HOUSTON, July 9 /PRNewswire/ --

- Microsoft announces Software + Services Incubation Center Program
momentum: ISV enrollment growth, new Incubation Centers.

Today at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2008, Microsoft Corp
announced that more than 550 independent software vendors (ISVs) have
enrolled in the Microsoft Software + Services Incubation Center Program since
its launch in October 2006. As part of this announcement, the Microsoft
Software + Services Incubation Center Program, formerly the SaaS Incubation
Center Program, was renamed to better align with the company's comprehensive
software-plus-services vision.

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

The Microsoft Software + Services Incubation Center Program provides
hosting providers with the tools, guidance and licencing model to help ISVs
successfully transition to a service-based delivery model. Through the
Incubation Centers, ISVs are guided through a structured series of business
and architectural consulting sessions with the support of an established
hosting provider to help ensure their business models and applications are
ready to address the challenges of service-based delivery.

"Microsoft realises that the evolution of the software industry will
reach far beyond just bringing software to the browser," said John Zanni,
general manager of Worldwide Hosting at Microsoft. "Instead, Microsoft
envisions a world of software plus services that consists of a unique blend
of traditional applications and services available over the internet. With
the launch of the Incubation Center Program, Microsoft recognised that
partnerships would be critical in order for ISVs to be successful in the new
world of software plus services. Now through the tremendous success of this
programme, there is no doubt that building an integrated ecosystem plays an
integral role in helping ISVs deploy service-based applications."

To help ISVs embrace the software-plus-services opportunity, hosting
providers are able to merge their core expertise in managing infrastructure
and delivering services with business and design guidance through the
Software + Services Incubation Center Program. Building on the Windows
hosting platform with the support of Windows Server Hosting Guidance, the
Software + Services Incubation Center Program helps bring together the
infrastructure, licencing, consulting services and partnerships that ISVs
need to be successful.

"As a software company that develops record-management systems for
schools and construction companies, we saw a golden opportunity to expand our
software by helping schools comply with Dutch government legislation for
managing student records electronically," said Rens Drent, commercial
director, Kooijman Software. "The Incubation Center operated by SaaSPlaza has
helped us reduce the obstacles typically associated with delivering
service-based applications, enabling us to better focus on our customers and
our business."

Microsoft Announces New Incubation Centers

The Microsoft Software + Services Incubation Center Program is composed
of 20 Incubation Centers globally, including 10 in Europe, eight in North
America and two in Asia. In the past year, Microsoft has seen the
participation in its Software + Services Incubation Center Program grow
significantly, with new Incubation Centers offered by such hosting providers
as PEER 1 Network Enterprises Inc in the US, YouSaaS in France, Mondo A/S in
Denmark and NetSourcing in the Netherlands. In fact, NetSourcing is the first
application hosting provider to deploy Microsoft Connected Services
Framework, a service enablement platform designed to simplify the creation,
integration and deployment of value-added services, as part of its Incubation
Center. The solution provides the foundation for delivering a variety of
services and applications from ISVs, as well as Microsoft's own value-added
services, such as the Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and
Collaboration and hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Microsoft's Software + Services Incubation Center Program also recently
expanded into Asia, with Incubation Centers now available to ISVs through NTT
PC Communications Inc and Fujitsu in Japan. And, KDDI Corp and GMO Hosting &
Security Inc are also expected to launch Incubation Centers in Japan shortly

"As a leading provider of online IT infrastructure in North America, PEER
1 recognises that ISVs that want to start offering software plus services to
reach new markets must learn to operate differently than they're used to as a
traditional ISV. This introduces many potential challenges without the proper
resources," said Robert Miggins, vice president of business development for
PEER 1. "Through our SaaS3 Incubation Center on the Microsoft Windows
platform, PEER 1 has assisted many small to midsize ISVs to test, deploy and
manage their web 2.0, enterprise and SaaS applications throughout the entire
product life cycle. By working closely with the ISV community, Microsoft's
Software + Services Incubation Center Program has also enabled us to develop
key partnerships, expanding our customer base and driving revenue."

Attendees of the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference can obtain
additional information about the Microsoft Software + Services Incubation
Center Program, as well as Incubation Centers operated by PEER 1, OpSource
and visionapp AG by visiting the Microsoft Software-Plus-Services Partner
Hosted Pavilion, booth 875. YouSaaS will also be present at the conference
and located at booth 618.

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.

This material is for informational purposes only. Microsoft Corp
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special, direct, indirect or consequential damages, whether in an action of
contract, negligence or other action arising out of or in connection with the
use or performance of the material. Nothing herein should be construed as
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Web site: http://www.microsoft.com