end camcorders, digital cameras and Android tablets.

The agreements cover Sharp Android tablets, Sigma and NextoDi high-end cameras and accessories, and Black Magic and Atomos Global broadcast-quality video-recording devices.

exFAT is a modern file system that facilitates large files for audiovisual media and enables seamless data portability for an easy interchange of files between electronic devices. exFAT vastly improves on its predecessor, the FAT file system, and expands the size of files that flash memory devices can handle by more than five times. It also greatly increases the speed with which those files can be accessed.

“Today’s agreements demonstrate the continued success of our licensing program and highlight the adoption of exFAT across multiple industries and many product offerings,” said David Kaefer, general manager of Intellectual Property (IP) Licensing at Microsoft. “The unique capabilities of exFAT allow licensees to tailor their products to evolving markets while also meeting the changing needs of their customers.”

Microsoft’s Commitment to Intellectual Property Collaboration

Microsoft offers flexible IP licensing programs that give companies access to many of the foundational technologies in its own products, allowing those companies to build devices, applications and services that work seamlessly with one another.

Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 1,100 licensing agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners and competitors to access its IP portfolio. The program was developed to open access to Microsoft’s significant R&D investments and its growing, broad patent and IP portfolio.

Microsoft has entered into similar exFAT patent licensing agreements with several leading consumer electronics manufacturers, including Panasonic Corp., Sony Corp. and Canon Inc., through its IP licensing program.

More information on Microsoft’s IP licensing program is available at http://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing, and information specifically related to Microsoft’s exFAT licensing program is available here.

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

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 6, 2012 — The Master Chief is back. Poised to become the biggest entertainment launch of the year so far, “Halo 4” is the first chapter of a brand-new saga in the genre-defining, US$3 billion franchise that has shaped entertainment history and sold a staggering 46 million games worldwide. Hailed by NBC News as “breathtaking, heart-breaking and awe-inspiring,”[1] “Halo 4” has garnered universal acclaim as one of the top-rated video games of 2012, according to Metacritic.[2] In a year jam-packed with record-breaking Hollywood movies and games, “Halo 4” is expected to break all previous day-one entertainment sales records in 2012, cementing its status as the must-have blockbuster of the year.

Excitement for the return of the Master Chief has swept the globe. In London, a massive illuminated glyph soared over the River Thames, a symbol of the new threat that has awakened in “Halo 4.” The glyph, which measures 50 feet in diameter and weighs 3.2 tons, was illuminated by 113,096 LED lights and represents one of the largest objects ever to be flown by helicopter as a lighting art performance. On Oct. 30, the European country of Liechtenstein was reimagined into a real-life replica of the “Halo” universe, marking the first time a brand has taken over an entire country for an entertainment launch. For one day only, Xbox 360 transformed some of the country’s most iconic landmarks, including a 13th-century castle and a working mine, to create a mysterious alternate universe in the heart of Europe — all inspired by “Halo.”

Around the world, midnight madness swept more than 10,000 stores in more than 40 countries, as hundreds of thousands of fans lined up around city blocks to count down to the game’s release. At marquee launch events in Seattle, Paris, London, Berlin, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Sydney and other major cities, throngs of fans, celebrities and athletes flocked to be among the first to play “Halo 4” and participate in other launch activities, such as meeting the creators of the game, viewing private screenings of the live-action digital series “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn,” and taking photos with the Master Chief.

“‘Halo 4’ marks a rebirth and a new beginning for one of the most beloved and iconic franchises in the modern history of entertainment,” said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Studios. “Over the past decade, the ‘Halo’ franchise has become a bona fide pop culture phenomenon, and ‘Halo 4’ promises to take the franchise to a new level and set the stage for the next decade of ‘Halo.’”

Master Chief Joins Fans by Tower Bridge in London November 05, 2012 The Master Chief joins fans by Tower Bridge in London on Nov. 5, 2012 for the spectacular flight of the “Halo 4” Glyph to celebrate the blockbuster video game’s launch on Xbox 360.

Downloads: Web

With the launch of “Halo 4” coinciding with Election Day, Microsoft Corp. is amplifying its get-out-the-vote campaign, which kicked off earlier this year in collaboration with Rock the Vote, to encourage “Halo” and Xbox LIVE fans to exercise their civic duty before jumping into “Halo 4.” The campaign began with voter recruitment efforts at major consumer events as well as a voter registration program on Xbox LIVE and expanded to major launch events and more than 100 college campuses nationwide yesterday.

Developed by Microsoft Studios’ 343 Industries exclusively for the Xbox 360, “Halo 4” is set nearly five years after the events of “Halo 3” and follows the Master Chief and his faithful artificial intelligence (AI) companion Cortana as they venture into a mysterious new world and discover an overpowering ancient evil that threatens to annihilate mankind. “Halo 4” takes the series in a bold new direction by delivering its most epic and explorative campaign yet, alongside a groundbreaking multiplayer offering unlike anything before it, known as Spartan Ops. This story-driven, episodic, cooperative adventure blends immersive storytelling, stunning cinematics and action-packed gameplay to deliver an unprecedented serialized experience. Through a weekly series of cinematic episodes, Spartan Ops continues the story beyond the main campaign by introducing new characters, storylines and gameplay missions over a 10-week season, akin to a high-quality, interactive TV show.[3]

Coupled with breathtaking visuals, heart-pounding audio, emotionally cinematic performances and a sweeping musical score by acclaimed composer Neil Davidge of Massive Attack fame, “Halo 4” delivers a riveting experience that resonates as powerfully as an epic Hollywood blockbuster. Some of entertainment’s best and brightest have joined the effort to make the launch of “Halo 4” a landmark pop culture moment, including legendary Hollywood director David Fincher (“Fight Club,” “The Social Network,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”) and acclaimed visual effects lead Tim Miller (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”), who produced and directed the live-action launch trailer for the game, respectively.

Xbox 360 Takes Over London’s Skies to Launch 'Halo 4' November 05, 2012 At Tower Bridge on Nov. 5, 2012 in London, fans and spectators were treated to a spectacular aerial lighting performance. The “Halo 4” Glyph symbol is one of the largest and brightest man-made structures to ever fly over a capital city. It measures 50 feet in diameter and weighs over three tons.

Downloads: Web

The Standard Edition of “Halo 4” is available for US$59.99 ERP[4], and the Limited Edition, which includes an extended 90-minute version of the live-action digital series “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” and additional bonus content, is available for US$99.99 ERP. Fans can also pick up the Xbox 360 Limited Edition “Halo 4” Console Bundle for US$399.99 ERP and a standalone Xbox 360 Limited Edition “Halo 4” Wireless Controller for US$59.99 ERP. In addition, the “Halo 4” Original Soundtrack, which broke the record for the highest-charting video game soundtrack ever on the Billboard 200 chart the week of Oct. 29[5], is available for purchase for US$13.98 ERP. A special limited edition and individually numbered three-disc box set, which includes the original soundtrack, a remix album featuring remixes from 14 of the world’s most renowned electronica producers, a 70-minute DVD called “Composing a Universe” and additional exclusive content, is available for purchase for US$74.99 ERP starting today at http://www.halo4soundtrack.com.

About “Halo”

The “Halo” franchise is an award-winning collection of properties that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon. Beginning with the original “Halo: Combat Evolved” (2001), the critically acclaimed and record-shattering series of games has since inspired multiple New York Times bestselling novels, comic books, action figures, apparel and more. Published by Microsoft Studios, the “Halo” franchise of games is exclusive to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the Xbox LIVE online entertainment network. To date, more than 46 million copies of “Halo” games have been sold worldwide, driving more than 5 billion hours of gameplay by people connected to Xbox LIVE.

About 343 Industries

343 Industries is the publisher and developer of the blockbuster “Halo” series of videogames and, as part of Microsoft Studios, oversees the “Halo” franchise, including novels, comics, licensed collectibles, apparel and more. 343 Industries is home to world-class developers working on the Reclaimer Saga, which commences with the arrival of “Halo 4” on Nov. 6, 2012, exclusively on Xbox 360.

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a premier home entertainment and video game system. Thanks to the addition of Kinect, Xbox 360 will forever transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play — no controller required. Xbox 360 is also home to the best and broadest games as well as one of the world’s largest on-demand libraries of music, standard- and high-definition movies, TV shows and digital games, all in one place. The entertainment center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with a leading social entertainment network of more than 40 million Xbox LIVE members to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. More information about Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.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.

[1] Source: NBC News: “Halo 4” makes the Halo series even more epic

[2] As of Nov. 1, 2012. Source: http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/halo-4/critic-reviews

[3] Spartan Ops also requires Xbox LIVE Gold Membership and an Xbox 360 hard drive or an 8GB USB drive (sold separately).

[4] Estimated retail price. Actual retail prices may vary.

[5] Source: Billboard: Chart Moves: “Halo 4” Sets Record as Highest-Charting Video Game Soundtrack Ever

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 5, 2012 — Major global brands, including Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., Rooms To Go Inc., Bank of America Corp. and PCL Constructors Inc., are among the early adopters deploying Windows 8-based apps to address their business needs and engage consumers in new ways.

From offering partners sneak peeks at TV shows and movies, to staying in lockstep with consumers at retail, to helping keep workers safe by preventing construction site incidents, these companies are discovering how Windows 8 apps can improve the way they do business.

“It’s so great to see a number of the world’s most well-known companies choosing Windows 8 to advance their businesses,” said Erwin Visser, senior director of Windows Commercial Marketing at Microsoft. “Windows 8 opens new doors for businesses to improve the way they collaborate and share information, enhance customer experiences, uncover new business opportunities, and much more.”

Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution

Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, a division of Twentieth Century Fox responsible for the global distribution of its library of television series and feature films, has developed a Windows 8 app for its industry-leading customer site, FoxFast.com. FoxFast.com was created to give broadcast partners 24/7 access to screen the vast library of programs, as well as to easily access all the marketing materials needed to create and support launches.

With an increasingly mobile business landscape and the division’s transition to a fully digital distribution model, the studio needed a simple method for broadcasters to securely screen its products and download their marketing assets on-the-go. Creating the Windows 8 app was the next natural evolution for FoxFast.com — a touch-first app that scales to work on a variety of devices — making the site's offerings accessible anytime, anywhere around the world. Like FoxFast.com, the new app provides customers with an authenticated user experience to securely screen content and manage marketing assets. The FoxFast app is now available in the Windows Store for download.

Johnson & Johnson Services Inc.

Johnson & Johnson has developed a new Windows 8 app called the Digital Health Scorecard. Available in the Windows Store, the app provides consumers with a simple way to understand the state of their health and what they can do to lessen their long-term risk for developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. According to the World Health Organization, these common conditions account for three out of every five deaths around the globe. The insight gained from the Digital Health Scorecard can help engage and motivate people to make small changes that can lead to healthier, happier lives.

The Digital Health Scorecard has been designed to be fast and easy to use. The app can and should be reused on a regular basis so that people can understand their progress over time. Johnson & Johnson has led the effort to develop the science behind calculating the score and will update it over time as new data becomes available.

Rooms To Go

Rooms To Go, a furniture retailer, has developed a Windows 8 line-of-business app that provides an intuitive, touch-enabled point-of-sale experience for customers, taking advantage of continuous connectivity. The app consists of a suite of mini-apps that allow the sales associates to stage the sales process and transaction in-store without leaving the customer’s side. Customers can also seamlessly browse the full line of available inventory through the app and conceptualize different room settings. This allows for a cost-effective solution for all sales associates across 175 stores.

Bank of America

Bank of America has developed the Bank of America Mobile Banking app for Windows 8 that gives customers a digital experience that is optimized for the Windows 8 user interface and takes advantage of features such as Live Tiles.

Customers have the convenience and accessibility of checking balances, paying bills, making transfers, locating ATMs and banking centers, making deposits, receiving alerts, and redeeming BankAmeriDeals offers from tablets, laptops and desktops.

PCL Construction

PCL Construction, a major construction company in North America and Australia, relies on technology to enable the business. PCL considered Windows 8 a promising new platform for improving the capabilities available to its employees, with a particular focus on field staff, executives and frequent travelers. The company developed a Windows 8 line-of-business app called the Safety Management Center that allows its field staff to record observations while on the construction site and simultaneously fill out inspection forms remotely — helping employees address potential incidents on the job site before they occur. More importantly, Safety Management Center is helping PCL deliver on its ongoing goal of zero safety incidents.

Read more about Windows 8 enterprise customers developing apps on the Windows for your Business blog. More information about how organizations are turning to Microsoft technology is available on the Microsoft Customer Spotlight newsroom.

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

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 1, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that its next service update for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online will be released in December 2012. This new service update comes on the heels of continued success that the Microsoft Dynamics CRM business is experiencing in the market, as it completes its 33rd consecutive quarter* of double-digit revenue growth and closes the gap on its 3 millionth seat.

Delivering on the Microsoft Dynamics commitment to rapidly innovate, and help businesses attract, win and retain customers through solutions that delight users and proactively help them do business, the next service update will reimagine the way sales, customer service and marketing professionals work with CRM. Moving away from the traditional data-centric approach, this service update will add new experiences that simply and visually guide users through their business processes. New application capabilities in this service update also include pre-defined best-practice sales and service business process definitions, which are highly configurable and will accelerate time-to-value for organizations; deeper connection to Yammer and Skype; embedded Bing maps; Microsoft Office 2013 compatibility; and cross-browser support enabling new levels of communications and collaboration for customers.

“This release, the first in a planned set of rapid innovation, puts us in a position to redefine user experiences for business professionals,” said Bob Stutz, corporate vice president, Microsoft Dynamics CRM. “We’ve reimagined the business process and infused new communication and collaboration capabilities powered by Skype and Yammer. We continue to help sales and customer service professionals drive new levels of productivity on the browser of their choice, and across a wide range of devices.”

Enriched Business Process Definitions and Reimagined User Experiences

Microsoft is reinventing the way people work with Microsoft Dynamics CRM — whether they are on the road, at home or in the office. The service update will introduce new role-specific user experiences that guide sales and service professionals through pre-defined lead, opportunity and case management processes. The new user experiences will offer customers guidance and suggestions that can easily be tailored to a person’s specific role to drive maximum productivity. The service update will also add new business process definitions to track and manage leads, opportunities, contacts and accounts, making it simpler for people to understand their customer, and be able to better connect and collaborate with each other.

In addition, prospect and customer addresses will be displayed on embedded Bing maps as part of the new user experiences. Microsoft also remains committed to driving productivity for users of Microsoft Outlook and will provide support for customers who invest in the upcoming Microsoft Office 2013 release.

New Enterprise Social Collaboration and Communication Strength

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is delivering next-generation business collaboration and communication, with solutions powered by Yammer and Skype. Using Yammer, Microsoft Dynamics CRM users can collaborate with colleagues inside their organization or with customers, partners and other stakeholders. Yammer fosters simpler information sharing around customers, business processes and key business documents — all through social networking capabilities. Yammer marks a significant step forward in providing customers with the ability to project CRM information, activities and insights across their organization.

Skype capabilities connected to Microsoft Dynamics CRM address an organization’s need for direct interactions with customers and partners to drive new levels of productivity. With Skype, users of Microsoft Dynamics CRM can now initiate voice and video communications directly from Microsoft Dynamics CRM, enabling businesses to open communication channels and connect with individuals inside or outside of their organization.

Expanding Browser and Device Strategy With Support for Windows 8 and Apple iOS

To deliver value to the broadest range of organizations, the December 2012 service update expands browser support to include Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome running on Windows-based PCs, and Firefox and Apple Safari running on Macintosh desktop computers. Safari support will also be provided for Apple iPad to deliver a rich experience for sales users, which enables them to manage their customers, accounts and opportunities on the go.

To help customers access Microsoft Dynamics CRM virtually anywhere, Microsoft previewed a Windows 8-based application, which will deliver a unique experience for managing sales processes by providing customers with seamless and intuitive access to key information. This new Windows 8 Mobile Experience is planned to be available in the mid-2013 timeframe.

New Extensibility Options and Expanded Support for Compliance Standards

Enabling customers with increased flexibility for their Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online deployment, the December 2012 service update will add new cloud extensibility options, including support for custom Microsoft .NET Workflow Services and new bulk data APIs that will make it easier for customers to load and modify large datasets.

Microsoft will continue its commitment to trustworthy computing with the addition of support for the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS 140-2).

Stepping Forward in the Marketing Automation Space

To help marketers meet industry demand to drive overall strategy and execution of customer interactions across multiple channels, and to measure ROI on those interactions, Microsoft also recently announced the acquisition of MarketingPilot. More information on the acquisition of MarketingPilot can be read in a blog post by Bob Stutz at http://bit.ly/TIGb9T.

Further Information

More definitive information on the new capabilities in the December 2012 service update is provided in the release preview guide, which can be downloaded at http://crm.dynamics.com/en-us/polaris. The Microsoft Dynamics CRM team can be followed on Twitter at @MSDynamicsCRM and by using the hashtag #MSDYNCRM.

About Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics solutions empower your people to be more productive and your systems to last longer and scale as your business grows, while enabling you to derive the insights necessary to respond quickly in an ever-changing world of 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.

* As of Q1 Microsoft fiscal year 2013.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

REDMOND, Wash., and ROCKVILLE, Md. — Oct. 31, 2012 — Lockheed Martin and Microsoft Corp. received a $9.8 million contract to migrate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Microsoft Office 365, a cloud-based collaboration and communication service. This transition will improve EPA employees’ access to communications and mobility tools and will offer the EPA significant cost savings by reducing the agency’s energy footprint. The new system is expected to save the agency approximately $12 million over the four-year contract period.

“EPA and Lockheed Martin have a long and productive relationship. I am excited to have them assist us in transforming the way our employees work and collaborate with one another,” said Malcolm Jackson, assistant administrator for the Environmental Information and chief information officer at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Under the terms of the contract, approximately 25,000 EPA employees will be transitioned to Office 365 for Government, a new multitenant service that stores U.S. government data in a segregated community cloud and includes email, calendars, scheduling and collaboration tools for internal and external use. Lockheed Martin will manage the migration and provide engineering and ongoing integration services. The primary email migration will be completed in early 2013.

“Lockheed Martin has supported the IT needs of the EPA for more than 35 years,” said Frank Armijo, vice president of Lockheed Martin Energy Solutions. “By providing cloud-based tools that facilitate collaboration, communication and cost savings across the agency, our team is dedicated to the EPA’s mission.”

Lockheed Martin has several cloud services such as the proven Solutions as a Service (SolaSTM) secure cloud delivery innovation, which combines domain expertise, proven processes and smart technology. The corporation began its investment in cloud solution development in early 2008, with its first cloud implementation in early 2009. Since then, Lockheed Martin has been on the front lines of the cloud evolution, developing innovation centers, flexible cloud computing solutions and alliances with partners to provide the most comprehensive solutions to customers.

“The EPA will continue to lead the pack on environmental stewardship, and moving an IT environment to the cloud is a natural part of that,” said Greg Myers, vice president of Microsoft Federal. “There is tremendous potential in the cloud, not only for transforming the way government employees work, but also for helping agencies meet their environmental and energy efficiency goals. Microsoft cloud services are backed by the latest innovations in datacenter design and energy efficiency, providing agencies with a unique opportunity to help reduce their energy consumption, generate cost savings, and reduce the environmental impact of their overall technology footprint.”

Microsoft delivers a variety of technologies that meet the unique needs of government agencies and their missions. These include private, public and government community cloud offerings, as well as on premises solutions and hybrid architectures. The EPA joins a growing list of government agencies that have chosen to embrace cloud computing with Microsoft, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the state of California, the Defense Information Systems Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which stands as the single largest U.S. government cloud deployment to date.

Lockheed Martin Energy Solutions provides comprehensive services to utility and commercial customers. The corporation has eight federal, state and local agencies, and is part of the top 10 largest utilities corporation’s Information Systems & Global Solutions-Civil business. IS&GS-Civil is responsible for a wide array of IT systems and technical services in the United States to run areas such as energy efficiency programs and provide smart grid, healthcare, transportation, information and cybersecurity solutions, citizen protection and space exploration.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 120,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation’s net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

For additional information, visit their website http://www.lockheedmartin.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.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 30, 2012 — As the U.S. approaches one of the most hotly contested political seasons in decades, Bing has launched a new election experience at bing.com/elections that is tailored for those who want a 360-degree view into Election 2012 — including the latest news from the right, left and center perspective, up-to-date polls across national, state and local races, analysis of social conversation across Facebook and Twitter, a tracker to find the nearest polling sites, and up-to-the-minute results on Election Day.

Nearly 75 percent of people identify themselves as active participants or observers in online political discussions, according to a recent Bing survey, but many are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information, news sources and sites out there. Bing Elections helps cut through the clutter and follows the pulse of the election easily, across both comprehensive news sources and social networks.

Powered by Bing search technology and combined with editorial excellence from MSN and political partnerships with Politico, Real Clear Politics, The Cook Political Report, Huffington Post and The Associated Press, bing.com/elections gives those interested in politics a new place to plug into what’s happening in Election 2012. With coverage, polls and predictions of every race and candidate down to the state and congressional level, as well an exclusive analysis each day from Politico and its candidate tracker, Bing Elections is constantly updated so you don’t miss a thing.

“We launched the Bing Election hub to address an unmet customer need — providing a single, comprehensive place to go for elections news, results, and highlights and analysis of what’s happening across Facebook and Twitter,” said Mike Nichols, corporate vice president, Bing. “Whether you’re doing research to inform your vote, want to stay in the know on the latest news and social media developments, or are looking for a great Web experience to complement your TV viewing, bing.com/elections is the place to go.”

Bing’s strategic partnerships with Facebook, Twitter and other social networks will allow visitors to not only follow trending topics but see frequently updated social sentiment scores to understand what’s being said online this election season.

In addition, voters uncertain of their polling places can use Bing Elections to find out where to go vote, as well as experience exclusive videos from Chelsea Clinton and Mary Ann Huntsman urging everyone to get off the couch and vote in this critical election.

What Does It Offer?

An easy-to-use, up-to-the-minute comprehensive resource for national and local news information and analysis:

• A dynamic, interactive map with national and local election results as they are reported.

• Easy access to national and local election information.

• Local voting information and key election issues.

The latest election coverage from across the Web, customized to your preferences:

• Real-time algorithmic news results sourced from key national, local, partisan and nonpartisan sources, including The Associated Press, Real Clear Politics and Huffington Post, among others.

• The ability to easily filter news results from left-leaning and right-leaning news sources.

A pulse on the social insights and trends from Facebook and Twitter:

• Bing is the only search engine with strategic partnerships with Twitter and Facebook to deliver unique social sentiment analysis across key election issues.

• 89 percent of people report their social media consumption relating to this year’s election as equal to or more than 2008, and the Bing Election hub helps them easily find and participate in trending conversations that matter most.

Bing Elections will also be featured as part of a new advertisement launching on network and cable TV starting on Nov. 4 and running until post-election. The new spot can be viewed on the Bing blog and features Bing taking it to the streets to stump some political junkies and share how Bing Elections can help.

Visit bing.com/elections to join the conversation and to see another reason for people to choose Bing over Google.

About the Research

The Bing Election hub research was based on a survey by Impulse Research, an independent research company based in Los Angeles, Calif. The survey was conducted in October 2012 online with a random sample of 1,005 men and women, ages 18 to 34, who use the Internet for information on a regular basis — all members of the Impulse Research proprietary online panel. The Impulse Research proprietary online panel has been carefully selected to closely match U.S. population demographics, and the respondents are representative of American men and women, ages 18 to 34. Learn more in our Bing blog post.

About Bing

Bing is the search engine from Microsoft, designed for people who do. For people like you who are always doing more and don’t have time to sit still. Now, only Bing brings together the best search and the best people from your social networks, like Facebook and Twitter, to help you spend less time searching and more time doing. So whether you’re on your PC or on your phone, Bing is designed not just to connect you to the information you are looking for, but also to help you get things done right on Bing.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.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

SAN FRANCISCO — Oct. 29, 2012 — Yammer, Inc., a best-in-class Enterprise Social Network and part of the Microsoft Office Division, today announced integrations with three leading security and compliance providers, expanding the product’s e-discovery, data archiving and single sign-on offerings.

New security integration partners include the following:

• Okta. The on-demand identity and access management service allows companies to control user access to all cloud and on-premises enterprise applications. Customers can now harness Okta to seamlessly provision and de-provision users from Yammer.

• Smarsh. The software-as-a-service-based message archiving and compliance service captures nearly all Yammer communications, enabling customers to preserve, search, supervise and produce data for e-discovery needs.

• Symantec. Yammer integrates with Symantec’s Clearwell eDiscovery Platform. Administrators are now able to export Yammer data directly into Clearwell, where data collected from other enterprise systems is aggregated for ease of discovery.

“Security has always been of paramount importance at Yammer. Our mission is to maintain the safety of company information and to have advanced security controls in place over every user, application and system,” said Josha Bronson, director of Security Engineering, Yammer. “We are excited to partner with these companies to provide our customers with more compliance options based on the tools they already use.”

EDRM Standard

In addition to new security integration partners, Yammer today announced adoption of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM), aligning with the industry standard for providing security in electronic discovery products and services. Yammer’s .csv data export files can now be automatically converted to the specific .xml format required to meet EDRM guidelines.

“Data retention and eDiscovery are critical security components for businesses that need to meet legal and business data archival requirements,” said Tim Rains, director, Trustworthy Computing, Microsoft Corp. “As a member of EDRM, we use the EDRM XML standard for eDiscovery exports from SharePoint 2013, Exchange 2013 and Lync 2013 and are pleased that the standard has been adopted across Yammer, part of the Microsoft Office Division.”

More information about Yammer’s security features is available at https://www.yammer.com/it/security.

About Yammer

Yammer (www.yammer.com) is a best-in-class Enterprise Social Network used by more than 200,000 organizations worldwide — including 85 percent of the Fortune 500 — to foster team collaboration, empower employees, drive business agility and socialize their intranets. Yammer’s freemium business model lets customers see the value of Yammer before upgrading to the premium offering. Founded in 2008, Yammer is now part of the Microsoft Office Division.

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.

SAN FRANCISCO — Oct. 29 , 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today debuted Windows Phone 8, the latest version of the company’s smartphone operating system. Windows Phone 8 offers a truly personal phone experience, connecting you to the people and things that matter most.

As part of the announcement, Microsoft revealed new features, including Kid’s Corner and Rooms, along with details and pricing for a range of beautiful new smartphones from Nokia, Samsung and HTC, each with their own differentiated designs, colors and features. Windows Phone 8 devices will go on sale in November at AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon in the U.S., as well as at carriers and retailers around the world.

“We can’t wait for the world to meet Windows Phone 8, the most personal smartphone there is,” said Terry Myerson, corporate vice president of the Windows Phone Division at Microsoft. “Windows Phone 8 comes on a range of phones that are stunning, colorful and unique.”

Most Personal Smartphone

Live Tiles are the heart and soul of Windows Phone, and no other phone has them. People can arrange the iconic Start screen however they want by pinning their favorite people, apps, music, games, photos and more. Three sizes of Live Tiles and 20 bright color choices including cobalt, crimson and lime mean you can personalize your Start screen to be unmistakably yours.

In addition to Live Tiles, Windows Phone 8 offers a range of new features to make your smartphone experience even more personal, including these:

• The only phone with Live Apps. Live Apps bring information right to the Start screen, such as the Groupon deal of the day, flight information and news headlines. With Windows Phone 8, Live Apps such as Facebook can even deliver real-time information right to your lock screen with updated wallpaper.

• Top apps. The Windows Phone Store has 120,000 apps to choose from, with hundreds added every day and hits coming this holiday, such as “Angry Birds Star Wars,” “Cut the Rope Experiments,” “Disney’s Where’s My Water,” “LivingSocial,” “Temple Run,” “Urbanspoon” and many more. Today Microsoft announced that Pandora, the leading Internet radio service, is coming to Windows Phone in early 2013 with one year of ad-free music.

• Kid’s Corner. Exclusive to Windows Phone 8, Kid’s Corner is a worry-free way to share your phone with your kids, so they can play “Angry Birds” without texting your angry boss. Parents can now hand over their phones to the kids without worrying about deleted photos, misdirected emails, unapproved purchases or accidental phone calls. After a simple setup, parents can activate a specialized place on the phone for kids to play — complete with their own customizable Start screens — where they can access only the apps, games, music and videos picked by parents.

• Rooms. Sometimes you want to share and chat with one group, not your entire social network. Rooms allow you to create private groups of people who have Windows Phone 8 — like your family members best friends or fantasy football league — and easily connect with just them. Chat, share calendars, shopping lists or photos in an ongoing conversation where only those invited can join in. You can share some aspects of Rooms with friends and family on other smartphones as well.

• Data Sense. This new feature helps you surf more and do more — without worrying about going over your data limit. Data sense helps conserve your data allowance by compressing Web images, deferring data tasks to free Wi-Fi and automatically adjusting your usage as you get closer to your plan limits. Data Sense also shows how much data is used per app. As you approach your limit, Data Sense notifies you so you can get the most out of your plan. Data Sense will roll out to select mobile operators this holiday and additional partners next year. Verizon will be the first to offer Data Sense in the U.S.

• Wallet and near-field communications. Windows Phone 8 brings together the best of new wallet technologies, including payments via near-field communications (NFC).(1) The Wallet can also store your debit, credit, loyalty and membership card information on your phone.

• Always-on, premium Skype experience. With the new Skype app, coming soon to Windows Phone 8, you can make and receive Skype calls just like a regular phone call. Simply tap a friend or family member’s contact card in the People Hub, or just pick up when the phone rings. Skype is always on and available so you can choose how to connect with people.

Stunning Phones

Leading up to today’s launch, Nokia, Samsung and HTC have announced an array of phones for Windows Phone 8, featuring large, vivid screens, new camera innovations, NFC capabilities, and bold colors such as red, yellow, blue, black and white.(2) Each phone offers unique features and comes in a variety of price points.

• Nokia. The Nokia Lumia 920 offers state-of-the-art photography that fits in your pocket, and it is the world’s only smartphone to include Optical Image Stabilization. The Nokia Lumia 822, 820 and 810 offer a ClearBlack display and removable back exchangeable shells in a range of vibrant colors.(3) Both the Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 offer wireless charging.

• HTC. The Windows Phone 8X by HTC was designed with sleek lines and radiant colors to match Windows Phone’s new Live Tiles. This phone also breaks new ground in optics with 1080p video recording, f2.0 aperture and a dedicated HTC ImageChip on the main 8-megapixel camera and an ultrawide-angle lens on the front camera that lets you fit up to four people in the frame for a premium Skype experience. The 8X and its smaller sibling, the 8S, both boast a killer music experience with Beats Audio and exclusive built-in amps that pair perfectly with Xbox Music.

• Samsung. The Samsung ATIV S brings the biggest screen to Windows Phone, with a bright 4.8-inch touch screen and large battery for extended battery life. Wrapped in brushed aluminum, the ATIV S balances high-end materials and technology with a hairline design and light weight. The ATIV Odyssey was announced today as the latest Windows Phone from Samsung with more details to come.

Perfect Companion for Your Windows Devices

With a similar look and feel, the same technology core, and the same built-in SkyDrive cloud service, Windows Phone 8 is built to work seamlessly with Windows 8 PCs, Microsoft Surface devices and the Xbox 360 console. For example, now you can edit a document on the go with Windows Phone 8 and pick right up again on your PC when you get home. Or access your music including your albums, songs and playlists, wherever and whenever on Xbox Music.(4) Create a playlist from your PC, walk out the door and cue up that same list from your phone. It’s all possible with Windows.

Pricing and Availability

Major mobile operators in the United States will start selling Windows Phone 8 in the coming weeks:

• Microsoft and Verizon Wireless have opened a new chapter in a long partnership. Verizon Wireless will carry the Windows Phone 8X by HTC for $199.99 with a two-year contract, and the Nokia Lumia 822, exclusive to Verizon, for $99.99 with a two-year contract. Both will be available by Thanksgiving. In addition the Samsung ATIV Odyssey, also exclusive to Verizon, will be available in December. 

• AT&T will carry the Nokia Lumia 920, the Lumia 820 and the Windows Phone 8X by HTC, all going on sale in November. AT&T will have more to share on prices in the coming weeks. 

• T-Mobile will carry the Windows Phone 8X by HTC starting at $149.99(6) for the 16GB version and the Nokia Lumia 810 from $99.99.(6) T-Mobile is expecting customers to be able to purchase these Windows Phones on Nov. 14.

All 65 Microsoft Stores open this holiday will carry every phone available for sale in the U.S., and every color option will be available through its online store at http://www.microsoftstore.com.

Learn More

The Windows Phone blog has even more features details on Windows Phone 8 at www.windowsteamblog.com/windowsphone. The webcast of the press conference is available for replay at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/presskits/windowsphone.

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

1 Wallet payments require compatible NFC-enabled devices and mobile operator support.

2 Color availability may vary; see carrier for details.

3 Shells sold separately; color availability may vary.

4 Compatible devices (Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and Xbox 360) and Internet access or data connection required; carrier fees apply. Xbox Music Pass (sold separately) required for music not purchased from the Xbox Music Store. On Xbox 360, content is streaming only and requires an Xbox LIVE Gold membership (sold separately). See xbox.com/music.

5 AT&T: Pricing after a two-year service agreement.

6 T-Mobile: Pricing after a two-year service agreement on qualifying voice and data plans and optional plans.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

SAN FRANCISCO — Oct. 29, 2012 — Yammer, Inc., a best-in-class Enterprise Social Network and part of the Microsoft Office Division, today announced a new App Directory and platform at its first customer conference, YamJam ’12. The platform offers standard components to more easily build social networking features, such as feeds, profiles, following and likes, into business applications. This approach not only helps save developers time, it also enables enterprise customers to seamlessly connect people, conversations and data across their business applications — an experience Yammer calls the “Enterprise Graph.”

The key components of the new platform include the following:

• Embeddable feeds. Yammer now offers embeddable feeds for virtually any business object, such as a record, document, opportunity or other piece of data. Previously, Yammer offered embeddable feeds only for Groups and individuals. The new object feeds allow applications to easily include conversations about business data in context.

• Embeddable Follow and Like buttons. You can now embed Follow and Like buttons inside virtually any business application to track updates from business objects.

• Pages. Similar to Profiles for people, Pages are profiles for business objects. Pages show recent activity, followers and conversations. By using Yammer Embed, the same information appears on the business object’s Web page in the original application. (A note-taking application in Yammer previously called Pages has been renamed Notes.)

• App Directory. Third-party applications that take advantage of the Yammer platform now appear in the App Directory after they have been reviewed by Yammer to ensure they meet certain privacy and security criteria. It is now easier than ever for enterprise users to discover and install apps inside Yammer.

The Enterprise Graph

Realizing the power of social networking, a growing number of enterprise applications are including social features such as profiles, feeds and connections in their software. Although the new software provides a higher level of usability than traditional enterprise applications, enterprise customers can be confronted by the problem of too many social networks inside their company, which reinforces silos and fragments internal communication.

The Yammer platform solves this problem of “social network sprawl” by creating an Enterprise Graph that provides a standard set of social components. This standardization means that all of a company’s employees and business data can be brought together in a common conversation layer.

Just as Facebook is creating a social graph for people’s personal lives, mapping the connections between people, places, music and games, the Enterprise Graph shows how employees, content and business data are connected in the workplace.

“This release standardizes enterprise social into a simple set of tools that the entire industry can use,” said David Sacks, Yammer founder and corporate vice president, Microsoft Corp. “It will not only save developers a lot of time reinventing the wheel but also create a uniform social experience for all employees across their business applications.”

“The future of business is connected, and Enterprise Social Networks are a critical part of this connectivity. Businesses should be built on the foundation of an ESN to connect people, data, content and systems,” said Michael Fauscette, group vice president, Software Business Solutions, IDC. “Effective execution on its social layer strategy is a reason Yammer was recognized as a Leader in the IDC Marketscape: Worldwide Enterprise Social Software 2012 Vendor Analysis.”1

All new features will be available to customers immediately.

About Yammer

Yammer (www.yammer.com) is a best-in-class Enterprise Social Network used by more than 200,000 organizations worldwide — including 85 percent of the Fortune 500 — to foster team collaboration, empower employees, drive business agility and socialize their intranets. Yammer’s freemium business model lets customers see the value of Yammer before upgrading to the premium offering. Founded in 2008, Yammer is now part of the Microsoft Office Division.

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.

1 IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Social Software 2012 Vendor Analysis, doc #237336, October 2012.

SAN FRANCISCO — Oct. 29, 2012 — Yammer, Inc., a best-in-class Enterprise Social Network and part of the Microsoft Office Division, today announced a native integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Leveraging the power of the Enterprise Graph, this new integration allows Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers to extend Yammer’s social functionality into the application by embedding Yammer feeds, as well as Follow and Like buttons into specific CRM records. In addition, once someone takes an action on a record, a Page is automatically created in Yammer where employees can discuss, follow and collaborate on that record.

For example, when a Microsoft Dynamics CRM user updates an opportunity, a Page and activity story are created in Yammer, alerting colleagues to the status of the deal. These interactions are not only available in Yammer but also embedded in the customer record in Microsoft Dynamics CRM itself, so that anyone viewing the opportunity details will have access to the social content surrounding it.

“This new integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM is just the first example of how you will see enhanced social experiences across Microsoft products and services,” said David Sacks, Yammer founder and corporate vice president, Microsoft Office Division. “Our platform seamlessly connects the relevant people, conversations and data across an entire organization, making Yammer the enterprise social standard and a way for companies to build a truly connected enterprise.”

Today, Yammer also launched an updated App Directory, allowing users to browse and connect third-party business applications within Yammer. New integrations include the following:

• GoodData. A leading BizData Monetization platform pulls data from Yammer and other enterprise apps to deliver meaningful business insights to customers and enable them to monetize their data. For example, conversations that happen inside Yammer about a Salesforce.com record can be analyzed alongside the corresponding opportunity details in Salesforce.com. Customers can then determine how fast a deal closes, if the sale is correlated to the related Yammer activity and how Yammer activity affects sales cycles.

• Kudos. The peer-to-peer recognition platform posts an update in Yammer’s Ticker when a colleague sends Kudos to another user, calling out their work using characteristics such as strategic, helpful, creative or reliable. Each Kudos message recognizes the colleagues sending and receiving Kudos, the level of recognition ranging from Thank You to Exceptional, key characteristics, and values demonstrated. The integration also utilizes Yammer Connect to seamlessly authenticate users based on their Yammer login credentials. With the Kudos browser add-ons, Yammer users can easily give Kudos to anyone at any time, enhancing corporate culture and improving employee engagement.

• Salesforce.com. Expanding on the existing integration, which enables updates of Salesforce.com records to appear as activity stories in Ticker, users can now embed record-specific Yammer feeds inside the Salesforce.com application. All Yammer conversations related to a given account, opportunity or campaign can now be viewed as a single feed.

• WorkSimple. The social performance management platform publishes an activity story in Ticker when an employee creates a social goal, sets a team focus or gives social recognition. Co-workers can easily share what they are working on, showcase accomplishments and offer praise. Managers also benefit by establishing a culture of feedback, recognition and results. WorkSimple is offering a Yammer edition of its product to Yammer customers for free, available in Yammer’s App Directory.

New integrations are available immediately. Customers should contact their Yammer representatives for more information.

Partner Comments About the News

“Social networking is becoming mission critical to the success of leading organizations worldwide. Yammer houses key data that can show powerful insights into employee satisfaction, productivity and engagement. Tying this rich social data to disparate systems, such as CRM, will enable companies to measure Yammer’s impact across an organization, leading to better data monetization.”

— Cody Crnkovich, vice president, Channel and Alliances, GoodData

“Our partnership with Yammer allows enterprise organizations to add our simple and effective recognition ecosystem within their enterprise social network. Kudos’ core focus is recognition, and, with our proprietary KQ visualizers, we are able to provide simple yet powerful insights on individual performance and team management. With the convenience of our browser add-ons and mobile offering, Yammer users can give Kudos easily, anywhere and at any time. By publishing Kudos messages into a Yammer network, organizations can further enhance communication and collaboration and now share and celebrate the things that make their company a great place to work.”

— Muni Boga, founder and co-CEO, Kudos

“WorkSimple and Yammer share the belief that employees will only adopt platforms that help them work better together — technology products must be simple, engaging and easy to use. Now with WorkSimple’s Social Performance Management platform, teams and companies can share social goals, give and get feedback, capture recognition, and build a results-driven culture on their Yammer networks.”

— Morgan Norman, founder and CEO, WorkSimple

About Yammer

Yammer (www.yammer.com) is a best-in-class Enterprise Social Network used by more than 200,000 organizations worldwide — including 85 percent of the Fortune 500 — to foster team collaboration, empower employees, drive business agility and socialize their intranets. Yammer’s freemium business model lets customers see the value of Yammer before upgrading to the premium offering. Founded in 2008, Yammer is now part of the Microsoft Office Division.

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.

OSAKA, Japan — Oct. 29, 2012 — To support its consumer and corporate banking businesses, Bank SinoPac has adopted Windows Server and Microsoft SQL Server to run the next-generation TEMENOS T24 core banking system. This new system will help SinoPac save up to 50 percent on future annual maintenance costs over five years. With future flexibility and competitive advantages in mind, SinoPac deployed the solution to centralize its operations and support the growth of its domestic and global branch network. The new core banking system has enabled SinoPac to increase flexibility and reduce maintenance and operating costs as the bank migrated off the mainframe and to the cloud. By simplifying its systems architecture and streamlining its business processes, SinoPac was able to significantly improve its straight-through processing rate and reduce its close-of-business time by 30 percent.

Microsoft Corp. is working with Temenos Group AG, a banking software company, to offer core banking solutions that help banks achieve greater profitability, an improved customer experience, and the agility to meet future market and customer demands.

“Amid rapid market liberalization, changing financial behavior, and fierce competition from local and international counterparts, banks have to improve competitiveness and offer better customer service to be the leading player,” said Karen Cone, general manager of Worldwide Financial Services at Microsoft. “To achieve these goals, SinoPac adopted Windows Server and Microsoft SQL Server to deploy its new Temenos core banking system.”

With higher stability, scalability and availability, Microsoft SQL Server also boosts performance of next-generation hardware. SinoPac is one of the first banks to establish both front-end and back-end environments using a single Windows platform, and it also is pioneering the use of a single solution to support domestic and global branches. Because one team within SinoPac can manage all global systems, the company is lowering TCO, increasing development speed and avoiding costly maintenance issues.

“When selecting a core banking system, our first criterion was that it must run on the Windows platform because it provides the advantages of both open and closed systems,” said Robert Tsai, chief information officer, Bank SinoPac. “Windows outperforms traditional legacy mainframe systems in maintenance, investment cost and professional training, while its security and stability are way ahead of the game.”

The new core banking system has helped SinoPac reduce hardware initial costs by 40 percent and will further save the company 50 percent on software and hardware maintenance over five years. In the past, maintaining systems on different platforms required intensive training and multiple IT teams, including the support from third-party IT specialists. With a single Windows-based core banking system, the recruitment and training become much easier.

SinoPac’s new core banking system from Temenos and Microsoft is in place at 129 branches in Taiwan, with overseas locations expected to join the central hub in Taipei, Taiwan, starting at the end of 2012. With support for multiple countries, currencies and companies, the new system will enable SinoPac to speed its global market expansion.

Microsoft and Temenos are showcasing the SinoPac adoption Oct. 29 through Nov. 1 at Sibos, the world’s premier financial services event.

Microsoft and Temenos Collaboration

The long history of collaboration between Microsoft and Temenos has brought increased productivity and profitability to financial institutions through an improved total cost of ownership and uniform operational environment, which enhances time to market and overall efficiency. The result of their collaboration is a modular system designed to offer financial-industry customers a full front-to-back core banking solution on an all-Microsoft platform.

“The work we’re doing with Microsoft is changing the economics of the financial services industry,” said David Arnott, CEO Temenos. “Together, we’ve built a solution that scales from device to PC to cloud and enables a differentiated customer experience. Microsoft’s high-performance, yet cost-effective, server platform complements Temenos’ modular banking system, thereby changing the economics of banking.”

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

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 28, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Oesterreichische Kontrollbank (OeKB) has selected Microsoft BizTalk Server and Microsoft SQL Server to support its mission-critical financial messaging operations. As a result, the bank has significantly improved the performance, transparency and reliability of its core processes and reduced costs by up to 90 percent.

As a provider of financial and information services for businesses, financial institutions and the Republic of Austria, OeKB plays a critical role in the Austrian economy. The bank’s core services for capital management and trade services strengthen the country’s thriving business climate and help Austrian industries compete successfully in the global marketplace.

The bank was challenged with a myriad of complex systems that needed to be integrated with those of customers, partners and external financial networks, including SWIFT, the Society for the Worldwide Interbank Financial. Custom integration solutions for mission-critical processing are complex, expensive to build, and require unique skills for maintenance and support. Instead of building this type of platform from scratch, OeKB selected Microsoft BizTalk Server and the Accelerator for SWIFT (A4SWIFT) because of the technologies’ simplicity, affordability and reliability. The solution is underpinned by Microsoft’s high-performance and cost-effective SQL Server platform.

Integration with SWIFT requires extensive technical expertise. Formatting transaction messages from internal applications to SWIFT formats is complex and also places an annual burden of ensuring SWIFT message compliance. BizTalk Server and the A4SWIFT enable application-to-application integration, plus support for SWIFT message formats and connectivity to SWIFT software.

“A cost-efficient and, above all, a highly available solution was required. With BizTalk Server, we have a solution that gave us not only a solid transaction foundation, but also the ability to minimize our integration expenditure and drastically improve our agility at the same time,” said Michael Nedved, head of IT Development at OeKB.

“BizTalk Server, in particular, easily replaces legacy processes, creates future benefits by reducing the cost of creating new interfaces, and costs only 10 to 14 percent as much as the previous solution,” Nedved said.

In addition to the reduction in IT costs, operational costs are now at a mere 7 percent of the cost of the previous system because BizTalk Server integrates seamlessly with OeKB’s applications and server network. OeKB is also saving about 65 percent in personnel costs associated with development compared with the old system.

Karen Cone, general manager of Worldwide Financial Services at Microsoft, said, “Banks around the world seek to reduce operational and infrastructure costs. Financial messaging is complex, and integration of complex transactions demands a solution that simplifies processing and is quick to implement, yet is cost-effective in a mission-critical environment. As a result, an increasing number of banks are turning to Microsoft to achieve this.”

“The addition of BizTalk Server to our core processes has already helped OeKB succeed in its efforts to support Austrian industries, and it will continue to do so in the long term,” Nedved said.

More information about how organizations are turning to Microsoft technology is available on the Microsoft Customer Spotlight newsroom.

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

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

NEW YORK — Oct. 26, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that its new PC, Microsoft Surface, is now available for purchase at all Microsoft retail, holiday and online stores in the United States and Canada. Designed to be the ultimate stage for Windows RT, Surface is unique and represents exceptional value, providing an immersive entertainment experience and a foundation for getting things done. With a starting price of US$499,* Surface will be available online at http://www.microsoftstore.com in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. In China and Hong Kong, Surface will be available online at Suning. More details are available at http://www.surface.com.

A variety of Surface accessories are also available for purchase, including Touch Covers in five vibrant colors — black, white, magenta, cyan and red — priced at US$119.99, so customers can express their personal style.** Customers also have the option to purchase a Type Cover in black for US$129.99, which adds moving keys for a more traditional typing feel.

At all Microsoft retail and holiday store locations, knowledgeable staff are on hand to answer questions and help with Windows RT and Surface setup, so customers can have a great out-of-the-box experience and walk out the door with a product that is personalized for them. Customers can visit http://www.microsoftstore.com to find a Microsoft retail store nearest them.

First unveiled in June, Surface represents an extension of the Windows experience, letting customers work, play and connect with others. From its ultralight durable casing, integrated kickstand and Touch Cover, which allow customers to be productive anywhere, to a full-sized USB port, 16:9 widescreen, high-definition display and 22-degree angle that make it optimal for viewing and sharing content easily, Surface lets customers seamlessly transition between entertainment and creation.

A complete list of Microsoft retail store and holiday store locations is available at http://content.microsoftstore.com/home.aspx?WT.mc_id=onlinestore_footertray.

Those interested in learning more can visit http://www.Surface.com or follow Surface on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Surface and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/surface.

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

* Starting price for Surface 32 GB without black Touch Cover. ** Available Touch Cover colors vary by market.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

NEW YORK — Oct. 25, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the global availability of its popular Windows operating system, Windows 8. Beginning Friday, Oct. 26, consumers and businesses worldwide will be able to experience all that Windows 8 has to offer, including a beautiful new user interface and a wide range of applications with the grand opening of the Windows Store. As a result of close work with hardware partners, more than 1,000 certified PCs and tablets, including Microsoft Surface, will be available for the launch of Windows 8 — making it the best lineup of PCs ever across the Windows 8 and Windows RT ecosystem.

“We have reimagined Windows and the result is a stunning lineup of new PCs,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “Windows 8 brings together the best of the PC and the tablet. It works perfect for work and play and it is alive with your world. Every one of our customers will find a PC that they will absolutely love.”

Windows 8 will be available for download to upgrade existing PCs in more than 140 markets and 37 languages at http://www.windows.com/buy beginning at 12:01 a.m. local time and at retail locations around the world. At retail, Windows 8 will be available in two primary versions — Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro — as well as Windows 8 Enterprise for large organizations. Launching at the same time is a new member of the Windows family — Windows RT — designed for ARM-based tablets and available pre-installed on new devices. In addition to Microsoft Office 2013, Windows RT is designed exclusively for apps in the new Windows Store. Windows 8 features the new fast and fluid Start screen that gives people one-click access to the apps and content they care most about. It also features an entirely new Internet Explorer 10 that is perfect for touch, and built-in cloud capabilities with SkyDrive.

Windows 8 can be purchased in a variety of ways from the world’s leading retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy and Staples in the U.S., Casas Bahia in Brazil, Future Shop and Staples in Canada, Suning in China, Media Markt across Europe, FNAC in France, Yamada in Japan, Telmex in Mexico, Dixons in the U.K., and many more, which will feature a variety of offers for customers looking for great deals on Windows 8 PCs, devices and software. Consumers can go to http://www.windows.com/shop to learn about the large array of Windows 8 devices available and find the one that best fits their needs. More information on the great offers around the world is available at http://www.blogs.windows.com.

In addition to the range of new Windows-based devices available, consumers can also upgrade their existing PCs. Through the end of January, consumers currently running PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 are qualified to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of US$39.99. And eligible Windows 7 PCs purchased between June 2, 2012, and Jan. 31, 2013, in more than 140 markets can download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of US$14.99 with the Windows Upgrade Offer, available at http://www.windowsupgradeoffer.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.

The information contained in this press release relates to a pre-release software product that may be substantially modified before its first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the software product when it is first commercially released. The press release is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the press release or the information contained in it.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.

NEW YORK — Oct. 24, 2012 — Today at the O’Reilly Strata Conference + Hadoop World, Microsoft Corp. announced new previews of Windows Azure HDInsight Service and Microsoft HDInsight Server for Windows, the company’s Apache Hadoop-based solutions for Windows Azure and Windows Server. The new previews, available today at http://www.microsoft.com/bigdata, deliver Apache Hadoop compatibility for the enterprise and simplify deployment of Hadoop-based solutions. In addition, delivering these capabilities on the Windows Server and Azure platforms enables customers to use the familiar tools of Excel, PowerPivot for Excel and Power View to easily extract actionable insights from the data.

“Big data should provide answers for business, not complexity for IT,” said David Campbell, technical fellow, Microsoft. “Providing Hadoop compatibility on Windows Server and Azure dramatically lowers the barriers to setup and deployment and enables customers to pull insights from any data, any size, on-premises or in the cloud.”

The company also announced today an expanded partnership with Hortonworks, a commercial vendor of Hadoop, to give customers access to an enterprise-ready distribution of Hadoop with the newly released solutions.

“Hortonworks is the only provider of Apache Hadoop that ensures a 100 percent open source platform,” said Rob Bearden, CEO of Hortonworks. “Our expanded partnership with Microsoft empowers customers to build and deploy on platforms that are fully compatible with Apache Hadoop.”

More information about today’s news and working with big data can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/bigdata.

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

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may 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/news/contactpr.mspx.