REDMOND, Washington, February 26 /PRNewswire/ --

- Microsoft Windows Embedded for Point of Service offering tapped as 
standard Windows platform for IBM retail systems.

Microsoft Corp today announced that it is working with IBM Corp to
deliver a powerful Windows Embedded-based plug-and-play solution to help make
it faster and easier for retailers and hospitality organisations to deliver
information and services to time-conscious, empowered consumers.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

According to the two companies, Microsoft's Windows Embedded for Point of
Service operating system will come pre-loaded on IBM point-of-sale,
self-checkout and self-service kiosks offerings. The combined solution
provides retailers and hospitality operators with a simple, easy-to-manage
point-of-service platform for empowering workers, and connecting consumers to
products and information in a seamless, integrated retail environment.

"This is about helping our clients win in the marketplace by providing
them a choice of solutions to enable them to more efficiently manage their
businesses, and better serve increasingly demanding consumers," said Alan
Outlaw, business line executive, IBM Point-of-Sale Solutions. "Windows
Embedded for Point of Service gives us yet another option for clients who
want to add Windows as part of their IT infrastructure."

Microsoft Windows Embedded for Point of Service is a point-of-service
operating system platform based on Microsoft Windows technologies optimised
for the retail industry. It is the first point-of-service operating system to
provide plug-and-play functionality for retail device peripherals, with IBM
being a leading retail vendor to offer Windows Embedded for Point of Service
as a pre-installed option to its client.

Windows Embedded for Point of Service is offered pre-installed on IBM
AnyPlace Kiosk, Self Checkout and SurePOS 700, 500 and 300 point-of-sale
systems, IBM's premier open system hardware platforms for the retail and
hospitality industries. The Windows Embedded for Point of Service operating
system fully supports standard retail applications and device peripherals,
and the solution includes an easy upgrade path to Windows XP for Embedded
Systems or Windows Vista for Embedded Systems. The pre-loaded IBM systems
will have increased language support for 33 dialects and will support a
number of industry standards such as biometrics, electronic journal, bill
acceptor, SmartCard and ClearInput.

The powerful, retail-oriented offering will be pre-configured to support
and easily connect to a broad range of retail applications and devices. Its
standards-based framework and built-in networking capabilities enable fast
development and delivery of new POS solutions.

Microsoft also announced today strong growth of Windows Embedded in the
retail market. According to a recent report(i) published by IHL Group Inc, a
retail industry research firm, the total number of Windows Embedded Point of
Service users in North American grew by 250 per cent in 2007. In a second
study with RIS News, IHL also found that 63 per cent of retailers were
seriously considering a Microsoft Windows Embedded operating system for their
next POS purchase.

"Retail and hospitality organisations globally are keenly focused on
making the in-store shopping experience compelling for consumers while also
looking for ways to drive down costs through improved efficiencies," said
Ilya Bukshteyn, director of marketing for Windows Embedded at Microsoft.
"This demand signals the need for technology solutions that deliver a smart,
connected service-oriented experience. Microsoft's collaboration with IBM is
a terrific example of the positive response to our embedded point-of-service
retail and hospitality strategy."

Additional information on Microsoft's Windows Embedded for Point of
Service platform can be found at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/wepos, or at the weblog site at
http://blogs.msdn.com/pointofservice. As a way to streamline the solutions
validation phase, retailers and hospitality operators will be able to try the
solution for up to 120 days before making a purchase decision.

About Microsoft

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

About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)

Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft
employs more than 16,000 people in over 64 subsidiaries, delivering products
and services in more than 139 countries and territories.

(i) Source: 5th Annual IHL/RIS News Store Systems Study, January 2008.

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