LAS VEGAS, April 1 /PRNewswire/ --

- New mobile solution, mobile services plan and phones come together for
end-to-end managed offering.

Helping to propel large-scale mobile phone deployments by businesses,
Microsoft Corp today announced at CTIA Wireless 2008 the immediate
availability of System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 and plans for a
Microsoft Mobile Services Plan (MMSP) to be available from mobile operators
worldwide. Together with Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1, the software and
services provide the best solution for midsize and large businesses to manage
and help protect Windows Mobile phones.

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"With Microsoft's mobile solutions, businesses now have the power,
control and flexibility over how they deliver information to their employees
on the go," said John O'Rourke, general manager, Mobile Communications
Business, Microsoft. "Together with our partners, we're helping enterprises
extend their reach like never before."

Microsoft saw positive response to early trial programmes for Mobile
Device Manager. Companies across the financial, manufacturing and
professional services industries also requested that mobile operators deliver
a core set of software and services to help businesses meet their management
needs.

A study conducted by Microsoft with large and midsize organisations
showed businesses would like to move beyond their current mobile solutions to
offer more sophisticated services. Mobile Device Manager meets their needs by
offering the following benefits:

-- Features to manage phones with the same ease and flexibility as
       Windows-based PCs, addressing IT priorities for saving resources and
       protecting information

    -- Capability to help protect sensitive business files and e-mails,
       contacts and other information through file and storage card 
       encryption on the phone should it be lost or stolen

    -- Ability to access more of the information mobile workers need for
       staying on top of their jobs via a mobile virtual private network,
       which provides security-enhanced access to company data and 
       application updates over the air

Mobile Services Plan Enriches End-to-End Experience

Today leading operators AT&T, O2, Orange, TaTa Teleservices Ltd and
Verizon Wireless announced they are in discussions with Microsoft to deliver
the Microsoft Mobile Services Plan. MMSP is a set of core software and
services that provides a uniform experience across Windows Mobile 6.1 phones,
whether working with one or more operators, saving time and resources so
companies can focus on other areas of mobility. Beginning later in 2008,
operators plan to offer a subscription plan that will bring businesses the
following:

-- A corporate-grade network and data plan to support enterprise
       applications and services to help people get work done with the
       responsiveness they expect from the network and the efficient use of
       battery power they want on their phones

    -- A package from mobile operators, including access rights to Mobile
       Device Manager as well as the advanced mobile management features of
       Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1), Microsoft 
       Services Premier Support and Software Assurance for Microsoft 
       applications such as Microsoft Office Mobile running on Windows Mobile 
       6.1-based phones.

Fast-Growing Network of Partners Open for Business

Responding to the opportunity created by Mobile Device Manager and
complementing the MMSP, a large network of global partners are ready to
integrate and deploy into existing systems as well as create custom solutions
for businesses. Among the first companies that worked with Microsoft to
support early trial programmes are AT&T Inc, EDS, Enterprise Mobile, HP, O2,
Orange, SAT Corp and Verizon Wireless.

"Given AT&T's leadership in the Windows Mobile space, AT&T is excited
that Mobile Device Manager is now a reality for our enterprise customers,"
said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Marketing and Operations for AT&T's
wireless unit. "Every day, mobile devices become more ubiquitous throughout
the enterprise, and the need to securely manage those devices, data and
applications is critical for IT organisations. Through our early adopter
trials, our customers are responding positively to AT&T's deployment and
optimisation plans for Mobile Device Manager and are eager to adopt the first
end-to-end wireless-focused enterprise solution that can maximise their
investments in Microsoft technology."

A wave of Windows Mobile 6.1 phones and operator networks supporting
Mobile Device Manager is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2008 from
Alltel Wireless, ASUS, AT&T, HP, HTC Corp, i-mate, Intermec Inc, Motorola,
O2, Orange, Palm Inc, Pantech, Samsung, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications,
Sprint, TaTa Teleservices Ltd, TELUS, Toshiba and Verizon Wireless.

Management Solutions for Every Business Need

Mobile Device Manager builds on the core set of security and management
features provided by Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1 and complements the
comprehensive deployment, updating and asset management capabilities of
Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007. Mobile Device Manager is
available through Microsoft Volume Licensing. Client access licences will be
available through existing volume licensing channels in areas where mobile
operators do not yet offer the plan. More information is available at
http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/mobile/default.mspx.

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.

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