REDMOND, Washington, September 22 /PRNewswire/ --

- Acquisition of manufacturing, professional services and retail
solutions propels Microsoft Dynamics ERP industry strategy forward.

Building on the Microsoft Dynamics enterprise resource planning (ERP)
strategy to drive industry-specific innovation for customers and enable
partners to deliver repeatable, vertical solutions, Microsoft Corp. today
announced the acquisition of four industry solutions that will extend the
core capabilities of one of Microsoft's ERP products, Microsoft Dynamics AX.
This move supports Microsoft's promise to enable the Dynamic Business, which
includes offering flexible business applications that remain relevant as
business needs evolve.

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"With these acquisitions we are investing in building industry
functionality directly into the Microsoft Dynamics AX application, while
other ERP vendors are cutting corners or trying to reconcile multiple
industry offerings as a result of acquiring several companies," said Crispin
Read, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics ERP. "We are a safe haven for
customers and partners who depend on us to drive continuous innovation in our
products and lower the total cost of ownership."

The following acquired technology will be offered as part of Microsoft
Dynamics AX, which will give partners the opportunity to drive deeper
vertical solutions for customers in manufacturing, professional services and
retail.

- A process manufacturing solution acquired from Fullscope
      Inc., which provides tight integration of business processes across
      discrete manufacturing and process manufacturing
    - A professional service solution acquired from Computer Generated
      Solutions Inc., which delivers a single system to manage projects and
      resources, execute financial transactions and customer billing, and
      match resources with client assignments
    - Retail solutions from LS Retail EHF and To-Increase Denmark A/S,
      a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbus IT Partner A/S, that enable
      Microsoft to provide an end-to-end retail solution including store
      management with point-of-sale, merchandising and ERP capabilities



With these technology acquisitions Microsoft is providing core industry
functionality embedded into Microsoft Dynamics ERP applications, allowing
partners to focus on the last mile of innovation, which has been shown to
have the greatest impact on a customer's business. In fact, IDC research
shows that Microsoft Dynamics ERP partners with vertical focus outperform
those without in several key areas including higher overall customer growth,
a higher proportion of revenue from new customers, larger deal sizes, and a
trend toward higher operating profit margins.

"We chose Microsoft Dynamics AX with the process manufacturing solution
from Fullscope over Oracle and SAP because Microsoft's industry solution
enabled a better fit with our business processes instead of dictating a set
of fixed industry best practices," said Mark Holt, director of information
technology, Cayman Chemical Company Inc. "Microsoft's move to add industry
solutions directly into Microsoft Dynamics AX provides a predictable industry
road map, allowing partners to focus on the vertical solutions that can keep
pace with the rate of innovation."

A vibrant ecosystem of independent software vendor partners delivers
vertical solutions for multiple industries across Microsoft Dynamics ERP,
which also includes Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics GP and
Microsoft Dynamics SL.

Process manufacturing and professional services solutions for Microsoft
Dynamics AX are available immediately on the Microsoft Dynamics price list,
and the retail solution will be available at a later date. Microsoft will
provide updates to customers and partners as the availability date
approaches.

More information on Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions, and details on the
new industry functionality in Microsoft Dynamics AX, can be found at
http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/en/us/products/ax-overview.aspx.

About Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics is a line of adaptable, easy-to-use ERP and CRM
applications that enable business decision-makers to run their business
efficiently and drive business success. Delivered through a network of
channel partners providing specialized services, these integrated, adaptable
business management solutions work like and with familiar Microsoft software
to streamline processes across an entire business.

About Microsoft

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