Microsoft to push Telecom, Telco 2.0 transition times

Hong Kong — December 4, 2006 — this week by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), organized by the ITU Telecom World 2006, Microsoft will demonstrate for the first time the global communications industry specifically developed for the full range of solutions and services. Microsoft in participation in the International Telecommunication Union Organization of the exhibition and during the Conference, focused presentations for telecom service provider in a variety of voice, video, data and mobile solutions, and will publish a variety of new products and programs to help carriers create in present and future-oriented businesses and consumers-generating products and services.

Microsoft Mobile and embedded products, Pieter Knook, Senior Vice President, said: "since the 2003 ITU World Telecom exhibition, we see the telecom industry has undergone tremendous change.

Fixed network operators and mobile operators in the network infrastructure for large scale investment, they are seeking a variety of ways to add new services, to make full use of the existing network. At the same time, the area from the Web into the telecom industry's fn has introduced a variety of products and disruptive business model, is a threat to the incumbent operators. It is clear that help service providers meet these challenges, the software will play a key role. Microsoft's unique position to provide platforms for the telecommunications industry to through this platform to create new services. ”

The transition to the Telco 2.0

With the principle of Web 2.0, technologies and services in the telecommunications industry, telecom industry of penetration there is a new mode, called Telco 2.0.

In Telco 2.0 era, operators will be able to provide hundreds of services to a variety of applications from different channels of all types of content together, constitute a complex service in the world, the potential new service composition almost without any restrictions. Microsoft offers to help achieve the Telco 2.0 platforms, technologies, applications and partner ecosystem.

At ITU Telecom World, Microsoft announces the promotion of innovation and design of new solutions, cooperation and projects that focus on Microsoft communications industry strategy in three main areas, namely, service delivery, provide income-generating type services and mobile devices.

Service delivery of telecom service providers how to cost effectively develop and deploy new services on Telco 2.0 is essential to the further development of the era.

In service delivery, Microsoft provides the Microsoft connected services framework, this is a server-based software products, operators are able to pass this product for users, integration, and management of fusion communications services, regardless of the users is what network or device. Today, Microsoft announced that Telenor is the latest implementation of connection services framework of a carrier. By implementing connection service framework (Connected Services Framework), Telenor will provide SMEs with new services, including on the basis of Microsoft managed information and collaborative solutions's e-mail service.

Microsoft in the communications industry and key to success is the establishment of an industry chain ecosystem, service providers, independent software vendor (ISV), systems integrators and network equipment vendors and Microsoft join forces to promote new services development and commercialization.

To this end, Microsoft will launch the Connect Service sandbox (Connected Services Sandbox), this is a proof of concept of integrated environment that allows independent software vendors and developers to test their services, and Microsoft, service providers and system integrators to provide the products, to quickly bring new services to market.

Provide revenue-generating service Microsoft through a series of solutions available, including the service provider managed business solutions, as well as customer service and Windows Live ™ services for service providers delivering new revenue-generating opportunities.

Microsoft provides a range of applications, service providers can they be managed in a network and make it available to enterprise users.

Apart from Telenor, the following operators will also provide technology based on Microsoft's new commercial services:

Swisscom will deploy Microsoft for enhanced network telephony solutions (Microsoft Solution for Enhanced VoIP Services) to provide SMEs with integrated voice, e-mail, presence, instant messaging, collaboration and desktop services.

Bharti Airtel has recently launched based on the Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration of new services, and plan to launch managed version of the Microsoft Dynamics ™ CRM, financial systems and enterprise resource planning.

Microsoft relies in commercial service areas of expertise, helping operators to provide consumer-oriented services, platform and application.

For example, including AT&T, Germany Telecom (Deutsche Telekom), T-Online France and Swisscom, the world's leading telecom operators have in Microsoft Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition software platform to deploy next-generation digital TV services, realization of exciting new personalized online entertainment experience. In addition, Hutch, Orange and Sprint and other carriers have recently launched Windows Live range of services for new products, offer their customers a brand new online experience.

Mobile device

Windows Mobile ® software for easy-to-the-art equipment to provide dynamic, allowing users to familiar Wi

Ndows user experience, send and receive email, browse the Internet, using the mobile version of the Microsoft Office system software. In the ITU World Telecommunication Exhibition will introduce the latest product based on Windows Mobile include:

Samsung Electronics and Microsoft will in Asia and Europe launches new Samsung Ultra Messaging i600 Smartphone, this is the first support for high-speed downlink packet access (High-Speed Packet Access Dowlink) and support for podcasting, RSS feed, as well as 3 g smart phone.

Microsoft today announced that Windows Mobile ® operating system will support China Mobile brand new mobile phone mailbox (Push Mail), providing easier and faster e-mail access and excellent information experience,

Pieter Knook said: "we all know, the telecom industry is facing a turning point.

New era winners will not only be able to maximize the effectiveness of existing assets, is more important to be able to take advantage of emerging technologies and business models. Microsoft is committed to promoting the development of the telecommunications industry, we will focus on continuing to build and service suppliers of strong partnerships in Telco 2.0 world common development. ”

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) created in 1975, is the world leader in software, services and solutions leader, committed to helping individuals and businesses achieve maximum potential.

(To learn Microsoft China business details, please login http://www.microsoft.com/china; for press enquiries, please see http://www.microsoft.com/china/press).