microsoft europe, middle east and africa background...

Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa Background InformationJUNE 2007

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Microsoft was founded on the idea that if people have the right tools,

they will do new and exciting things. Over the past three decades,

we have never lost sight of this vision, and our commitment to

helping people realise their dreams and achieve their full potential

is greater than ever.

Contact DetailsEMEA Headquarters Microsoft EMEACœur Défense, Tour B, 38e étage100, Esplanade du Général de Gaulle92932 Paris La Défense FranceTel: +33 1 70 99 10 00Website: www.microsoft.com/emea

Microsoft EMEA Press Office Tel: +44 870 2430515 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre

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ContentsThe Company 4

Microsoft Products 8

Driving Innovation 10

Responding to Local Needs 12

Building Skills and Knowledge 13

Improving Access to Technology 15

Strengthening the Local Knowledge Economy 17

Contributing to Business and Industry Dialogue 19

Milestones 21

Facts and Figures 22

Microsoft EMEA Leadership Team 24

Executive Biographies 25

Regional Headquarters and Subsidiary Offices 26

Research and Development Offices 27

A world leader in information technology (IT), Microsoft

Corporation develops software that enables people and

businesses to do great things. The company’s innovations

create opportunities for the technology sector, businesses

and consumers worldwide.

In Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Microsoft

has offices in 61 countries, employing more than 13,000

people who deliver products and services to customers

throughout the region. Three regional vice presidents

representing Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe,

and the Middle East and Africa direct Microsoft’s business

in those regions, and work closely with the general

managers of subsidiary offices in each country to ensure

that Microsoft’s customers, partners, investors and

employees have a consistently positive experience with

the company. Microsoft’s three largest subsidiaries in the

region — France, Germany and the UK — report directly

to Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft

International.

At Microsoft, we create software that helps people and organisations realise their potential.

The Company



Our MissionAt Microsoft, our mission is to help people and businesses throughout the world realise their full potential, and this fuels our efforts to bring ever-better technologies to customers and to society as a whole.

We expand the possibilities for computing every day by enhancing our current products and introducing new ones, by supporting a global network of innovation, and by conducting fundamental research that paves the way for tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

Furthermore, as an IT industry leader, we have a responsibility to use our resources and knowledge to help make a positive impact on people’s lives. We are committed to acting responsibly and communicating openly about our business practices and performance. We know that Microsoft’s business decisions can have a significant impact on our stakeholders and for the communities in which we conduct business, and we take that corporate responsibility very seriously. As Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says, “It’s not enough to just do the right things; we have to do them in the right way.”

i www.microsoft.com/emea

Serving Our Customers and PartnersWe are inspired by the creative ways Microsoft customers use our software to solve business problems, develop ground-breaking ideas and stay connected to what is most important to them.

While the development of innovative products and technologies forms the core of our business, we place no less of a priority on the satisfaction of our customers and partners. This commitment infuses all of our business activities, and can be summarised in the following three strategies:

= Offering products that are more secure, reliable and user-friendly through world-class engineering, industry collaboration and unprecedented transparency in our product development

= Making it easier to do business with Microsoft through streamlined processes, as well as improved service, technical support and licensing

= Listening and responding by actively gathering customer and partner feedback

Our customer segment teams are responsible for assuring that all of our customers and partners have a seamless experience.

Developer and Partner Group Responsible for communicating Microsoft’s vision for .NET to software developers, the Developer and Partner Group also manages Microsoft products that independent software vendors (ISVs), systems integrators and corporate developers use.

Public Sector GroupThis group works with governments and other public-sector organisations to help them operate more efficiently and enhance their services through information technology — from e-government solutions connecting governments and citizens, to dynamic e-learning applications that redefine the ways students, teachers and parents interact.

Enterprise and Partner Group This customer segment team oversees Microsoft’s relationships with major customers, as well as enterprise partners such as systems integrators, outsourcers, management consultancies and technology vendors.

Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partners GroupResponsible for Microsoft’s small and medium-sized business solutions, this group also manages the company’s channel initiatives, licensing and pricing policies, and licensing compliance campaigns.

EMEA Enterprise Services This organisation is responsible for the field services team, which provides technical consulting and support services to Microsoft customers in the region.


Our Businesses Microsoft operations are aligned into three principal divisions, encompassing 12 business groups.

Microsoft Platform Products and Services DivisionThis division comprises Windows® client, server and tools products, and the MSN® network of internet services. The division’s mission is to enable new user experiences and drive customer value through continued innovation in the software platform and software services delivered over the internet.

= Windows and Windows Live Group This group focuses on delivering software-based services via the web for the Windows LiveTM platform, extending the value of Microsoft products.

= Windows Live Platform Group

This group encompasses several teams that build platform services and capabilities for Microsoft’s online offerings. The group provides back-end infrastructure, platform capabilities and global operational support for services created in Windows Live, Office Live and other applications that use the Live platform.

= Online Business Group

This group manages advertising sales, business development and marketing for Live platforms, Windows Live and MSN — including MSN.com, MSN TV and MSN Internet Access.

= Market Expansion Group

Encompassing product marketing, research and development, this group is charged with developing products for new markets, from products such as Windows XP Starter Edition and new types of devices, through to products such as the recently launched Ultra-Mobile PC devices.

= Core Operating System Division

This group is focused on building the industry’s leading operating system foundation to power Microsoft platform products.

= Windows Client Marketing Group This business unit is responsible for Microsoft’s popular desktop operating system, including the most recent versions of the platform — Windows VistaTM, Windows XP and Windows 2000. The Windows Client group also manages specialised versions of the operating system such as Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows Embedded.

Microsoft Business DivisionThis division, which includes the Information Worker and Microsoft Business Solutions groups, delivers software and software-based services that enable organisations to succeed in today’s constantly evolving workplace by helping to increase the effectiveness of their people. Microsoft is uniquely positioned for this opportunity with the new division’s programmes, servers and software-based services addressing the spectrum from structured business processes to personal productivity needs.

= Server and Tools Business Group This business unit manages Windows Server SystemTM integrated server software. The group creates software for streamlining businesses’ IT infrastructure and reducing costs for enterprise administrators. Products include Windows ServerTM 2003, developer tools and the MSDN® developer programme.

= Developer and Platform Evangelism Group This group oversees developer and platform evangelism efforts for the company as Microsoft further enables developers to build applications combining software and services.

= Information Worker Group

This business unit includes the Microsoft Office system of products, including Visio® drawing and diagramming software, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Publisher, and new products such as the InfoPathTM information gathering program and the OneNote® note-taking program. This group also oversees Microsoft Windows SharePoint® Services.

= Microsoft Business Solutions Group This group offers the Microsoft DynamicsTM suite of products that allow small and midsize organisations to connect employees, customers and suppliers. The financial management, customer relationship management, supply chain management and analytics applications work to streamline processes across an entire organisation, giving businesses insight to respond rapidly, plan strategically and execute quickly. Microsoft Business Solutions products are customised and delivered through a worldwide network of channel partners that provide specialised services and local support.

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Microsoft Entertainment and Devices DivisionThis division focuses on enabling rich experiences and usage scenarios through a wide range of electronic devices — for people at work, at home and on the move.

= Home and Entertainment Group This business unit encompasses Microsoft’s consumer portfolio, comprising PC gaming software and hardware, personal productivity tools, reference products and digital media products such as Windows XP Media Center. It also includes products such as the Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system, online games, the ZuneTM digital media player and the Microsoft TV platform.

= Mobile Communications Business

The Mobile Communications Business group provides a software platform, enabling device manufacturers to develop smart, connected products that offer a compelling mobile experience. Mobile Communications Business products include the Windows CE operating system, eMbedded Visual C++® development system and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

Our CultureMicrosoft employees are in a position to make a difference in people’s lives around the world. That’s why the company’s top priority is to recruit, promote and retain talented people who are passionate about software. Microsoft employees are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to help them stay connected and productive, whether they are in the office, at home or on the move. And with a comprehensive package of benefits, training and flexible working opportunities, Microsoft cultivates a rewarding work environment where the culture of collaboration and innovation enables ideas to blossom and minds to grow.

Microsoft EMEA leads the company in its efforts to promote a workforce that mirrors the diverse communities in which the company operates. The Microsoft EMEA leadership team has made a long-term commitment to enhancing workplace diversity, through programmes including these:

= The web accessibility effort focuses on auditing and improving all of Microsoft’s websites and services to ensure that employees and customers with disabilities have equal access.

= The female talent initiative aims to create a more gender-balanced workforce and to help women at Microsoft advance into more senior roles.

= The part-time work and job sharing initiative supports greater workplace flexibility, creating opportunities for more employees to work alternative schedules.

= The work-life balance initiative helps employees and their managers integrate their lives and create a sustainable work experience for all Microsoft employees.

In addition to leveraging the talents of professionals with a wide range of abilities, Microsoft creates opportunities for young people, at the beginning of their career, to thrive at Microsoft. For example, we encourage graduate and postgraduate students to join Microsoft through the Microsoft Academy for University Hires (MACH). This programme offers graduates and postgraduates the chance to develop professional skills they need for a successful career in sales, marketing or technical roles.

As part of the company’s commitment to its employees, myMicrosoft — a broad set of investments to ensure that Microsoft continues as one of the world’s best places to work, with great opportunities, great leadership and a great working environment — was launched in 2006. There are five key elements to myMicrosoft:

= A performance management system that enables managers to assess an employee’s performance against commitments, regardless of how other employees on the team performed.

= A compensation system that supports differentiated rewards for top talent and provides flexibility and accountability at the leadership level.

= A management development programme that commits all managers to training and that rewards those who excel.

= A career model framework that outlines development skills and growth opportunities and is transparent for all employees.

= A work environment programme that supports a diverse workplace, diverse work styles and enhanced creativity.


Microsoft Products

Microsoft Windows Over the past two decades, Microsoft Windows products have evolved from a single, one-size-fits-all desktop operating system into a diverse family of operating systems and mobile technologies. Windows software includes the Windows Server System, Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows CE, which powers a wide array of digital devices.

Did you know? In selected emerging markets, Microsoft offers a low-cost version of Windows, called Windows XP Starter Edition. Available in several regional languages and compatible with a wide range of applications and devices, it is available in 81 countries in EMEA.

Microsoft Office Microsoft Office has evolved from a suite of personal productivity products to a more comprehensive and integrated system. Building on the familiar tools that many people already know, such as Microsoft Word, Outlook®, Excel® and PowerPoint®, Microsoft Office includes programs, servers, services and solutions designed to work together to help address a broad array of business problems.

Did you know? Since Microsoft Word launched in 1989, the number of features in the word processor has expanded from fewer than 100 to over 1,500. To address the plethora of options in the Office suite, the 2007 Microsoft Office system has a new contextual interface enabling users to complete tasks with 60 per cent fewer mouse clicks, on average.

Visual StudioVisual Studio® is an integrated, easy-to-use development environment for creating software for Windows, the web and consumer devices. Did you know? Visual Studio 2005 features an expanded set of tools including the Visual Studio Team System, a collaboration platform for software development teams that are building service-oriented applications.

Microsoft platforms, products and services empower millions of people and businesses around the world. Some of the company’s most recognised brands are shown here:


MSN and Windows Live MSN is the world’s most popular internet destination, comprising world-class services such as MSN Hotmail®, Windows Live Messenger, MSN Search, Communities, Chat, Shopping and Personal Finance.

Did you know? MSN portals operate in 42 markets and 21 languages, drawing more than 440 million unique users each month. The MSN Hotmail service has approximately 215 million active e-mail accounts, making it the world’s largest web-based e-mail service.

Xbox 360 Xbox 360 is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering great games, the next generation of the premier Xbox Live online gaming network, and unique digital entertainment experiences for gamers.

Did you know? With a record-breaking 1.5 million pre-orders when it launched, Microsoft Game Studios’ “Halo® 2” for the Xbox platform generated more revenue in its first 24 hours of availability than day-one ticket sales for any feature film in entertainment history.

Microsoft Dynamics Microsoft Dynamics offers integrated, adaptable business applications for small and medium-sized organisations and divisions of large enterprises. These integrated solutions delivered through a worldwide network of experienced Microsoft Certified Partners — work like and with familiar Microsoft software, and help automate and improve financial, customer relationship, and supply chain management.

Did you know? Microsoft Dynamics CRM will be the fastest-growing customer relationship management product in 2007, according to the consultancy Gartner Inc. The product’s popularity is attributed to its overall ease of use, its integration with Microsoft Outlook and its availability in more countries and languages than other CRM solutions.

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Driving Innovation

Behind everything Microsoft does is a commitment to providing people and organisations with cutting-edge software, services and solutions. As the infrastructure of information and communication technology (ICT) evolves, Microsoft is inventing software that creates new ways of informing, entertaining and connecting people. Software is what makes these scenarios come to life, which is why innovation is at the heart of Microsoft.

Around EMEA, Microsoft teams are developing technologies that will be built into tomorrow’s products. Over 1,000 employees across the region are conducting research, inventing new technologies, designing and improving software, helping technology partners bring better products to market, and helping enterprise customers test and implement their custom solutions. And, more than ever, Microsoft takes an open and collaborative approach to creating technologies that will serve society and enhance economic prosperity.

Pure ResearchMicrosoft employs hundreds of researchers worldwide who are inventing the next generation of computing technologies. Some of this research is paying off today with breakthroughs in areas such as software security and reliability. Other innovations will transform the way we use computers years from now.

The company’s research laboratory in Europe, Microsoft Research Cambridge, was founded in 1997, the first such facility to be established outside the US. Today, researchers at the lab are engaged in fundamental computer science research, including machine learning and perception, programming principles and tools, systems and networking, and interactive systems.

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The External Research Office (ERO) extends the scope of Microsoft Research beyond traditional computer science. This is being achieved through collaboration with universities, governments and industry partners. The ERO leads the Microsoft European Science Initiative, created to accelerate innovation at the intersection of science and computing — turning scientific discoveries into outcomes with economic and social value. The initiative aims to be a catalyst for quantum leaps in technology that will affect areas such as the life sciences, engineering and agriculture, and help address issues including the protection of global biodiversity.

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Central to the initiative is the establishment of centres of excellence where leading researchers can advance knowledge related to computing and specific scientific disciplines. So far, two centres have been opened:

= The Microsoft and University of Trento Centre for Computational and Systems Biology was opened in 2005 by Microsoft, the University of Trento, and local and national governments. At the Trento centre, researchers are building computational tools for understanding complex processes in biological systems. Such tools could lead to insights into the origin of disease, new therapies and better vaccines.

= In 2007, the French Ministry of Research, Microsoft and INRIA, the French research institute, opened the Microsoft-INRIA Institute for Computational Science. Researchers at the institute investigate the application of mathematics to improve software and systems security, and pursue the development of new software tools for the management and analysis of complex scientific data.

Applied ResearchIn addition to the research that takes place at Microsoft, the company contributes technical expertise and software development to projects of national and regional importance. Founded in 2003 in Aachen, Germany, the European Microsoft Innovation Center (EMIC) comprises a team of developers who contribute to large-scale, government-led projects. Software engineers at EMIC focus their efforts on web services, security and privacy technologies, and wireless technologies.

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Founded in 2006 in Egypt, the Cairo Microsoft Innovation Center (CMIC) focuses on applied research and incubation. It also supports innovation in the region by establishing and participating in collaborative applied research with local academic and industrial partners. Current projects are in the areas of language processing and data mining, web services for mobile devices, and parallel computing and grid computing.

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Product DevelopmentWhile most of Microsoft’s flagship products are developed in Redmond, Washington, more and more are being created and developed outside the US, and particularly in EMEA. In Denmark, for example, more than 800 people work at the Microsoft Development Center, Copenhagen, Microsoft’s largest development facility outside the US. Most of the centre’s staff contribute to the Dynamics line of business solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the Windows Vista operating system. Staff at the Copenhagen campus work closely with ISVs and systems integrators that create specialised, industry-tailored software on the Microsoft Dynamics platform. In addition, Microsoft’s worldwide centre of excellence for supply-chain management is located here.

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Both based in the UK, Rare and Lionhead Studios are Microsoft’s premier game development facilities in Europe, creating games for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the PC. Acquired in 2002 by Microsoft, Rare employs 170 game developers and has sold over 93 million units in its 20-year history. Lionhead Studios, founded in 1997, was acquired in 2006 and has 210 employees; it is responsible for industry-leading titles such as Fable 2.

i �www.rareware.com www.lionhead.com

The Microsoft European Product Development Centre (EPDC) provides the European and South American markets with country-specific versions of Microsoft’s leading products, reflecting local languages and culture. Based in Dublin, Ireland, the EPDC has grown from localising only two products (MS-DOS® and Microsoft Word) into two languages in 1988 to developing 100 products in 37 languages today. The team supports 15 additional languages and dialects as part of the Microsoft Local Language Programme and Microsoft developers and linguists specialise in 50 languages and dialects to create these products.

In Zurich, Switzerland, software engineers at the Microsoft Development Center for Collaboration Technologies are bringing the company’s vision for unified communications to fruition. This technology will integrate various modes of communication — including e-mail, instant messaging, short message service (SMS), voice telephony and conferencing — enabling information workers to manage all of their modes of communication within a single messaging environment.

Opened in Ireland in 2005, the Microsoft Development Centre, Sandyford, is staffed by a team of software engineers who are developing technologies destined for a number of Microsoft’s

core products, including Windows Media® Center, the Digital Terrestrial TV project for Europe and Windows Vista.

Also in Sandyford the European Operations Centre is responsible for three major services: warehousing and distribution of products, business transaction processing and management, and information technology support and control.

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The Microsoft Development Center, Serbia, was founded in 2005 in Belgrade as a facility for developing handwriting recognition in several European languages for the Tablet PC. The team has since expanded to include research on applying machine-learning techniques for recognising complex handwritten structures such as mathematical equations, chemical diagrams and architectural drawings.

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Customer and Partner InnovationMicrosoft supports the innovations of its customers and industry partners, not only through interoperable software and solutions, but also by offering resources and expertise to help others innovate on the Microsoft platform. In the EMEA region, the company has numerous facilities dedicated to helping external groups bring their innovations to life more quickly and effectively.

Microsoft Technology Centres (MTCs) are places where large companies’ IT teams can work side- by-side with Microsoft experts to test and find solutions to their technology challenges. MTCs create a favourable environment for collaborative development and technical support, offering resources including hardware, software and services. In the EMEA region, MTCs operate in Copenhagen, Denmark; Dubai, UAE; Munich, Germany; Paris, France; and Reading, UK.

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Similar to MTCs, Microsoft Innovation Centres for ISV Development focus on providing ISVs with guidance on the design and development of products that work with Microsoft software. At these centres, ISVs have access to training, technologies and technical expertise from Microsoft staff, and the facilities provide a simulation environment enabling ISVs to test their software applications as though they were installed in a customer’s environment. Microsoft has ISV centres in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Aragón and Castilla y León, Spain; Copenhagen, Denmark; Maribor, Slovenia; and Varaždin, Croatia.

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Following the collapse of Eastern European

socialism in 1989, a steady flow of migrants from

war-torn and impoverished countries chose to

start a new life in Greece. As with all migrant

communities, the road to gaining employment

and acceptance is long, and made even more

difficult by individuals’ lack of basic computing

skills — a requirement for most jobs. In October

2005, Microsoft partnered with the city of

Athens to convert a government building into

a computer training centre for disadvantaged

migrants. The centre has proven highly successful,

and Microsoft has since expanded its relationship

with the municipal government, sponsoring its

2006 Athens Career Forum.

The EMEA region comprises a highly diverse grouping of countries, spanning some of the most developed economies in the world and some of the least. Cultural and social differences can be immense, and governments’ policy objectives reflect this diversity. Even in well-developed economies and “wired” societies, as in the Nordic region, there are endless opportunities to put technology to better use in business, in the public sector and in people’s daily lives.

Microsoft recognises that doing business in EMEA requires different approaches and presents different opportunities to support local development. One “size” does not fit all. This is why the company has been steadily increasing its physical presence in EMEA over the past two decades, recently opening offices in Armenia and Azerbaijan, on the eastern flank of EMEA, and in Bosnia.

As part of Microsoft’s commitment to the countries and communities where it operates, the company also helps bring technology access and opportunity to underserved populations through formal agreements with some of the world’s most influential development organisations. Among them are the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

Responding to Local Needs

Increasing IT Literacy

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Building Skills and Knowledge

Companies have a responsibility to support the communities in which they do business. Microsoft embraces this viewpoint in its work with a wide range of organisations — including governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private companies — to create opportunities for underserved populations, and drive local innovation and economic development. Microsoft is making a difference in communities across EMEA, helping society capitalise on the knowledge revolution, by promoting the use of ICT in education and supporting ICT training for adults in disadvantaged communities. However, while technology itself is a key element in promoting economic growth and digital inclusion, it must be combined with education and sustainable programmes that reflect the needs of the local area.

Partnering With SchoolsAccording to the UN’s Millennium Development Goals Report 2005, of the 185 million jobless people worldwide, nearly half are aged 15–24, and youth unemployment rates in developing countries have increased since the 1990s. Training and education are an essential part of turning these figures around.

Microsoft’s Partners in Learning programme strives to help schools in three areas: to significantly raise the level of ICT literacy among school staff; to support teachers and schools in developing an internal culture of innovation; and to work with schools to prepare students for the digital workplace.

Partners in Learning is making a difference for schools and students in 64 EMEA countries. The programme has already trained 2.2 million teachers and school leaders worldwide, and millions of students — 43.2 million and counting — have been reached by the programme.

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Extending this work, Microsoft has developed a proven framework to help governments bring ICT to underserved schools and communities in Africa. The African Pathfinder is a programme blueprint that helps education authorities and NGOs spread the productive use of ICT in schools — in a locally driven, sustainable way. Growing out of a partnership between Microsoft and the government of Namibia, African Pathfinder provides PCs, teacher training, technical support and advice to schools. Since the successful implementation of the Namibian Pathfinder project, the governments of Angola, Madagascar and Rwanda have joined the Pathfinder network.

In cooperation with the Czech Republic Ministry of Education,

Youth and Sports and Microsoft, the secondary technical school

Na Trebešíne is one of many schools using Microsoft Class Server

4.0 to create and deliver e-learning materials, administer and

grade tests, and improve collaboration between teachers and

students. Microsoft’s Partners in Learning has supported the

school with technical support, training and e-learning content.

The Kenya ICT Trust Fund private-public partnership with

Microsoft has helped the Kenyan government develop a

National Education ICT Strategy and mobilise over $80,000 of

contributions for initiatives in schools. The Microsoft Partners

in Learning initiative is also training secondary school teachers

and helping the Ministry of Education develop a national ICT

curriculum that provides a 21st-century education to school

children across the nation.

Partnering With Educators


In cooperation with local government, the Polish foundation Modern

Poland used a $250,000 Microsoft Unlimited Potential grant to install internet

access points in each of the 118 districts in the Podlasie region of north-

eastern Poland — the country’s first effort to provide free internet access to

the residents of poor, rural communities. This year the programme is being

extended with additional funding from Microsoft, with five of the existing

access points being expanded into CTCs that will enable residents to

develop computer skills and become more employable.

Partnering With Communities In addition to supporting the use of ICT primary and secondary education, Microsoft is helping adult learners gain basic ICT skills for work and life through local community training centres. Community-based technology training and access is one of the most promising avenues for helping people in underserved communities to become more employable and to gain access to information and services available through the internet.

In 2003, Microsoft launched the Unlimited Potential programme, which provides equipment, resources and training for Community Technology Centres (CTCs). In 2007, the programme’s focus was expanded in order to extend new avenues of social and economic opportunity to the estimated 5 billion people that have yet to realize the benefits of technology. With our partners, both public and private, we focus on transforming education, fostering local innovation, and enabling jobs and opportunities to create a continuous cycle of sustained social and economic growth for everyone.

To date, Microsoft has supported 239 Unlimited Potential projects in EMEA, serving an estimated 7 million people. With an investment of approximately US$51 million, Microsoft has helped to establish more than 7,400 CTCs in the region.

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Advanced Teacher Training Schools that want to integrate ICT more deeply into their curriculum need more than computing equipment. They also need teachers who have the knowledge to use computers, operating systems and applications. Microsoft has made a substantial commitment over the next five years to invest in technology skills training for teachers in schools worldwide.

Microsoft IT Academy for Teacher Training is a programme for accredited academic institutions to offer students high-quality education using Microsoft technologies. Among the components of this programme, Microsoft offers a comprehensive curriculum aligned with real-world career paths, textbooks and course libraries, online and e-learning resources, and faculty training. The programme seeks to inspire school leaders to recognise the power of ICT for teaching and school improvement.

Microsoft recently established four School Technology Innovation Centres — in Amman, Jordan; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Brussels, Belgium; and Prague, Czech Republic. At these centres, teachers are shown how technology can create richer, more inspiring and more effective learning environments. Each centre is a demonstration and learning laboratory for educators, where Microsoft and its partners Cisco Systems, HP and Intel share innovative teaching practices and provide information, training and equipment that enhances the use of ICT in classrooms and curriculums.


It goes without saying that information technology is an integral part of today’s global society. But not everyone has an equal opportunity to take advantage of ICT. Through numerous programmes, Microsoft is increasing access to computers for people with disabilities, speakers of regional languages, people in underserved areas, and small businesses.

Improving Access to Technology

The cost of computers and software is a significant barrier to development in emerging economies. In many places around the world, the cost of a PC is well beyond the means of the average person, and computing centres are few and far between. Microsoft is making an effort to put PCs within the reach of more people through its Digital Pipeline and Windows Starter Edition programmes.

Microsoft is the founding partner of Digital Pipeline, an independent organisation that is building channels for older but usable computers to be refurbished and used in communities where the cost of a new computer is prohibitive. The programme provides a trustworthy framework for companies to donate their surplus computers responsibly. Not only is this an environmentally friendly way for companies to recycle unneeded computers, it helps to put affordable computers to work for schools and individuals who couldn’t afford them otherwise.

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Microsoft also offers Windows XP Starter Edition, a more affordable version of the Windows XP operating system, to meet the needs of entry-level PC users and to promote digital access in underserved markets. Tailored to local markets and compatible with a wide range of Windows-based applications and devices, the product is offered in collaboration with governments and industry partners, to put PCs within the financial reach of citizens in selected middle- and low-income regions. Windows XP Starter Edition is currently available in 81 countries in the region, with Arabic and Turkish versions for ten countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

One example of Digital Pipeline in action is in

Namibia, where the Education Ministry is using

ICT to improve the quality of education and help

students develop technology skills in schools. In

partnership with Microsoft and Digital Pipeline,

the ministry has deployed computer laboratories

in more than a dozen schools, saving on costs

while using the same software as schools in

Europe and the US.

The Digital Pipeline


Bridging the Language Divide The Council of Europe estimates the number of living languages in the world at around 6,000, with between 200 and 300 indigenous languages in Europe alone. Globalisation, however, is forcing people to communicate increasingly in only a handful of major languages. Rather than increasing diversity, it is actually undermining and diluting local languages and cultures.

To prevent language from being a barrier to ICT use, worldwide, Microsoft offers full editions of Windows and Office in 25 and 37 languages, respectively. Likewise, Microsoft Customer Service operates in all regional subsidiaries, in more than 43 languages, supported by a common infrastructure to enable consistent processes, systems, tools and knowledge sharing. In addition, Microsoft’s Local Language Programme (LLP) is enabling people to use Microsoft Windows and Office in less-common languages such as Albanian, Gaelic Irish, Kiswahili and Luxemburgish. Through LLP, local governments and language authorities work with Microsoft to develop language interface packs that overlay Windows and Office, based on officially approved glossaries of IT terms. Since the programme was created in 2004, LLP has generated 53 downloadable language interface packs for Windows XP and 36 for Microsoft Office.

Access for People with DisabilitiesIn the UK alone, nearly 10 million people have some kind of disability, from vision or hearing impairments to limited mobility or cognitive disabilities such as dyslexia. Loosely extrapolated, the number reaches into the hundreds of millions across EMEA. Microsoft strives to provide equal access for people with disabilities in everything it builds, approaching accessibility with the same level of commitment as it does to IT security.

Microsoft began this work in 1988, becoming one of the first technology companies to create products for people with disabilities. The company developed products for hearing-impaired people as well as keyboard and mouse enhancements for people with limited mobility. Since then, Microsoft’s work in this area has grown. All of its flagship products, including Microsoft Windows and Office, now include accessibility features.

Windows Vista features a new Ease of Access centre that helps users easily locate the product’s built-in accessibility features, which include improved magnification and state-of-the-art speech recognition that allows people to interact with their computer by voice. This is particularly important for people who have limited dexterity or use of their hands. Windows Vista also offers developers an enhanced platform for creating accessible technologies. Recently Microsoft has been supporting over 150 assistive-technology manufacturers in their development of Windows Vista-compatible products.

i www.microsoft.com/enable


Strengthening the Local Knowledge Economy

Wherever Microsoft does business, the economic and social benefits of its partner-driven business model are felt. Microsoft creates business opportunities for local technology companies and works with governments to support economic growth and spread the use of ICT in support of education, jobs and competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Microsoft has built its business by creating inexpensive software that millions of customers can use without extensive training. This approach puts ICT within the reach of most people, for their personal empowerment and enjoyment as well as their livelihood. Importantly, Microsoft provides a software platform on which other developers can build their own applications, and their own business. This model is the foundation of a commercial software ecosystem that creates ripples of economic value, generating jobs, tax revenues and enhanced economic competitiveness.

In September 2006, the consultancy IDC released a report projecting the economic impact of Windows Vista in six key European markets — Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the UK. According to the study, the new Microsoft operating system will be a major driver of revenue and employment for more than 150,000 IT companies in the six countries, which collectively account for 65 per cent of IT spending in the European Economic Zone. Windows Vista will generate revenues of more than €32 billion for these companies in 2007.

IDC has also studied the impact of the overall software industry on selected EMEA economies. In 2006, the consultancy studied 28 EMEA countries, and found that IT-related activities were the source of nearly 8 million jobs and nearly US$300 billion in tax receipts. An estimated 2.8 million jobs — fully 37 per cent of the overall IT sector — is attributed to companies and employees working with Microsoft products.

In addition, for every $1 of revenue that Microsoft generated in the EMEA region, another $7.68 was earned by other companies selling hardware or software that works on Microsoft operating systems or servicing that software. So the value of the software industry compounds, fuelling economic growth and dynamism in every local market.

Between 2005 and 2009, IDC estimates that 1.5 million new IT jobs will be created in the region, generating $179 billion in new tax receipts (IDC, 2006).

In terms of jobs, Microsoft-related employment ranges from approximately 36,000 people in both Hungary and Turkey to more than half a million in Germany and the UK. In South Africa, 49 per cent of IT employment is related to Microsoft products, and in Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Turkey, Microsoft-related employment represents more than half of the industry total.

For six countries in south-eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Motenegro (one country when the study was conducted), and Slovenia, IDC projects that between 2004 and 2009 the IT sector will generate over 35,000 new jobs and $1.4 billion in cumulative new IT tax revenue. In 2004, over half of employment and tax revenues were attributable to the fast-growing Microsoft ecosystem in that region (IDC, 2005).

Microsoft also invests directly in the success of its software partners, whose products and services enhance the overall value of the Microsoft platform. Microsoft is investing approximately $95 million in supporting ISVs in EMEA. This partner focus shapes the way other companies feel about engaging with Microsoft. In 2004, according to IDC, ten of the leading systems integrators in Europe, representing one-third of the European services market, ranked Microsoft as the vendor providing the greatest business opportunity through strategic alliances.

These data underscore a key principle of Microsoft’s business model: to support a vibrant IT economy in which local business thrive and local jobs are created.

Achieving e-EuropeMicrosoft is committed to working with the European Union to achieve its vision for an inclusive information society through its e-Europe and e-Europe+ Action Plans, bringing communities closer together, promoting economic growth and creating a more integrated society. Accordingly, Microsoft participates in public-private partnerships to help prevent the development of a two-tier Europe.


These include community affairs programmes and a wide range of partnerships with governments, businesses and institutions to strengthen local technology infrastructures and address the economic and social priorities across the EU.

The Shared Source Initiative (SSI) was created in 2001 to make Microsoft source code more broadly available for key products and components. The initiative includes over 70 different offerings, and more than 2 million developers worldwide have accessed shared source code. Through SSI, developers receive royalty-free access to Microsoft intellectual property, creating business opportunities for hardware, software and service providers, and offering university students, teachers and researchers access to technologies vital to their research.

The Government Security Programme (GSP) was launched in 2003 as a continuation of SSI. GSP provides national governments with access to Windows source code as well as the technical information and training they need to be confident in the security of the Windows platform. In September 2005, Office 2003 was included in GSP for the first time. Microsoft has 34 GSP agreements with governments and agencies in EMEA.

The Solutions Sharing Network (SSN) is an online forum for technical information exchange among government organisations, academic institutions and other public-sector agencies, whose goal is to reduce the cost and time required to develop and deploy software solutions. Through the SSN programme, Microsoft hosts an online catalogue of intellectual property such as software solutions, architectures, best practices and application source code to be shared openly. It also is a forum for technology providers to showcase their solutions and capabilities. Microsoft currently hosts 17 SSN websites in EMEA, with 19 new or upgraded SSNs in the pipeline.

Spurring ICT Use by Smaller Companies SMEs represent 99 per cent of the businesses in Europe, about 22 million currently, with a steady growth rate of just below 5 per cent annually, according to the European Commission. In an increasingly competitive global market, SMEs are under increasing pressure to participate in new markets, reduce operating costs and pursue new business opportunities, but they often lack the capital to invest in the needed ICT. Recognising this need, governments and banks in Europe have made approximately €117 billion (US$150 million) of funding available to SMEs for technology and related investments. However, only 45 per cent of SMEs in Europe are aware that these funds are available. Then there are the bureaucratic hurdles. Of the 4 per cent of SMEs that do apply, only one quarter are successful in their application and receive grant money.

Led by Microsoft in cooperation with local and regional governments, the European Union Grants Advisor (EUGA) programme aims to help SMEs better understand and benefit from government funding opportunities. Through the EUGA website, business owners are able to find information about EU and national funding, and ascertain which funds they may be eligible for. Since its initial pilot in 2004, the programme has expanded to 19 EU countries, supported by 131 partner organisations. There are currently more than 500 projects in the pipeline, benefiting 132,000 companies and representing a contribution of over €170 million to local economies.

i www.microsoft.com/emea/euga


Contributing to Business and Industry Dialogue

Microsoft is a vocal contributor to IT-industry forums — participating in cross-industry organisations and conferences where all points of view can be heard and debated. Among the most important issues in the industry today are intellectual property protection, software interoperability, and security and online safety.

Protecting the Value of InnovationOne invention, introduced at the right time, has the power to spawn thousands of satellite businesses, generating tax revenues for government, and creating jobs and income for countless individuals. Innovative ideas, therefore, must be protected if they are to benefit local economies.

Intellectual property laws make it possible for creators to build businesses around their innovations, and thus form the framework upon which the software industry exists. Microsoft, which contributes to a vibrant, widely distributed ecosystem of technology providers, is a strong advocate of intellectual property protection.

Increasingly, Microsoft is patenting and licensing its software inventions, instead of retaining exclusive usage rights. Open licensing of intellectual property has become common in the software industry, and it allows Microsoft to be more transparent with its products. Increased licensing allows multiple vendors to provide innovative technology in their diverse product offerings. This model encourages broader availability and use of new technologies, and the result is more consumer choice.

Software piracy undermines the market’s ability to reward innovation. Although a number of countries have solid intellectual property protection legislation, counterfeiting and software theft is prevalent, and protection is inconsistent. According to the Business Software Alliance’s (BSA’s) 2005 Global Software Piracy Report, just over a third (35 per cent) of software loaded on to computers in 2005 was illegally copied. Globally, this represents a $34 billion loss of revenue for the world’s economies due to piracy in 2005.

Microsoft EMEA has built strong partnerships with industry, governments and industry associations such as the BSA, sharing its expertise in the areas of intellectual property law. The company supports law enforcement on prosecutions and helps other government agencies protect and inform the public.

i �www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip

Building Software That Works TogetherIn today’s heterogeneous IT marketplace, interoperability is a practical necessity. Interoperability means enabling diverse systems to work together, giving customers complete control over their data in a multi-vendor environment. Microsoft products and services are interoperable by design. They work well together and with other enterprise solutions to reduce complex business integration. Microsoft makes its products interoperable by focusing on four areas: engineering, industry collaboration, standards engagement and IP licensing.

= Engineering. Interoperable components are built into Microsoft software. Therefore, enterprise customers are less reliant on custom development, consulting services, and cumbersome testing and certification to achieve interoperability. For products and technologies such as Microsoft Office and web services, the company offers an extensive set of tools, educational materials and other resources for developers and ISVs to enhance the interoperability of their products with Microsoft’s products.

= Licensing. Licensing intellectual property increases the overall pool of innovations available to industry, enhancing growth of the IT industry with resulting benefits to competition, interoperability, consumer choice and productivity. Microsoft formalised its intellectual property licensing programme in 2003 and has expanded access to Microsoft technology ever since.

= Industry Collaboration. IT companies frequently engage in technical collaboration to solve interoperability challenges facing their customers and the IT industry. These collaborations vary widely, and include private-sector engagements as well as collaboration between private industry and government. For example, Microsoft has engaged in several recent company-to-company collaborations, pursuing instant messaging interoperability with AOL and Yahoo!, and interoperability between open source software and Windows with Novell, JBoss and SugarCRM.

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= Standards. Technology standards enable interoperability across a wide range of products and services. Standards are created through open and collaborative development, and established through market adoption of a particular technology. For years, Microsoft has been a leader and advocate in promoting web services technology, which enables connected, web-based applications to exchange data and interoperate — principally through its contribution to the XML standard. The company actively participates in the standards process, cooperating with industry partners and independent standards bodies such as the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to promote the use and continual improvement of these specifications.

i www.microsoft.com/interop

Helping to Make Computing Safe As a developer of leading internet technologies and a producer of mass-market software, Microsoft has an obligation to help address the challenges of the new information-based society. Microsoft is dealing with security and internet safety threats by developing new features that strengthen its products and enable customers to control their level of protection and safety online.

The company has adopted numerous practices to ensure that security standards are met. For example:

= The quality and predictability of security updates have been improved by moving to a regular monthly update cycle and reducing the size of the updates to make it easier for people to keep their systems secure.

= Microsoft requires its software developers to attend ongoing training in writing secure code and has established strict security checkpoints at every stage in the software development process.

= Enterprise-class and internet-facing software must meet mandatory and rigorous security and reliability standards before shipping. This process was used for Windows Server 2003 and resulted

in a 56 per cent decrease in the number of security bulletins, compared to Windows Server 2000.

Microsoft’s leaders are determined to help make the internet safe for everyone, especially children and families. One company cannot protect the millions of people who use computers and technologies alone. So Microsoft is also working with technology industry partners, law enforcement organisations and others in the fight to protect all users from computer worms and viruses, as well as online security threats including spam, spyware and phishing (identity theft).

= In March 2006, Microsoft launched the Global Phishing Enforcement Initiative (GPEI), a legal campaign to fight phishers in partnership with law enforcement, multiple industries and governments, with the goal of educating consumers, prosecuting criminals and developing technology solutions to address the threat of phishing.

= In April 2005, in cooperation with international law enforcement agencies, Microsoft unveiled the Child Exploitation Tracking System (CETS), a computer system that allows global police agencies to share information for tracking online child predators.

MSN is one of the world’s most popular destinations on the internet, attracting over 440 million users each month worldwide. MSN is deeply committed to online safety and security, and collaborates with partners in the volunteer sector, child-protection professionals, parent groups, governments and both local and international law enforcement to find practical solutions that address this issue. In Europe, some of these partners include InHope, EuroISPA, EU Safer Internet Program, the Government’s Task force on Child Protection (UK), Anesvad (Spain) and Safer Internet for Children Group (the Netherlands).

i www.microsoft.com/mscorp/innovation/twc

Since October 2003, Microsoft has trained more than 600,000 IT professionals

and developers — including 180,000 in EMEA — on security best practices

through security summits, webcasts, e-learning clinics, online security guidance

and the Microsoft Security Guidance Kit CD.

2007

= Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft

Office System launch.

= The Microsoft Global Technological Support

Centre opened in Bucharest, Romania.

= A Microsoft subsidiary is established

in Senegal.

= Microsoft acquires Israeli company

Secured Connection.

2006

= The Microsoft Development Center for

Collaboration Technologies is opened in

Zürich, Switzerland, and Microsoft innovation

centres are opened in Poznan, Poland;

Moscow, Russia; and Durban, South Africa.

= Microsoft acquires British game developer

Lionhead Studios, Swiss software company

media-streams and French mobile search

technology provider MotionBridge.

= A Microsoft subsidiary is established in

Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2005

= Xbox 360 launches.

= Jean-Philippe Courtois is named president

of Microsoft International, and Neil Holloway

is promoted to president, Microsoft EMEA.

= Subsidiary offices are opened in Armenia

and Azerbaijan, and Microsoft development

centres are opened in Belgrade, Serbia; and

Sandyford, Ireland.

= The Microsoft European Science Initiative is

created to foster research at the convergence

of science and computing, and the Microsoft-

University of Trento Centre for Computational

Biology is opened in Trento, Italy.

= Microsoft launches the European Union

Grants Advisor programme to help more

small and medium-sized businesses benefit

from public funding.

2004

= A Microsoft Innovation Centre for ISV

Development opens on the campus in

Copenhagen, Denmark.

= A Microsoft subsidiary is established in the

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

2003

= Microsoft marks 20 years of operations in

EMEA, and Jean-Philippe Courtois is named

CEO of the regional organisation.

= Subsidiary offices are opened in Bahrain,

Estonia, Iceland, Lithuania, Luxembourg,

Malta and Qatar. The European Microsoft

Innovation Center (EMIC) is founded in

Aachen, Germany.

2002

= Microsoft acquires Danish software company

Navision A/S, creating Microsoft’s largest

product development hub outside the US.

= The company also acquires British game

developer Rare.

= Subsidiary offices are opened in Cyprus,

Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Yugoslavia.

2001

= Subsidiary offices are opened in Jordan

and Oman.

2000

= Microsoft unveils the .NET platform, its

roadmap for the next generation of software

and services.

= Steve Ballmer becomes the second CEO of

Microsoft, and Bill Gates takes on a new role

as Chief Software Architect.

= Subsidiary offices are opened in Algeria,

Finland and Nigeria.

1999

= Subsidiary offices are opened in Bulgaria,

Pakistan and Tunisia. Microsoft Baltics opens

in Latvia.

1998

= Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa

(EMEA) is established in Paris.

= Subsidiary offices are opened in Abu Dhabi,

UAE; Kuwait; Lebanon and Namibia.

1997

= Microsoft Research Cambridge opens in the

UK, and a Microsoft subsidiary is established

in Mauritius.

1996

= Subsidiary offices are opened in Croatia,

Ivory Coast, Romania and Saudi Arabia.

1995

= Windows 95 sells more than 1 million

copies in its first four days of availability.

= Bill Gates outlines Microsoft’s commitment

to supporting and enhancing the internet.

= Subsidiary offices are opened in Egypt,

Kenya and Slovakia.

1994


in Slovenia.

1993

= The Windows NT brand is created with the

release of the company’s first 32-bit server

operating system.

= Subsidiary offices are opened in the Czech

Republic, Hungary, Morocco, Poland, Russia

and Turkey.

1992

= Microsoft becomes the first software

company with a broad presence in Eastern

Europe, opening Eastern and Central

European offices.

= Subsidiary offices are established in

Greece and South Africa.

1991

= Subsidiary offices are opened in Austria

and Dubai, UAE.

1990


in Switzerland.

1989

= Microsoft introduces the earliest version of

the Office suite of productivity applications.

= Microsoft establishes its European

headquarters in Paris and opens subsidiaries

in Belgium and Israel.

1988

= The European Product Development

Centre (EPDC) opens in Dublin, Ireland.

1987


in Portugal.

1986

= Microsoft stock goes public.

= The Microsoft European Operations Centre

(EOC) opens in Ireland.

1985

= Subsidiary offices are opened in Denmark,

Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden.

1983

= Microsoft launches the Windows

operating system.

= Subsidiary offices are opened in France

and Germany.

1982

= Microsoft opens its first subsidiary outside

the US — Microsoft Ltd. in the UK.

1981

= The MS-DOS operating system is

introduced on the IBM personal computer.

1975

= Microsoft is founded in the US.

Milestones

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�� m i c ro s o f t e m e a b ac kg ro u n d i n f o r m at i o n • j u n e �007

People, Operations and Facilities=��Microsoft beginnings in EMEA: Microsoft UK

was established in 1982, the first office outside the US, followed by Microsoft France and Microsoft Germany in 1983.

=��Subsidiaries: Microsoft has over 70 offices and subsidiaries in 61 EMEA countries.

=��Employees: More than 13,000 people work for the organisation, representing 12 business groups.

=��Regional coverage: Microsoft EMEA offers services and products in 139 countries and territories.

=��Manufacturing, distribution and logistics: Supported by the European Operations Centre (EOC), manufacturing operations were set up in County Dublin, Ireland, in 1986.

=��Product localisation: Microsoft Office is available in 29 languages spoken in the EMEA region, as well as 21 additional languages via downloadable language interface packs (LIPs). Microsoft Windows is available in 19 regional languages, with 35 LIPs. At the European Product Development Centre (EPDC) in Dublin, Ireland, Microsoft developers and linguists specialise in 50 languages and dialects to create these local-language products.

Facts and Figures

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R&D: Investing in the FutureMicrosoft makes a considerable investment in innovation-related activities worldwide, in excess of 15 per cent of revenue in recent years. Few other companies — in any industry — make such a significant investment in R&D. The company operates numerous facilities in the region dedicated to technology innovation and software development:

=� Microsoft Research, whose mandate is to develop new technologies through long-term “blue sky” research as well as applied, product-focused research — the UK

=� Microsoft Institutes, research centres of excellence that Microsoft has established in collaboration with leading research and academic bodies — France, Italy, South Africa

=� Microsoft Development Centres, where Microsoft products are developed and enhanced — Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, the UK

=� Microsoft Innovation Centres, where the company works with industry partners and governments to share expertise and speed time to deployment, time to market — Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the UK

=� Microsoft Technology Centres, where enterprise customers can test their applications and obtain support and advice from Microsoft engineers — Denmark, France, Germany, UAE, the UK

Connecting With Customers and Building Partnerships=��Customer and partner ecosystem: Microsoft

partners in EMEA include over 97,000 resellers, distributors and systems integrators, 33,000 ISVs and more than 100,000 software developers registered with the Microsoft Developer Network. Across EMEA, 3,500 Microsoft Business Solutions partners develop solutions for SMEs. This ecosystem serves over 20 million SMEs in the region.

=��Education: Through the Partners in Learning programme, Microsoft EMEA collaborates with schools and universities to enable better integration of technology into the curriculum. To date, Partners in Learning agreements have been signed with 64 national governments in the region.

=��NGOs and charities: Through the Unlimited Potential programmes, Microsoft EMEA partners with organisations to improve life-long learning for disadvantaged young people and adults through community technology centres. To date, Unlimited Potential has supported 239 projects in EMEA with over 130 partners in 65 countries across the region. Over the next five years, Microsoft will commit up to $1 billion to Unlimited Potential partnerships worldwide.

Participating in Industry Dialogue=��Mission: Responsible leadership through

industry partnership and dialogue

=� Industry association membership and participation: Business Software Alliance (BSA), CompTIA, CSR Europe, the European Information, Communications and Consumer Electronics Technology Association (EICTA), eLIG, European Policy Centre (EPC), EU Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce, Initiative for Software Choice, International Communications Round Table (ICRT), and the World Economic Forum’s Global Digital Divide Initiative Taskforce (GDDI).

� i �www.microsoft.com/emea/associations


Microsoft EMEA Leadership Team

Neil Holloway, President of Microsoft EMEA, and Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Corp

Umberto Paolucci, Senior Chairman, Microsoft EMEA, and Vice President, Microsoft Corp

Olga Dergunova, Chairwoman, Microsoft Russia and CIS

Cheick Diarra, Chairman, Microsoft Africa

Jan Muehlfeit, Chairman, Europe

Goran Radman, Chairman, Microsoft South-East Europe

Ali Faramawy, Vice President, Middle East and Africa, and Vice President, Microsoft International

Pierre Liautaud, President, Western Europe, and Vice President, Microsoft International

Vahé Torossian, Vice President, Central and Eastern Europe, and Vice President, Microsoft International

Erich Andersen, Deputy General Counsel

Alistair Baker, General Manager, Microsoft UK, and Vice President, Microsoft International

Michel van der Bel, Vice President, Public Sector

Achim Berg, General Manager, Microsoft Germany, and Vice President, Microsoft International

Eric Boustouller, General Manager, Microsoft France, and Vice President, Microsoft International

Simon Brown, General Manager, Developer and Platform Evangelism

Ramon Demelbauer, Vice President, Enterprise Services

Philippe Dumont, General Manager, Marketing and Communications

Wolfgang Ebermann, Vice President, Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partners

Barbara Gordon, Vice President, Enterprise Platform Group

Wilfried Grommen, General Manager, Business Strategy

Albert Hakkers, Director, Human Resources

Guido Haring, General Manager, Customer Service and Technical Support

Chris Lewis, Vice President, Home and Entertainment Division

Jonathan Murray, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

Alexander Stüger, Vice President, Business Marketing Organisation

Geoff Sutton, Regional General Manager, MSN Europe

Organisationally, Microsoft EMEA falls under Microsoft International. Formed in 2005, Microsoft International leads sales, marketing and services for all regions outside the US, focusing on continued growth through strategic partnerships and globally integrated business operations.

Jean-Philippe Courtois, President, Microsoft International, and Senior Vice President, Microsoft Corp.

Claude Changarnier, Vice President, Finance and Administration, Microsoft International

Ulrich Holtz, General Manager, Human Resources, Microsoft International

m i c ro s o f t e m e a b ac kg ro u n d i n f o r m at i o n • j u n e �007 ��

Jean-Philippe CourtoisPresident, Microsoft International, andSenior Vice President, Microsoft CorpAs president of Microsoft International, Jean-Philippe Courtois leads sales, marketing and services for all regions outside the US and Canada, including EMEA, Japan, China, the Asia Pacific region, Latin America, and emerging markets. He also shares responsibility for Microsoft Corp’s worldwide public sector team, directing the company’s engagement with governments around the globe.

Microsoft has evolved into a truly global company with more than 80 subsidiaries around the world, and Courtois’ role includes responsibility for driving growth through strategic partnerships and globally integrated business operations.

Courtois’ leadership reflects the company’s commitment to customers, industry partners and governments. As president of Microsoft International, Courtois also places a high priority on spreading the benefits of technology for economic and social development — creating ubiquitous access to technology, helping ensure internet safety, supporting education, and generating economic growth and opportunity. As an industry leader, Microsoft has a responsibility to enable access to technology in ways that help people realise their full potential, and Courtois works to align Microsoft’s business priorities to help address these critical global issues.

During his 22 years at the company, Courtois has held several leadership positions. Previously, as CEO of Microsoft EMEA, he led the worldwide business planning process for EMEA, improving customer satisfaction and enhancing regional integration. Before he was named CEO, Courtois had served for three years as president of Microsoft EMEA and as vice president of worldwide customer marketing, based in Microsoft’s US headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

Following the company’s reorganisation in March 1999, a process that realigned Microsoft’s divisions to focus on core customers, he launched the Customer and Partner Satisfaction initiative and was instrumental in managing its strategic, global rollout. Before that, he was vice president of Microsoft Europe in 1997 and became general manager for Microsoft France in 1994, following several promotions. Courtois joined Microsoft France in 1984 as a channel sales representative. Before joining Microsoft, Courtois spent 18 months as a product manager for Memsoft, a French accounting software company.

Courtois is administrator for PlaNet Finance and the official representative of Microsoft at Institut Montaigne. A French national, Courtois graduated from The Ecole Superieure de Commerce, Nice (CERAM) and obtained his DECS.

Executive Biographies

Courtois’ leadership reflects the company’s commitment to customers, industry partners and governments.

Neil HollowayPresident, Microsoft EMEA, andVice President, Microsoft CorpAs president of Microsoft EMEA, Neil Holloway leads Microsoft Corp’s business throughout EMEA, and is a member of the worldwide Sales, Marketing and Services Group (SMSG) leadership team and the worldwide Consumer Leadership Team (CLT). He focuses on the balanced objectives of driving customer satisfaction, improving integration across Microsoft business units, addressing the unique technology needs of diverse markets, and growing the software business in the region.

Before assuming the president’s role in 2005, Holloway served as corporate vice president of sales, marketing and services for EMEA, and has extensive field expertise establishing programmes that directly address customer and partner needs in the region. His role included leading the business planning processes, enhancing field effectiveness and managing Microsoft’s sales and marketing efforts across the EMEA region.

Since joining Microsoft in 1990, Holloway has held a number of strategic roles in its UK subsidiary. He was appointed managing director of Microsoft Ltd. in July 1998 and subsequently was appointed vice president of Microsoft EMEA in April 2000.

Before joining Microsoft, Holloway was managing director of Migent UK, a company operating in the consumer and client server software markets. He is passionate about demonstrating responsible leadership and delivering the highest level of customer experience.

Holloway has a master’s of philosophy in operational research and control engineering from Cambridge University and a BSc Hon. in mathematics from Bath. His hobbies are football, swimming, playing golf and spending time with his family.

i �www.microsoft.com/emea/about/executivebiographies.mspx

Holloway is passionate about demonstrating responsible leadership and delivering the highest level of customer experience.

www.microsoft.com/emea/about/executivebiographies.mspx


For the most up-to-date contact information for Microsoft regional offices, refer to:i �www.microsoft.com/worldwide

Microsoft EMEA Headquarters Western Europe Headquarters

Microsoft EMEA Cœur Défense, Tour B100, Esplanade du Général de Gaulle92932 Paris La Défense FranceTel: +33 1 70 99 10 00 Fax: +33 1 70 99 10 30

Central and Eastern Europe Headquarters

Microsoft Deutschland GmbH Konrad-Zuse-Strasse 1 85716 Unterschleissheim (Munich) GermanyTel: +49 89 3176 0 Fax: +49 89 3176 1000

Middle East and Africa Headquarters

Microsoft Bilgisayar Yazilim Barbaros PlazaEmirhan Cad. 145-CDikilitasIstanbul, 34349TurkeyTel: +90 212 326 5000 Fax: +90 212 258 5954

Microsoft Corporate Affairs

Troonstraat 4, rue du Trône1000 BrusselsBelgiumTel: +32 2 550 06 10Fax: +32 2 550 06 11

Algeria

Microsoft Algeria 9 lot. Petite Provence Commune d’Hydra Wilaya d’Alger, Alger Algérie Tel: +213 21 48 01 00Fax: +213 21 48 29 40

Armenia

Microsoft RA LLC 123 Hovsep Emin Street,Yerevan 375051Republic of Armenia

Austria

Microsoft Österreich Ges.m.b.H. Am Euro Platz 3 1120 Wien (Vienna) AustriaTel: +43 1 610 64 0 Fax: +43 1 610 64 200

Azerbaijan

Microsoft Azerbaijan LLC 340 Nizami St.Baku AZ1000Republic of AzerbaijanTel: + 994 12 497 2454Fax: + 994 12 497 2454

Bahrain

Bahrain Institute of Technology GOSI Complex Exhibition Avenue P.O. Box 26038 - Manama 319 Tel: +973 17 58 31 51 Fax: +973 17 58 31 61

Belgium

Microsoft N.V. Avenue Culliganlaan 1 Madison Building 1831 Diegem BelgiumTel:+32 2 704 30 00 Fax: +32 2 704 35 35

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Microsoft BiH Fra Andela Zvizdovi´ca 1SarajevoBosnia and HerzegovinaTel:+387 33 296 710 Fax: +387 33 296 711

Bulgaria

Microsoft Bulgaria 18–20 Gogol Str. 1504 Sofia BulgariaTel: +359 2 9657 371 Fax: +359 2 9657 377

Croatia

Microsoft Hrvatska Turinina 3 10010 Zagreb Croatia Tel: +385 1 4802 500 Fax: +385 1 4802 525

Cyprus

Microsoft Cyprus 11 Kyriacos Matsis Avenue Nikis Center, 5th floor 1082 Nicosia - CyprusTel: +357 22456077 x200 Fax: +357 22681961

Czech Republic

Microsoft s.r.o. BB Centrum, budova Alpha Vyskocilova 1461/2a 140 00 Praha 4 Czech RepublicTel: +420 2 611 97 111 Fax: +420 2 611 97 100

Denmark The Danish office also supports Faroe Islands and Greenland)

Microsoft Danmark ApS Tuborg Boulevard 12 2900 Hellerup Denmark Tel: +45 44 89 0100 Fax: +45 44 68 5510

Egypt

Microsoft Egypt Smart Village Kilo 28, Cairo/Alex Desert Road Abu Rawash EgyptTel: +202 539 3333Fax: +202 539 3030

Estonia

Microsoft Estonia OÜ Rävala 5 10143 Tallinn EstoniaTel: +372 6679800 Fax: +372 6679801

Finland

Microsoft OY (Suomi) Keilaranta 7 02150 Espoo SuomiTel: +358 9 525 501 Fax: +358 9 878 8778

France (Supporting French Polynesia)

Microsoft France S.A.R.L. 18 Avenue du Quebec Zone de Courtaboeuf 1 91957 Les Ulis Cedex France Tel: +33 8 25 82 78 29 Fax: +33 1 64 46 06 60

Germany

Microsoft Deutschland GmbH Konrad-Zuse-Strasse 185716 Unterschleissheim (Munich)GermanyTel: +49 89 3176 0Fax: +49 89 3176 1000

Greece

Microsoft Hellas S.A. Kifissias 221151 24 MaroussiAthens GreeceTel: +30 211 1206 000 Fax: +30 211 1206 003

Hungary

Microsoft Hungary Graphisoft Park 3 (Zahony u.) 1031 Budapest Hungary Tel: +36 1 437 2800 Fax: +36 1 437 2899

Iceland

Microsoft Iceland Engjateig 7105 ReykjavíkIcelandTel: +354 510 6908Fax: +354 510 6901

Ireland

Microsoft Ireland Atrium Building Block B Carmenhall Road Sandyford Industrial Estate Dublin 18 Ireland Tel: +353 1 295 3826 Fax: +353 1 706 4110

Israel

Microsoft Israel Ltd. Ha’Pnina St. 2 Ranana 43107 IsraelTel: +972 (9) 7625-100 Fax: +972 (9) 7625-200

Italy

Microsoft Centro Direzionale San Felice Via Rivoltana 13 Palazzo A 20090 – Segrate - Milano Italy Tel: +39 02 70398398 Fax: +39 02 70392020

Ivory Coast and West Africa

Microsoft Côte d’Ivoire 31, Avenue Noguès Plateau Immeuble Karrath, 4ème étage Abidjan Ivory CoastTel: +225 20 31 05 00

Jordan

Microsoft Jordan 503 Astra Building P.O. Box 3321 Amman 11181JordanTel: +962 6 4626969 Fax: +962 6 4637686

Kazakhstan

Microsoft Kazakhstan Ken Dala Business Center 38 Dostyk Avenue, 050010 AlmatyKazakhstan Tel: +7 3272 585 595 Fax: +7 3272 585 559

Kenya and East Africa

Microsoft East Africa Software Ltd. 2nd Ngong Avenue I & M Bank House 7th Floor PO Box 64736 Esso, Plaza 00620 KenyaTel: +254 (2) 2728196

Kuwait

Microsoft Kuwait Muhammed Thunayan Al Ghanim Street Al Sahab Tower 14th Floor, PO Box 5244 Safat Kuwait

Latvia

Microsoft Latvia SIA Merkela Street 21 Riga LV-1050 LatviaTel: +371 704 6000 Fax: +371 704 6006

Lebanon

Microsoft Lebanon SARL Borj An Nahar Building, 3rd FloorMartyrs Square Beirut Central DistrictLebanonTel: +961 1 98 33 44

Lithuania

Microsoft Lietuva UAB Šeimyniškiu 3 Vilnius LT-09312 LithuaniaTel: +370 52780680 Fax: +370 52780681

Luxembourg

NCI Office – Laccolith 20, rue Eugène Ruppert 2543 LuxembourgTel: +352 26 493 706 Fax: +352 26 196 385

Regional Headquarters and Subsidiary Offices

m i c ro s o f t e m e a b ac kg ro u n d i n f o r m at i o n • j u n e �007 �7

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Microsoft Macedonia Belasica Street no. 2, 3rd floor 1000 Skopje Republic of MacedoniaTel: +389 2 3215 806 Fax: +389 2 3216 745

Malta

Microsoft Malta Tower St. Julian’s Level 15 Portomaso MaltaTel: +356 21 381202 Fax: +356 21 381213

Mauritius and Indian Ocean Islands

Microsoft Mauritius 3rd Floor Barkly Wharf, Suite 3G La Caudan Waterfront Old Pavilion Port Louis MauritiusTel: +230 202 8133

Morocco

Microsoft Afrique du Nord Twin Center Tour A – 15ème étage Bd Zerktouni 20100 Casablanca MoroccoTel: +212 22 95 61 50 Fax: +212 22 95 85 85

Namibia and South-East Africa

Microsoft Namibia 21 Nachtigal Street Windhoek NamibiaTel: +264 61 2925000

Netherlands

Microsoft BV Boeing Avenue 30 1119 PE Schiphol-Rijk Postbus 12377 1100 AJ Amsterdam-Zuidoost The Netherlands Tel: +31 20 5001 500 Fax: +31 20 5001 999

Nigeria

Microsoft Nigeria 3rd Floor, Octagon Building 13A, A. J Marinho Drive Victoria Island Annex Lagos NigeriaTel: +234 1 2625239

Norway

Microsoft Norge AS Postboks 43, Lilleaker 0216 Oslo Norway Tel: +47 22 02 25 00 Fax: +47 22 95 06 64

Oman

Office no 35, Qurum Plaza, 108, Al Walaj Street, Muscat P.O. Box 1261 Jibroo 114 Sultane of Oman Tel: +968 24 56 5757 Fax: +968 24 56 7121

Pakistan

Microsoft Corporation Pakistan Liaison OfficeThe Forum, Suite 202G-20, Block 9, Khayaban-e-JamiClifton, Karachi – 75600Pakistan Tel: +92 21 111 11 (6738)Fax: +92 21 5369 106

Poland

Microsoft Sp. z o.o. Al. Jerozolimskie 195a 02-222 Warszawa PolandTel: +48 22 594 1000 Fax: +48 22 594 1002

Portugal

Edifício Qualidade, C1-C2 Av. Prof. Doutor Aníbal Cavaco Silva Tagus Park 2744-010 Porto Salvo PortugalTel: +351 21 440 92 00 Fax: +351 21 441 21 01

Quatar

Microsoft Qatar Bustan Steet, Villa Nr 2 Opposite Doha Collage Rayyan Area P.O. Box 2812 Doha – QatarTel: +974 447 4683 Fax: +974 447 5765

Romania

Microsoft Romania s.r.l. Bd. Lascar Catargiu nr. 51-53 Europe House etaj 6 Bucuresti, Sector 1 Cod postal: 711 121 RomaniaTel: +40 21 20 24 200 Fax: +40 21 20 24 276

Russia (Supports Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan)

Microsoft Russia and CIS 125252, Moscow, postbox 70 RussiaTel: +7 095 967 8585 Fax: +7 095 967 8500

Saudi Arabia

Microsoft Arabia Abraj Atta’awuneya, King Fahd Road,Olaya16th Floor, North TowerPO Box 17100, Riyadh 11484Saudi Arabia Tel: +966 1 2188000 Fax: +966 1 2188001

Senegal

Microsoft Senegal Avenue Aamadou AssaneNdoye X Rue du Dr Theze, Immeuble La Rotonde BP: 4436 Dakar RP SenegalTel: +221 889 90 50 Fax: +221 821 02 35

Serbia and Montenegro

Microsoft Software d.o.o. Makedonska 30, 6th floor 11000 Belgrade Serbia and MontenegroTel: +381 11 330 66 00 Fax: +381 11 330 66 01

Slovakia

Microsoft Slovakia s.r.o. Westend CourtDubravska cesta 4841 04 BratislavaSlovakia Tel: +421 2 5929 5111 Fax: +421 2 5929 5100

Slovenia

Microsoft d.o.o. Ljubljana BTC City stolpnica/VII Smartinska 140 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia Tel: +386 1 5 484 100 Fax: +386 1 5 484 122

South Africa

Microsoft Corporate Hill 3012 William Nicol Drive Bryanston Johannesburg 2000 South AfricaTel: +27 11 361 7000 Fax: +27 11 361 7004

Spain

Microsoft Ibérica S.R.L. Paseo del Club Deportivo, 1 Centro Empresarial La Finca – Edificio 1 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón Madrid SpainTel: +34 91 391 99 99 Fax: +34 91 391 90 01

Sweden

Microsoft AB Finlandsgatan 30, Box 27 164 93 Kista Sweden Tel: +46 8 752 56 00 Fax: +46 8 750 51 58

Switzerland

Microsoft Schweiz Richtistrasse 3 8304 Wallisellen Zürich Switzerland Tel: +41 848 22 44 88 Fax: +41 43 456 44 44

Tunisia

Microsoft Tunisie Immeuble Iris Les Berges du Lac 1053 Tunis Tunisie Tel: +216 71 96 00 06 Fax: +216 71 86 25 05

Turkey

Microsoft Bilgisayar Yazilim Barbaros PlazaEmirhan Cad. 145-CDikilitasIstanbul, 34349TurkeyTel: +90 212 326 5000Fax: +90 212 258 5954

Ukraine

Microsoft Ukraine 30A, Spasskaya Str. Podil Plaza, office 3-2b 04070, Kiev UkraineTel: + 380 44 4960310

United Arab Emirates

Microsoft Gulf FZ LLC P O Box 52244 Dubai Internet City, Building No 8 Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai UAETel: +9714 391 7000 Fax: +9714 391 7001

United Kingdom

Microsoft Ltd Thames Valley Park Reading RG6 1WG UKTel: +44 870 60 10 100 Fax: +44 870 60 20 100

Research and Development OfficesMicrosoft Research Cambridge

Roger Needham Building 7 J J Thomson AveCambridge CB3 0FBUKTel: +44 1223 479 700Fax: +44 1223 479 999

European Microsoft Innovation Center (EMIC)

Ritterstrasse 2352072 AachenGermanyTel: +49 241 997 84 0Fax: +49 241 997 84 77

Microsoft European Product Development Centre (EPDC)

South County Business ParkLeopardstownDublin 18 Ireland

Rare

Manor ParkTwycrossWarwickshire CV9 3QNUK Tel: +44 1827 883 400Fax: +44 1827 883 410

Microsoft Development Center, Copenhagen

Frydenlunds Allé 6 DK-2950 Vedbæk DenmarkTel: +45 45 67 80 00

Microsoft Developer Center for Collaboration Technologies

media-streams GmbHSternenstrasse 12CH-8002 ZürichSwitzerlandTel.: +41 44 205 57 57Fax: +41 44 205 57 58

Microsoft European Operations Centre (EOC)

Atrium Building Block BCarmenhall RoadSandyford Industrial EstateDublin 18Ireland Tel: +353 1 295 3826Fax: +353 1 706 4110

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Windows Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp, in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

This document is for informational purposes only. microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this document.

© 2007 Microsoft Corp. All rights reserved.

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