Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa Background Information JUNE 2006 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 Details

EMEA Headquarters Microsoft EMEA Cœur Défense, Tour B 100, Esplanade du Général de Gaulle 92932 Paris La Défense France Tel: +33 1 70 99 10 00 Website: www.microsoft.com/emea

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

2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Contents

The 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 Offi ces 26

Research and Development Offi ces 27

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 3 The Company

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

A world leader in information technology (IT), Microsoft Corporation develops software that enables people and businesses to do great things. The company’s software innovations generate opportunities for the technology sector, businesses and consumers worldwide.

Microsoft is committed to engaging locally with customers, partners and governments. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Microsoft has offi ces in 61 countries, employing over 13,000 people who deliver products and services to customers throughout the region.

Neil Holloway, president of Microsoft EMEA, provides the strategic direction for Microsoft in this vast and varied region. Holloway works closely with regional vice presidents for Middle East and Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe, as well as the general managers of local subsidiary offi ces, to ensure that Microsoft’s customers, partners, investors and employees in every country have a consistently positive experience with the company.

4 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Our Mission Microsoft was founded on the idea that if people At the heart of our vision of the Digital Decade is have the right tools, they will do new and exciting Microsoft® .NET, a set of software technologies things. Over the past three decades, we have designed to connect information, people, never lost sight of that vision, and our systems and devices. commitment to helping people realise their dreams and achieve their full potential is greater Likewise, we are committed to acting responsibly than ever. and communicating openly about our business practices and performance. We know that Throughout the period that Chairman and Chief Microsoft’s business decisions can have a Software Architect calls the Digital signifi cant impact on our stakeholders and for the Decade, computing devices will continue to grow communities in which we conduct business. We in importance and play an indispensable part in take that corporate responsibility very seriously. the lives of most people. Technologies will As Microsoft CEO says, “It’s not continue to converge, making computing a enough to just do the right things; we have to do seamless and pervasive experience. This vision them in the right way.” inspires Microsoft’s core principles, fuelling the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance its i www.microsoft.com/emea products and develop new technologies.

Serving Our Customers and Partners We are inspired by the creative ways Microsoft Enterprise and Partner Group customers use our software to solve business This customer segment team oversees Microsoft’s problems, develop ground-breaking ideas and relationships with major customers, as well as stay connected to what is most important to enterprise partners such as systems integrators, them. Our customer segment teams are outsourcers, management consultancies and responsible for ensuring that all of our customers technology vendors. and partners have a seamless experience. Small and Midmarket Solutions Developer and Partner Group and Partners Group Responsible for communicating Microsoft’s vision Responsible for Microsoft’s small and medium- for .NET to software developers, the Developer sized business solutions, this group also and Partner Group also manages Microsoft manages the company’s channel initiatives, products that independent software vendors licensing and pricing policies, and licensing (ISVs), systems integrators and corporate compliance campaigns. developers use. EMEA Enterprise Services Public Sector Group This organisation is responsible for the fi eld This group helps governments and other public- services team, which provides technical sector organisations operate more effi ciently and consulting and support services to Microsoft enhance their services through information customers in the region. technology — from e-government solutions connecting governments and citizens, to dynamic e-learning applications that redefi ne the ways students, teachers and parents interact.

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 5 Our Businesses Microsoft operations are aligned into three = Windows Client Marketing Group principal divisions, encompassing 12 business This business unit is responsible for Microsoft’s groups. popular desktop , including the most recent versions of the platform — Microsoft Platform Products and Windows XP, Windows 2000 and the Services Division upcoming Windows VistaTM. The Windows This division comprises Windows® client, server Client group also manages specialised and tools products, and the MSN® network of versions of the operating system such as services. The division’s mission is to Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows enable new user experiences and drive customer Embedded. value through continued innovation in the software platform and software services delivered = Developer and Platform Evangelism Group over the internet. This group oversees developer and platform evangelism efforts for the company as = Windows and Group Microsoft further enables developers to build This group focuses on delivering software- applications combining software and services. based services via the web for the Windows LiveTM platform, extending the value of = Server and Tools Business Group Microsoft products. This business unit manages Windows Server SystemTM integrated server software. The = Windows Live Platform Group group creates software for streamlining This group encompasses several teams that businesses’ IT infrastructure and reducing build platform services and capabilities for costs for enterprise administrators. Products Microsoft’s online offerings. The group provides include Windows ServerTM 2003, developer back-end infrastructure, platform capabilities tools and the MSDN® developer programme. and global operational support for services created in Windows Live, Offi ce Live and other Microsoft Business Division applications that use the Live platform. This division, which includes the Information Worker and Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) = Online Business Group groups, delivers software and software-based The Online Business Group manages services that enable organisations to succeed in advertising sales, business development and today’s constantly evolving workplace by helping marketing for Live platforms, Windows Live to increase the effectiveness of their people. and MSN — including MSN.com, MSN TV and Microsoft is uniquely positioned for this MSN Internet Access.. opportunity with the new division’s programmes, servers and software-based services addressing = Market Expansion Group the spectrum from structured business processes Encompassing product marketing, research to personal productivity needs. and development, this group is charged with developing products for new markets, from = Information Worker Group products such as Windows XP Starter Edition This business unit includes the Microsoft Offi ce and new types of devices, through to products system of products, including Visio® drawing such as the recently launched Ultra-Mobile PC and diagramming software, Microsoft Project, devices. Microsoft Publisher, and new products such as the InfoPathTM information gathering program = Core Operating System Division and the OneNote® note-taking program. This This group is focused on building the industry’s group also oversees leading operating system foundation to power SharePoint® Services. Microsoft platform products.

6 BACKGROUND INFORMATION = Microsoft Business Solutions Group = Home and Entertainment Group MBS offers the DynamicsTM suite of products This business unit encompasses Microsoft’s that allow small and midsize organisations to consumer portfolio, comprising PC gaming connect employees, customers and suppliers. software and hardware, personal productivity The fi nancial management, customer tools, reference products and digital media relationship management, supply chain products such as Windows XP Media Center. management and analytics applications work It also includes products such as the to streamline processes across an entire 360TM video game and entertainment system, organisation, giving businesses insight to online games and the TV platform. respond rapidly, plan strategically and execute quickly. MBS products are customised and = Mobile and Embedded Devices delivered through a worldwide network of (MED) Group channel partners that provide specialised MED provides a software platform, enabling services and local support. device manufacturers to develop smart, connected products that offer a compelling Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division mobile experience. MED products include the This division focuses on enabling rich experiences Windows CE operating system, eMbedded and usage scenarios through a wide range of Visual C++® development system and electronic devices — for people at work, at home Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. and on the move.

Our Culture Microsoft employees are in the position to make a = The part-time work and job sharing initiative difference in people’s lives around the world, supports greater workplace fl exibility, creating which is why the company’s top priority is to opportunities for more employees to work recruit, promote and retain the smartest and most alternative schedules. motivated people in the IT business. Microsoft = The work-life balance initiative is helping provides its employees with state-of-the-art employees and their managers create a technology to be connected and productive, reasonable and sustainable work experience whether they are in the offi ce, at home or on the for all Microsoft employees. move, together, with a comprehensive package of benefi ts and training opportunities. The company The company provides a wide range of is proud of its culture of collaboration and opportunities for training and professional innovation that ensures that ideas can blossom development for employees. Microsoft also and enquiring minds grow. encourages graduate and postgraduate students to join Microsoft. For example, the Microsoft Microsoft EMEA leads the company in its efforts to Academy for University Hires (MACH) programme promote a workforce that mirrors the diverse offers graduates and postgraduates the chance to communities in which Microsoft operates. The develop professional skills they need for a Microsoft EMEA leadership team has made a successful career at Microsoft in a sales, marketing long-term commitment to enhancing workplace or technical role. diversity in four areas:

= The web accessibility effort focuses on auditing and improving all of Microsoft’s websites and services to ensure that employees and customers with disabilities can use them. = The female talent initiative aims to create a more gender-balanced workforce and to help women at Microsoft advance into more senior roles.

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 7 Microsoft Products

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

Microsoft Windows Over the past two decades, Microsoft Windows Did you know? In selected emerging markets products have evolved from a single, one-size- Microsoft offers a low-cost version of Windows, fi ts-all desktop operating system into a diverse called Windows XP Starter Edition, in regional family of operating systems and mobile languages and compatible with a wide range technologies. Windows software includes the of applications and devices. In EMEA, it is Windows Server System, Windows XP and available in Algeria, Botswana, Djibouti, Egypt, Windows CE, which powers a wide array of Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, digital devices. Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen.

Microsoft Offi ce Microsoft Offi ce has evolved from a suite of Did you know? Since Microsoft Word launched personal productivity products to a more in 1989, the number of features in the word comprehensive and integrated system. Building processor has expanded from fewer than 100 to on the familiar tools that many people already over 1,500. To address the plethora of options know, such as Microsoft Word, Outlook®, Excel® in the Offi ce suite, Offi ce 2007, scheduled for and PowerPoint®, Microsoft Offi ce includes release towards the end of 2006, will have a programs, servers, services and solutions new contextual interface enabling users to designed to work together to help address a complete tasks with 60 per cent fewer mouse broad array of business problems. clicks, on average.

Visual Studio

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

8 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Microsoft Dynamics is a family of connected Did you know? According to AMR Research, applications and services for small and medium- more than 70 per cent of organisations plan to sized businesses. Scalable and customisable, increase their enterprise resource planning these solutions are designed to automate unique (ERP) spending in 2006, and ERP budget business processes and accelerate an growth is expected to increase by 14.6 per organisation’s success. Developers play a key role cent. As Microsoft continues to enhance its by providing customisations, enhancements, mid-market ERP products under the new vertical applications and integrations between Dynamics , it is gradually merging its their applications and Dynamics solutions. Axapta®, Navision® and Great Plains® product lines, taking the best processes from each and unifying the entire Dynamics suite.

MSN MSN is the world’s most popular internet Did you know? MSN portals operate in destination, comprising world-class services 42 markets and 21 languages, drawing more such as MSN Hotmail®, MSN Messenger, MSN than 440 million unique users each month. The Search, Communities, Chat, Shopping and MSN Hotmail service has approximately 215 Personal Finance. million active e-mail accounts, making it the world’s largest web-based e-mail service. MSN Messenger users send over 2.5 billion messages per day.

Xbox 360 is the most powerful video game and Did you know? With a record-breaking 1.5 entertainment system, delivering great games, million pre-orders when it launched, Microsoft the next generation of the premier Xbox Live Game Studios’ “Halo® 2” for the Xbox platform online gaming network, and unique digital generated more revenue in its fi rst 24 hours of entertainment experiences for gamers. availability than day-one ticket sales for any feature fi lm in entertainment history.

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 9 Driving Innovation

Behind everything Microsoft does is a Around EMEA, Microsoft teams are developing fundamental commitment to providing people technologies that will be built into tomorrow’s and organisations with cutting-edge software, products. Over 1,000 employees across the services and solutions. As the infrastructure of region are conducting research, inventing new information and communication technology (ICT) technologies, designing and improving software, evolves, with faster processing, cheaper storage, helping technology partners bring better greater bandwidth and new kinds of devices, products to market, and helping enterprise Microsoft is inventing software that creates new customers test and implement their custom ways of informing, entertaining and connecting solutions. And more than ever, Microsoft is taking people. Software is what makes these scenarios an open and collaborative approach to creating come to life, which is why innovation is at the technologies that will serve society and enhance heart of Microsoft. economic prosperity.

Pure Research Microsoft employs hundreds of researchers Central to the initiative is the establishment of worldwide who are inventing the next generation centres of excellence where leading researchers of computing technologies. Some of this from academia and industry can advance fundamental, or pure, research is paying off knowledge related to computing and specifi c today with breakthroughs in critical areas such as scientifi c disciplines. So far, one centre has been software security and reliability. Other innovations opened and a second is in development: will transform the way we use computers years from now. = The Microsoft and University of Trento Centre for Computational and Systems The company’s research laboratory in Europe, Biology was opened in 2005 by Microsoft, Cambridge, was founded the University of Trento, and local and in 1997, the fi rst such facility to be established national governments. At the Trento centre, outside the US. Today, more than 90 researchers researchers are building computational at the Cambridge, UK, lab are engaged in tools for understanding complex processes fundamental computer science research, in biological systems. Such tools could lead centred on four themes — machine learning and to insights into the origin of disease, new perception, programming principles and tools, therapies and better vaccines. systems and networking, and interactive systems. = In 2005, the French Ministry of Research, i research.microsoft.com/aboutmsr/labs/ Microsoft and INRIA, the French research cambridge institute, announced that they would open the Microsoft-INRIA Institute for In 2005, the Microsoft European Science Computational Science. Researchers at Initiative was created to accelerate innovation the institute will investigate the application at the intersection of science and computing, of mathematics to improve software and turning scientifi c discoveries into outcomes with systems security, and pursue the development economic and social value. The initiative aims to of new software tools for the management be a catalyst for quantum leaps in technology and analysis of complex scientifi c data. that will affect areas such as the life sciences, engineering and agriculture, and help address important issues such as the protection of global biodiversity.

Applied Research In addition to the long-lead, blue-sky research information technology projects. Working closely that takes place at Microsoft Research, the with academic institutions and industry partners, company contributes technical expertise and software engineers at EMIC focus their efforts on software development to projects of national and web services, security and privacy technologies, regional importance. Founded in 2003 in Aachen, and wireless technologies. Germany, the European Microsoft Innovation Center (EMIC) comprises a team of developers i www.microsoft.com/emea/emic who contribute to large-scale, government-led

10 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Product Development While most of Microsoft’s fl agship products are The Microsoft European Product Development developed in Redmond, Washington, more and Centre (EPDC) provides the European and South more are being created and developed outside American markets with country-specifi c versions the US, and particularly in EMEA. In Denmark, for of Microsoft’s leading products, refl ecting local example, more than 800 people work at the languages and culture. Based in Dublin, Ireland, Microsoft Development Center, Copenhagen, the EPDC has grown from localising only two Microsoft’s largest development facility outside products (MS-DOS® and Microsoft Word) into the US. Most of the centre’s staff contribute to the two languages in 1988 to developing 100 Dynamics line of business solutions for small and products in 37 languages today. The team medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the supports 15 additional languages and dialects Windows Vista operating system. Staff at the as part of the Microsoft Local Language Copenhagen campus work closely with ISVs and Programme and Microsoft developers and systems integrators that create specialised, linguists specialise in 50 languages and dialects industry-tailored software on the Microsoft to create these products. Dynamics platform. In addition, Microsoft’s worldwide centre of excellence for supply-chain Opened in Ireland in 2005, the Microsoft management is located here. Development Centre, Sandyford, is staffed by a team of software engineers who are developing i www.microsoft.com/businesssolutions technologies destined for a number of Microsoft’s core products, including ® Based in rural England, is Microsoft’s Center, the Digital Terrestrial TV project for premier game development facility in Europe, Europe and Windows Vista. creating games for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. Acquired in 2002 Also in Sandyford the European Operations by Microsoft, Rare employs 170 game developers Centre is responsible for three major services: and has sold over 93 million units in its 20-year warehousing and distribution of products, history. business transaction processing and management, and information technology i www.rareware.com support and control.

i www.microsoft.com/ireland/aboutus/eoc/ introduction.html

Customer and Partner Innovation Microsoft supports the innovations of its Similar to MTCs, Microsoft Innovation Centres customers and industry partners, not only for ISV Development focus on providing ISVs through interoperable software and solutions, with guidance on the design and development of but also by offering resources and expertise products that work with Microsoft software. At to help others innovate on the Microsoft these centres, ISVs have access to training, platform. In the EMEA region, the company technologies and technical expertise from has numerous facilities dedicated to helping Microsoft staff, and the facilities provide a external groups bring their innovations to life simulation environment enabling ISVs to test their more quickly and effectively. software applications as though they were installed in a customer’s environment. Microsoft Technology Centres (MTCs) are Microsoft has ISV centres in Aragón, Spain; places where large companies’ IT teams can work Copenhagen, Denmark; Durban, South Africa; side-by-side with Microsoft experts to test and and Varaždin, Croatia. fi nd 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 Aragón, Spain; Dubai, UAE; Munich, Germany; Paris, France; and Reading, UK. i www.microsoft.com/mtc

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 11 Increasing IT Literacy

In 2005, Microsoft worked with the UNDP and Youth for Habitat to increase IT literacy among young people in Turkey. During the fi rst phase of the project, more than 1,600 students were trained in IT skills, and selected students were designated as peer trainers. In the second phase, which commenced in December 2005, it is hoped that the programme will reach 100,000 young people over three years.

Responding to Local Needs

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 refl ect 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 Among them are the United Nations in EMEA requires different approaches and Development Programme (UNDP), the UN High presents different opportunities to support local Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN development. One “size” does not fi t all. This is Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organization why the company has been steadily increasing (UNESCO) and the New Partnership for Africa’s its physical presence in EMEA over the past Development (NEPAD). two decades, most recently opening offi ces in Armenia and Azerbaijan, on the eastern fl ank 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 infl uential development organisations.

12 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 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 refl ect the needs of the local area.

Partnering With Schools According to the UN’s Millennium Development Extending this work, Microsoft has developed a Goals Report 2005, of the 185 million jobless proven framework to help governments bring people worldwide, nearly half are aged 15–24, ICT to underserved schools and communities in and youth unemployment rates in developing Africa. The African Pathfi nder is a programme countries have increased since the 1990s. blueprint that helps education authorities and Training and education are an essential part of NGOs spread the productive use of ICT in schools turning these fi gures around. — in a locally driven, sustainable way. Growing out of a partnership between Microsoft and Microsoft’s Partners in Learning programme the government of Namibia, African Pathfi nder strives to help schools in three areas: to provides PCs, teacher training, technical support signifi cantly raise the level of ICT literacy among and advice to schools. Since the successful school staff; to support teachers and schools implementation of the Namibian Pathfi nder in developing an internal culture of innovation; project, the governments of Angola, Madagascar and to work with schools to prepare students and Rwanda have joined the Pathfi nder network. for the digital workplace. Partners in Learning is making a difference for schools and students in 64 EMEA countries. The programme has already trained 821,000 teachers worldwide, and millions of students — 13.6 million and counting — have been reached by the programme. i www.microsoft.com/emea/education

Partnering With Schools

In cooperation with the Czech Republic Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and Microsoft, the secondary technical school Na Tˇrebešínˇe 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.

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 13 Partnering With Communities In addition to supporting the use of ICT primary or public libraries, provide practical technology and secondary education, Microsoft is helping training to people of all ages. Groups targeted adult learners gain basic ICT skills for work and by the programme vary from country to life through local community training centres. country, and include women, senior citizens, Community-based technology training and refugees, immigrants, unemployed people, access is one of the most promising avenues disadvantaged children and young adults, for helping people in underserved communities and people with disabilities. to become more employable and to gain access to information and services available through Microsoft supports 183 Unlimited Potential the internet. projects in EMEA, serving an estimated 1 million people. With an investment of approximately In 2003, Microsoft launched the Unlimited US$25 million to date, Microsoft has helped to Potential programme, which provides equipment, establish more than 7,100 CTLCs in the region. resources and training for Community Technology and Learning Centres (CTLCs). These training i www.microsoft.com/emea/ facilities, often located at community centres inthecommunity

Advanced Teacher Training Schools that want to integrate ICT more deeply Microsoft recently established three School into their curriculum need more than computing Technology Innovation Centres — in Amman, equipment. They also need teachers who have Jordan; Belfast, Northern Ireland; and Prague, the knowledge to use computers, operating Czech Republic. At these centres, teachers systems and applications. Microsoft has made a are shown how technology can create richer, substantial commitment over the next fi ve years more inspiring and more effective learning to invest in technology skills training for teachers environments. Each centre is a demonstration in schools worldwide. and learning laboratory for educators, where Microsoft and its partners Cisco Systems, Microsoft IT Academy for Teacher Training HP and Intel share innovative teaching practices is a programme for accredited academic and provide information, training and equipment institutions to offer students high-quality that enhances the use of ICT in classrooms education using Microsoft technologies. Among and curriculums. 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.

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 fi rst 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 fi ve of the existing access points being expanded into CTLCs that will enable residents to develop computer skills and become more employable.

14 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Improving Access to Technology

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.

Lowering ICT Costs in the Developing World The cost of computers and software is a Microsoft also offers Windows XP Starter signifi cant barrier to development in emerging Edition, a more affordable version of the economies. In many places around the world, Windows XP operating system, to meet the the cost of a PC is well beyond the means of the needs of entry-level PC users and to promote average person, and computing centres are few digital access in underserved markets. Tailored to and far between. Microsoft is making an effort local markets and compatible with a wide range to put PCs within the reach of more people of Windows-based applications and devices, through its Digital Pipeline and Windows Starter the product is offered in collaboration with Edition programmes. governments and industry partners, to put PCs within the fi nancial reach of citizens in selected Microsoft is one of the founding partners of middle- and low-income regions. Windows Digital Pipeline, an organisation that is building XP Starter Edition is currently available in 35 channels for older but usable computers to be countries, with Arabic and Turkish versions for ten refurbished and used in developing regions. countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa. The programme enables companies to donate surplus computers, which are shipped to local refurbishment centres in areas where low-cost PCs are needed. Not only is this an environmentally friendly way for companies to recycle unneeded computers, the initiative helps local organisations to employ and train computer technicians and to put affordable computers to work for schools and individuals who couldn’t afford them otherwise. i www.digitalpipeline.com/

The Digital Pipeline

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.

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 15 Bridging the Language Divide The Council of Europe estimates the number of Microsoft Windows and Offi ce in languages living languages in the world at around 6,000, less-common such as Albanian, Gaelic Irish, with between 200 and 300 indigenous languages Kiswahili and Luxemburgish. Through LLP, local Europe alone. Globalisation, however, is forcing governments and language authorities work with

people to communicate increasingly in only a Microsoft to develop language interface packs handful of major languages. Rather than that overlay Windows and Offi ce, based on increasing diversity, it is actually undermining and offi cially approved glossaries of IT terms. Since diluting local languages and cultures. the programme was created in 2004, LLP has generated 36 downloadable language interface To prevent language from being a barrier to packs for Windows XP and 27 for Offi ce. ICT use, Microsoft offers full editions of Windows and Offi ce in 25 and 37 languages, respectively. Remarkably, the upcoming Windows Vista and In addition, Microsoft’s Local Language Offi ce 2007 will be available in 95–110 languages. Programme (LLP) is enabling people to use

Access for People with Disabilities In the UK alone, nearly 10 million people have The company developed products for hearing- some kind of disability, from vision or hearing impaired people as well as keyboard and mouse impairments to limited mobility or cognitive enhancements for people with limited mobility. disabilities such as dyslexia. Loosely extrapolated, Since then, Microsoft’s work in this area has the number reaches into the hundreds of millions grown. All of its fl agship products, including across EMEA. Microsoft strives to provide equal Windows and the Offi ce System, now include access for people with disabilities in everything accessibility features. To ensure that Microsoft it builds, approaching accessibility with the same products continue to respond to the diverse level of commitment as it does to IT security. needs of technology users, Microsoft works with technology manufacturers, disability associations Microsoft began this work in 1988, becoming and governments. one of the fi rst technology companies to create products for people with disabilities. i www.microsoft.com/enable

16 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Strengthening the Local Knowledge Economy

Wherever Microsoft does business, the economic and social benefi ts of its partner-driven business model are felt. Microsoft creates business opportunities for local 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.

A Dynamic Ecosystem of Partners and Products Microsoft built its business by creating In terms of jobs, Microsoft-related employment inexpensive software that millions of customers ranges from approximately 36,000 people in both could use without extensive training. Even as the Hungary and Turkey to more than half a million in company has grown, this approach continues to Germany and the UK. In South Africa, 49 per cent enable millions of people to adapt easily to ICT, of IT employment is related to Microsoft products, and put it to use for their personal empowerment and in Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Turkey, and enjoyment. Importantly, Microsoft provides Microsoft-related employment represents more a software platform on which other developers than half of the industry total. can build their own applications, and their own business. For six countries in south-eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav IDC has conducted a number of studies to Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and quantify the impact of the software industry on Montenegro, and Slovenia, IDC projects that selected countries in EMEA. In 2004, the between 2004 and 2009 the IT sector will consultancy studied 19 EMEA countries, and generate over 35,000 new jobs and over found that IT-related activities were the source of $500 million in new tax revenues, over half of 8.7 million jobs and more than US$200 billion in which is attributable to the fast-growing Microsoft tax receipts. Over $70 billion of this — fully ecosystem in that region (IDC, 2005). 36 per cent of the overall IT sector — is attributed to companies and employees working with Microsoft also invests directly in the success of its Microsoft products. software partners, whose products and services enhance the overall value of the Microsoft In addition, for every $1 of revenue that Microsoft platform. Microsoft is investing approximately generated in the EMEA region, another $7.50 $95 million in supporting ISVs in EMEA. This was generated by other companies selling partner focus shapes the way other companies hardware or software that works on Microsoft feel about engaging with Microsoft. In 2004, operating systems or servicing that software. according to IDC, ten of the leading systems So the value of the software industry compounds, integrators in Europe, representing one-third of fuelling economic growth and dynamism in every the European services market, ranked Microsoft local market. as the vendor providing the greatest business opportunity through strategic alliances. Between 2005 and 2009, IDC estimates that 2 million new IT jobs will be created in the region, These data underscore what we’ve always known generating a further $50 billion in tax receipts to be true — that Microsoft’s business model (IDC, 2005). supports a vibrant IT economy in which local businesses thrive and local jobs are created.

Achieving e-Europe Microsoft is committed to working with the public-private partnerships to help prevent the European Union to achieve its vision for an development of a two-tier Europe. These include inclusive information society through its community affairs programmes and a wide range e-Europe and e-Europe+ Action Plans, bringing of partnerships with governments, businesses communities closer together, promoting and institutions to strengthen local technology economic growth and creating a more integrated infrastructures and address the economic and society. Accordingly, Microsoft participates in social priorities across the EU.

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 17 The (SSI) was The Solutions Sharing Network (SSN) is created in 2001 to make Microsoft source code an online forum for technical information more broadly available for key products and exchange among government organisations, components. The initiative includes over 70 academic institutions and other public-sector different offerings, and more than 2 million agencies, whose goal is to reduce the cost and developers worldwide have accessed shared time required to develop and deploy software source code. Through SSI, developers receive solutions. Through the SSN programme, royalty-free access to Microsoft intellectual Microsoft hosts an online catalogue of intellectual property, creating business opportunities for property such as software solutions, architectures, hardware, software and service providers, best practices and application source code to be and offering university students, teachers and shared openly. It also is a forum for technology researchers access to technologies vital to providers to showcase their solutions and their research. capabilities. Microsoft currently hosts 14 SSN websites in EMEA, with 18 new or upgraded SSNs The Government Security Programme (GSP) in the pipeline. 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 confi dent in the security of the Windows platform. In September 2005, Offi ce 2003 was included in GSP for the fi rst time. Microsoft has 31 GSP agreements with governments and agencies in EMEA.

Spurring ICT Use by Smaller Companies SMEs represent 99 per cent of the businesses in The European Union Grants Advisor (EUGA) Europe, about 22 million currently, with a steady programme is an effort led by Microsoft with growth rate of just below 5 per cent annually, local and regional governments to help SMEs according to the European Commission. In an better understand and benefi t from funding increasingly competitive global market, SMEs are opportunities. Through the EU Grants Advisor under increasing pressure to participate in new website for SMEs, business owners are able to markets, reduce operating costs and pursue new fi nd information about EU funding and can start business opportunities, but they often lack the to better ascertain which funds they may be capital to invest in the needed ICT. Recognising eligible for. this need, governments and banks in Europe have made approximately €117 billion (US$150 million) i www.microsoft.com/emea/euga 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.

18 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 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 Innovation One invention, introduced at the right time, protection legislation, counterfeiting and software has the power to spawn thousands of satellite theft is prevalent, and protection is inconsistent. businesses, generating tax revenues for According to IDC (April 2004), the packaged government, and creating jobs and income for software industry in EMEA will grow signifi cantly, countless individuals. Innovative ideas, therefore, from €61.3 billion in 2003 to €86.8 billion in 2008. must be protected if they are to benefi t local However, intellectual property theft through economies. software piracy reduces local employment, harms the economy and limits competitiveness. Another Intellectual property laws make it possible for study by IDC found that just over a third (35 per creators to build businesses around their cent) of software loaded on to computers in 2004 innovations, and thus form the framework upon was illegally copied. Globally, this represents a which the software industry exists. Microsoft, loss of tax revenues for governments and which contributes to a vibrant, widely distributed employment opportunities of about $31 billion. ecosystem of technology providers, is a strong The threat of piracy and counterfeiting are advocate of intellectual property protection. therefore strong disincentives to software developers. Increasingly, Microsoft is patenting and licensing its software inventions, instead of retaining Microsoft EMEA has built strong partnerships exclusive usage rights. Open licensing of with industry, governments and industry intellectual property has become common in the associations such as the Business Software software industry, and it allows Microsoft to be Alliance (BSA), sharing its expertise in the areas of more transparent with its products. Increased intellectual property law. The company supports licensing allows multiple vendors to provide law enforcement on prosecutions and helps innovative technology in their diverse product other government agencies protect and inform offerings. This model encourages broader the public. availability and use of new technologies, and the result is more consumer choice. i www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip

Software piracy undermines the market’s ability to reward innovation. Although a number of countries have solid intellectual property

Interoperability and Open Standards Business customers are increasingly concerned industry. The company participates in numerous about costs and making the most of their IT standards organisations and frequently investments. Interoperability — the ability of contributes directly to the development of disparate IT components, systems and services standards. As part of this process, Microsoft often to work together — is essential for the effi cient licenses its patents on royalty-free and other and cost-effective operation of mixed IT reasonable and non-discriminatory terms to environments. Interoperability is enabled by such implementers of the industry standards. practices as the licensing of proprietary software code and the use of open technical standards. According to a 2004 Jupiter Research survey of 800 IT professionals, 72 per cent of respondents Microsoft actively supports the development ranked Microsoft as the leading industry vendor of open standards to enable cross-product in terms of interoperability. interoperability, encouraging competition and innovation, and helping to foster a healthy IT i www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/standards

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 19 Helping to Make Computing Safe and Secure As a developer of leading internet technologies In March 2006, Microsoft launched the Global and a producer of mass-market software, Phishing Enforcement Initiative (GPEI), a legal Microsoft has an obligation to help address the campaign to fi ght phishers in partnership with law challenges of the new information-based society. enforcement, multiple industries and governments,

Microsoft is dealing with security and internet with the goal of educating consumers, prosecuting safety threats by developing new features that criminals and developing technology solutions to strengthen its products and enable customers to address the threat of phishing. control their level of protection and safety online. In April 2005, in cooperation with international The company has adopted numerous practices law enforcement agencies, Microsoft unveiled to ensure that security standards are met. the Child Exploitation Tracking System (CETS), For example: a computer system that allows global police agencies to share information for tracking online = The quality and predictability of security child predators. updates have been improved by moving to a regular monthly update cycle and reducing Microsoft has also joined forces with several the size of the updates to make it easier for organisations to create a safer global computing people to keep their systems secure. environment, including the Global Infrastructure = Microsoft requires its software developers to Alliance for Internet Safety, the Virus Information attend ongoing training in writing secure code Alliance and the Anti-Phishing Working Group, and has established strict security checkpoints all of which strive to increase internet safety at every stage in the software development and security. process. = Enterprise-class and internet-facing software i www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ must meet mandatory and rigorous security innovation/twc 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 fi ght to protect all users from computer worms and viruses, as well as online security threats including spam, spyware and phishing (identity theft).

Microsoft has trained 750,000 IT professionals and developers on security best practices through security summits, webcasts, e-learning clinics, online security guidance and the Microsoft Security Guidance Kit CD.

20 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Milestones 2006 2001 1992 = A Microsoft subsidiary is established in = Subsidiary offi ces are opened in Jordan = Microsoft becomes the fi rst software Bosnia and Herzegovina. and Oman. company with a broad presence in Eastern Europe, opening Eastern and Central 2005 2000 European offi ces. = Xbox 360 launches. = Microsoft unveils the .NET platform, its roadmap for the next generation of = Subsidiary offi ces are established in = Jean-Philippe Courtois is named president software and services. Greece and South Africa. of Microsoft International, and Neil Holloway is promoted to president, = Steve Ballmer becomes the second CEO 1991 Microsoft EMEA. of Microsoft, and Bill Gates takes on a new = Subsidiary offi ces are opened in Austria role as Chief Software Architect. and Dubai, UAE. = Subsidiary offi ces are opened in Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Microsoft = Subsidiary offi ces are opened in Algeria, 1990 development centres are opened in Finland and Nigeria. = A Microsoft subsidiary is established Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro; and in Switzerland. 1999 Sandyford, Ireland. = Subsidiary offi ces are opened in Bulgaria, 1989 = The Microsoft European Science Initiative Pakistan and Tunisia. Microsoft Baltics = Microsoft introduces the earliest version of is created to foster research at the opens in Latvia. the Offi ce suite of productivity applications. convergence of science and computing, 1998 = Microsoft establishes its European and the Microsoft-University of Trento = Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa headquarters in Paris and opens Centre for Computational Biology is (EMEA) is established in Paris. subsidiaries in Belgium and Israel. opened in Trento, Italy. = Subsidiary offi ces are opened in Abu 1988 = Microsoft launches the European Union Dhabi, UAE; Kuwait; Lebanon and Namibia. = The European Product Development Grants Advisor programme to help more Centre (EPDC) opens in Dublin, Ireland. small and medium-sized businesses 1997 benefi t from public funding. = Microsoft Research Cambridge opens in 1987 the UK, and a Microsoft subsidiary is = A Microsoft subsidiary is established 2004 established in Mauritius. in Portugal. = The Microsoft Innovation Centre for ISV Development opens on the campus in 1996 1986 Copenhagen, Denmark. = Subsidiary offi ces are opened in Croatia, = Microsoft stock goes public. Ivory Coast, Romania and Saudi Arabia. = A Microsoft subsidiary is established in the = The Microsoft European Operations Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 1995 Centre (EOC) opens in Ireland. = Windows 95 sells more than 1 million 2003 1985 copies in its fi rst four days of availability. = Microsoft marks 20 years of operations in = Subsidiary offi ces are opened in Denmark, EMEA, and Jean-Philippe Courtois is = Bill Gates outlines Microsoft’s commitment Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden. named CEO of the regional organisation. to supporting and enhancing the Internet. 1983 = Subsidiary offi ces are opened in Bahrain, = Subsidiary offi ces are opened in Egypt, = Microsoft launches the Windows Estonia, Iceland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Kenya and Slovakia. operating system. Malta and Qatar. The European Microsoft 1994 = Subsidiary offi ces are opened in France Innovation Center (EMIC) is founded in = A Microsoft subsidiary is established and Germany. Aachen, Germany. in Slovenia. 1982 2002 1993 = Microsoft opens its fi rst subsidiary outside = Microsoft acquires Danish software = The Windows NT brand is created with the the US — Microsoft Ltd. in the UK. company Navision A/S, creating release of the company’s fi rst 32-bit server Microsoft’s largest product development 1981 operating system. hub outside the US. = The MS-DOS operating system is = Subsidiary offi ces are opened in the Czech introduced on the IBM personal computer. = The company also acquires British game Republic, Hungary, Morocco, Poland, developer Rare. Subsidiary offi ces are 1975 Russia and Turkey. opened in Cyprus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine = Microsoft is founded in the US. and Yugoslavia.

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 21 Facts and Figures

People, Operations and Facilities = Microsoft beginnings in EMEA: Microsoft = Product localisation: Microsoft Offi ce is UK was established in 1982, the fi rst offi ce available in 29 languages spoken in the EMEA outside the US, followed by Microsoft France region, as well as 15 additional languages via and Microsoft Germany in 1983. downloadable language interface packs. Microsoft Windows is available in 40 regional = Subsidiaries: Microsoft has over 70 offi ces languages. At the European Product and subsidiaries in 61 EMEA countries. Development Centre (EPDC) in Dublin, = Employees: More than 13,000 people Ireland, Microsoft developers and linguists work for the organisation, representing specialise in 50 languages and dialects to 12 business groups. create these local-language products. = 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.

22 BACKGROUND INFORMATION R&D: Investing in the Future Microsoft invests more than 15 per cent of its = Microsoft Development Centres, where annual revenues into innovation-related activities, Microsoft products are developed and amounting to more than US $6 billion worldwide enhanced — Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, during the 2005 fi scal year. Few other companies Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, UK — in any industry — make such a signifi cant = Microsoft Innovation Centres, where the investment in R&D. The company operates company works with industry partners and numerous facilities in the region dedicated to governments to share expertise and speed technology innovation and software development: time to deployment, time to market — = Microsoft Research, whose mandate is to Denmark, Croatia, Germany, Netherlands and develop new technologies through long-term Spain “blue sky” research as well as applied, = Microsoft Technology Centres, where product-focused research — UK enterprise customers can test their = Microsoft Institutes, research centres of applications and obtain support and advice excellence that Microsoft has established in from Microsoft engineers — France, Germany, collaboration with leading research and Spain, UAE, UK academic bodies — France, Italy, South Africa

Connecting With Customers and Building Partnerships = Customer and partner ecosystem: To date, Partners in Learning agreements have Microsoft partners in EMEA include 97,000 been signed with 64 national governments in resellers, distributors and systems integrators, the region. 33,000 ISVs and more than 100,000 software = NGOs and charities: Through the Unlimited developers registered with the Microsoft Potential programmes, Microsoft EMEA Developer Network. Across EMEA, 3,500 partners with organisations to improve Microsoft Business Solutions partners develop life-long learning for disadvantaged young solutions for SMEs. This ecosystem serves people and adults through CTLCs. To date, over 20 million SMEs in the region. Unlimited Potential has supported 183 = Education: Through the Partners in Learning projects in EMEA with over 130 partners in 45 programme, Microsoft EMEA collaborates countries across the region. Over the next fi ve with schools and universities to enable better years, Microsoft will commit up to $1 billion to integration of technology into the curriculum. Unlimited Potential partnerships worldwide

Participating in Business and Industry Dialogue

= Mission: Responsible leadership through Committee of the American Chamber of industry partnership and dialogue Commerce, Initiative for Software Choice, International Communications Round Table = Industry association membership and (ICRT), and the World Economic Forum’s participation: Business Software Alliance Global Digital Divide Initiative Taskforce (GDDI). (BSA), CompTIA, CSR Europe, the European Information, Communications and Consumer i www.microsoft.com/emea/associations Electronics Technology Association (EICTA), eLIG, European Policy Centre (EPC), EU

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 23 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 Patrick De Smedt, Chairman, Microsoft EMEA Olga Dergunova, Chairwoman, Microsoft Russia and CIS Cheick Diarra, Chairman, Microsoft Africa Goran Radman, Chairman, Microsoft South-East Europe Ali Faramawy, Vice President, Middle East and Africa Pierre Liautaud, Vice President, Western Europe Vahé Torossian, Vice President, Central and Eastern Europe Alistair Baker, General Manager Microsoft UK, Vice President Microsoft EMEA Eric Boustouller, General Manager Microsoft France, Vice President Microsoft EMEA Simon Brown, General Manager, Developer and Platform Evangelism Ramon Demelbauer, Vice President, Enterprise Services Philippe Dumont, General Manager, Marketing and Communications Wolfgang Ebermann, General Manager, Information Worker Juergen Gallmann, General Manager Microsoft Germany, Vice President Microsoft EMEA Wilfried Grommen, General Manager, Business Strategy Horacio Gutiérrez, Associate General Counsel Albert Hakkers, Director, Human Resources Guido Haring, General Manager, Customer Service and Technical Support Michael Hartmann, Director, Windows Client Business Group Klaus Holse Andersen, Vice President, Microsoft Business Solutions, and Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partners Rik van der Kooi, General Manager, Finance and Administration Chris Lewis, Vice President Home and Entertainment Division Mike Love, Senior Director, PR and Communications Mauro Meanti, Director, Server Platforms Business Group Jan Muehlfeit, Vice President, Public Sector Jonathan Murray, Vice President and Chief Technology Offi cer Walter Puschner, Vice President, Customer and Partner Experience and Field Operations 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

24 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Executive Biographies

Jean-Philippe Courtois

President, Microsoft International—Senior Vice of Microsoft EMEA, he led the worldwide business President, Microsoft Corp planning process for EMEA, improving customer As president of Microsoft International, Jean-Philippe satisfaction and enhancing regional integration. Before Courtois leads sales, marketing and services for he was named CEO, Courtois had served for three all regions outside the US and Canada, including years as president of Microsoft EMEA and as vice EMEA; Japan; China; the Asia Pacifi c region; Latin president of worldwide customer marketing, based in America; and emerging markets. He also shares Microsoft’s US headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Courtois’ leadership refl ects responsibility for Microsoft Corp’s worldwide public the company’s commitment sector team, directing the company’s engagement with Following the company’s reorganisation in March 1999, to customers, industry governments around the globe. a process that realigned Microsoft’s divisions to focus partners and governments. on core customers, he launched the Customer and Microsoft has evolved into a truly global company Partner Satisfaction initiative and was instrumental in with more than 80 subsidiaries around the world, and managing its strategic, global rollout. Before that, he Courtois’ role includes responsibility for driving growth was vice president of Microsoft Europe in 1997 and through strategic partnerships and globally integrated became general manager for Microsoft France in 1994, business operations. following several promotions. Courtois joined Microsoft France in 1984 as a channel sales representative. Courtois’ leadership refl ects the company’s Before joining Microsoft, Courtois spent 18 months as commitment to customers, industry partners and a product manager for Memsoft, a French accounting governments. As president of Microsoft International, software company. Courtois also places a high priority on spreading the benefi ts of technology for economic and social Courtois is administrator for PlaNet Finance and the development — creating ubiquitous access to offi cial representative of Microsoft at Institut Montaigne. technology, helping ensure internet safety, supporting He is a past member of CSR Europe and the Advisory education, and generating economic growth and Council of the European Policy Centre. He also served opportunity. As an industry leader, Microsoft has a as co-chairman of the World Economic Forum’s Global responsibility to enable access to technology in ways Digital Divide Initiative Task Force. that help people realise their full potential, and Courtois works to align Microsoft’s business priorities to help A French national, Courtois graduated from The Ecole address these critical global issues. Superieure de Commerce, Nice (CERAM) and obtained his DECS. During his 22 years at the company, Courtois has held several leadership positions. Previously, as CEO

Neil Holloway

President of Microsoft Europe, Middle East and enhancing fi eld effectiveness and managing Microsoft’s Africa—Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Corp sales and marketing efforts across the EMEA region. As president of Microsoft EMEA, Neil Holloway leads Since joining Microsoft in 1990, Holloway has held a Microsoft Corp’s business throughout EMEA, and is number of strategic roles in its UK subsidiary. He was a member of the worldwide Sales, Marketing and appointed managing director of Microsoft Ltd. in July Services Group (SMSG) leadership team and the 1998 and subsequently was appointed vice president of worldwide Consumer Leadership Team (CLT). He Microsoft EMEA in April 2000. Holloway is passionate about focuses on the balanced objectives of driving customer demonstrating responsible satisfaction, improving integration across Microsoft Before joining Microsoft, Holloway was managing leadership and delivering business units, addressing the unique technology needs director of Migent UK, a company operating in the the highest level of customer of diverse markets, and growing the software business consumer and client server software markets. He is experience. in the region. passionate about demonstrating responsible leadership and delivering the highest level of customer experience. Before assuming the president’s role in 2005, Holloway served as corporate vice president of sales, marketing Holloway has a master’s of philosophy in operational and services for EMEA, and has extensive fi eld expertise research and control engineering from Cambridge establishing programmes that directly address University and a BSc Hon. in mathematics from Bath. customer and partner needs in the region. His role His hobbies are football, swimming, playing golf and included leading the business planning processes, spending time with his family.

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 25 Regional Headquarters and Subsidiary Offi ces

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

Microsoft EMEA Headquarters Belgium Finland Ivory Coast and West Africa Western Europe Headquarters Microsoft N.V. Microsoft OY (Suomi) Microsoft Côte d’Ivoire Microsoft EMEA Avenue Culliganlaan 1 Keilaranta 7 31, Avenue Noguès Plateau Cœur Défense, Tour B Madison Building 02150 Espoo Immeuble Karrath, 4ème étage 100, Esplanade du Général de Gaulle 1831 Diegem Suomi Abidjan 92932 Paris La Défense Belgium Tel: +358 9 525 501 Ivory Coast France Tel:+32 2 704 30 00 Fax: +358 9 878 8778 Tel: +225 20 31 05 00 Tel: +33 1 70 99 10 00 Fax: +32 2 704 35 35 Fax: +33 1 70 99 10 30 France Jordan Bosnia and Herzegovina (Supporting French Polynesia) Central and Eastern Europe Microsoft Jordan Headquarters Microsoft BiH Microsoft France S.A.R.L. 503 Astra Building Fra Andela Zvizdovi´ca 1 18 Avenue du Quebec Microsoft Deutschland GmbH P.O. Box 3321 Sarajevo Zone de Courtaboeuf 1 Amman 11181 - Jordan Konrad-Zuse-Strasse 1 Bosnia and Herzegovina 91957 Les Ulis Cedex 85716 Unterschleissheim (Munich) Tel:+387 33 296 710 France Tel: +962 6 4626969 Germany Fax: +387 33 296 711 Tel: +33 8 25 82 78 29 Fax: +962 6 4637686 Tel: +49 89 3176 0 Fax: +33 1 64 46 06 60 Fax: +49 89 3176 1000 Bulgaria Kazakhstan Middle East and Africa Microsoft Bulgaria Germany Microsoft Kazakhstan 97, Zholdasbekova Str. Headquarters 18–20 Gogol Str. Microsoft Deutschland GmbH 1504 Sofi a Konrad-Zuse-Strasse 1 Block A1, 5th fl oor Microsoft Bilgisayar Yazilim Business Center Samal Towers Barbaros Plaza Bulgaria 85716 Unterschleissheim (Munich) Tel: +359 2 9657 371 Germany Almaty, Samal-2 Emirhan Cad. 145-C Kazakhstan Dikilitas Fax: +359 2 9657 377 Tel: +49 89 3176 0 Istanbul, 34349 Fax: +49 89 3176 1000 Tel: + 3272 585595 Turkey Croatia Greece Tel: +90 212 326 5000 Microsoft Hrvatska Kenya and East Africa Fax: +90 212 258 5954 Turinina 3 Microsoft Hellas S.A. Microsoft East Africa Software Ltd. 10010 Zagreb 56 Kifi ssias Avenue 2nd Ngong Avenue Microsoft Corporate Affairs Croatia 15125 Maroussi I & M Bank House Athens Troonstraat 4, rue du Trône Tel: +385 1 4802 500 7th Floor Greece PO Box 64736 1000 Brussels Fax: +385 1 4802 525 Tel: +30 210 6151200 Belgium Esso, Plaza 00620 Fax: +30 210 6106780 Kenya Tel: +32 2 550 06 10 Cyprus Fax: +32 2 550 06 11 Tel: +254 (2) 2728196 Microsoft Cyprus Hungary 11 Kyriacos Matsis Avenue Algeria Microsoft Hungary Kuwait Nikis Center, 5th fl oor Graphisoft Park 3 (Zahony u.) Microsoft Algeria 1082 Nicosia - Cyprus Microsoft Kuwait 9 lot. Petite Provence 1031 Budapest Tel: +357 22456077 x200 Hungary Muhammed Thunayan Al Ghanim Commune d’Hydra Fax: +357 22681961 Street Wilaya d’Alger, Alger Tel: +36 1 437 2800 Fax: +36 1 437 2899 Al Sahab Tower Algérie Czech Republic 8th Floor, Offi ce 2 Tel: +213 21 48 01 00 PO Box 5244 Safat Microsoft s.r.o. Fax: +213 21 48 29 40 Iceland Kuwait BB Centrum, budova Alpha Microsoft Iceland Armenia Vyskocˇilova 1461/2a Engjateig 7 140 00 Praha 4 Latvia Microsoft RA LLC 105 Reykjavík Microsoft Latvia SIA 123 Hovsep Emin Street, Czech Republic Iceland Merkela Street 21 Yerevan 375051 Tel: +420 2 611 97 111 Tel: +354 510 6908 Riga LV-1050 Republic of Armenia Fax: +420 2 611 97 100 Fax: +354 510 6901 Latvia Tel: +37491415155 Denmark Ireland Tel: +371 704 6000 Austria The Danish offi ce also supports Faroe Microsoft Ireland Fax: +371 704 6006 Islands, Greenland) Microsoft Österreich Ges.m.b.H. Atrium Building Block B Am Euro Platz 3 Microsoft Danmark ApS Carmenhall Road Lebanon 1120 Wien (Vienna) Tuborg Boulevard 12 Sandyford Industrial Estate Microsoft Lebanon SARL Austria 2900 Hellerup Dublin 18 Borj An Nahar Building, 3rd Floor Tel: +43 1 610 64 0 Denmark Ireland Martyrs Square Fax: +43 1 610 64 200 Tel: +45 44 89 0100 Tel: +353 1 295 3826 Beirut Central District Fax: +45 44 68 5510 Fax: +353 1 706 4110 Lebanon Azerbaijan Tel: +961 1 98 33 44 Egypt Microsoft Azerbaijan LLC Israel 340 Nizami St. Microsoft Israel Ltd. Lithuania Smart Village Baku AZ1000 Ha’Pnina St. 2 Microsoft Lietuva UAB Republic of Azerbaijan Kilo 28, Cairo/Alex Desert Road Ranana 43107 Abu Rawash Šeimyniškiu˛ 3 Tel: + 994 12 497 2454 Israel Vilnius LT-09312 Fax: + 994 12 497 2454 Egypt Tel: +202 539 3333 Tel: +972 (9) 7625-100 Lithuania Fax: +202 539 3030 Fax: +972 (9) 7625-200 Tel: +370 52780680 Bahrain Fax: +370 52780681 Bahrain Institute of Technology Estonia Italy GOSI Complex Microsoft Estonia OÜ Microsoft Luxembourg Exhibition Avenue Rävala 5 Centro Direzionale San Felice NCI Offi ce — Laccolith P.O. Box 26038 - Manama 319 10143 Tallinn Via Rivoltana 13 20, rue Eugène Ruppert Tel: +973 17 58 31 51 Estonia Palazzo A 2543 Luxembourg Fax: +973 17 58 31 61 Tel: +372 6679800 20090 – Segrate - Milano Tel: +352 26 493 706 Fax: +372 6679801 Italy Fax: +352 26 196 385 Tel: +39 02 70398398 Fax: +39 02 70392020

26 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Former Yugoslav Republic Poland South Africa of Macedonia Microsoft Sp. z o.o. Microsoft Corporate Hill Research and Microsoft Macedonia Al. Jerozolimskie 195a 3012 William Nicol Drive Belasica Street no. 2, 3rd fl oor 02-222 Warszawa Bryanston 1000 Skopje Poland Johannesburg 2000 Development Republic of Macedonia Tel: +48 22 594 1000 South Africa Tel: +389 2 3215 806 Fax: +48 22 594 1002 Tel: +27 11 361 7000 Offi ces Fax: +389 2 3216 745 Fax: +27 11 361 7004 Portugal Malta Edifício Qualidade, C1-C2 Spain European Microsoft Innovation Microsoft Malta Av. Prof. Doutor Aníbal Cavaco Silva Microsoft Ibérica S.R.L. Center (EMIC) Tower St. Julian’s Level 15 Portomaso Tagus Park Paseo del Club Deportivo, 1 Ritterstrasse 23 Malta 2744-010 Porto Salvo Centro Empresarial La Finca — Edifi cio 1 52072 Aachen Tel: +356 79 426456 Portugal 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón Germany Fax: +356 21 381213 Tel: +351 21 440 92 00 Madrid Tel: +49 241 997 84 0 Fax: +351 21 441 21 01 Spain Fax: +49 241 997 84 77 Mauritius and Indian Ocean Islands Tel: +34 91 391 99 99 Quatar Fax: +34 91 391 90 01 Microsoft Development Center, Microsoft Mauritius Copenhagen 3rd Floor Barkly Wharf, Suite 3G Microsoft Qatar La Caudan Waterfront Bustan Steet, Villa Nr 2 Sweden Frydenlunds Allé 6 Old Pavilion Opposite Doha Collage Microsoft AB DK-2950 Vedbæk Port Louis Rayyan Area Finlandsgatan 30, Box 27 Tel: +45 45 67 80 00 Mauritius P.O. Box 2812 164 93 Kista Microsoft European Operations Tel: +230 202 8133 Doha – Qatar Sweden Centre (EOC) Tel: +974 447 4683 Tel: +46 8 752 56 00 Morocco Fax: +974 447 5765 Fax: +46 8 750 51 58 Atrium Building Block B Carmenhall Road Microsoft Afrique du Nord Romania Switzerland Sandyford Industrial Estate Twin Center Dublin 18 Tour A — 15ème étage Microsoft Romania s.r.l. Microsoft Schweiz Ireland Bd Zerktouni Bd. Lascar Catargiu nr. 51-53 Richtistrasse 3 Tel: +353 1 295 3826 20100 Casablanca Europe House etaj 6 8304 Wallisellen Fax: +353 1 706 4110 Morocco Bucuresti, Sector 1 Zurich Tel: +212 22 95 61 50 Cod postal: 711 121 Switzerland Microsoft European Product Fax: +212 22 95 85 85 Romania Tel: +41 848 22 44 88 Development Centre (EPDC) Tel: +40 21 20 24 200 Fax: +41 43 456 44 44 South County Business Park Fax: +40 21 20 24 276 Namibia and South-East Africa Leopardstown Microsoft Namibia Tunisia Dublin 18 21 Nachtigal Street Russia Microsoft Tunisie Ireland Windhoek (Supports Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Immeuble Iris Namibia Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Les Berges du Lac Microsoft Research Cambridge Uzbekistan) Tel: +264 61 2925000 1053 Tunis Roger Needham Building Microsoft Russia and CIS Tunisie 7 J J Thomson Ave Netherlands 125252, Moscow, postbox 70 Tel: +216 71 96 00 06 Cambridge CB3 0FB Russia Fax: +216 71 86 25 05 Microsoft BV UK Boeing Avenue 30 Tel: +7 095 967 8585 Tel: +44 1223 479 700 1119 PE Schiphol-Rijk Fax: +7 095 967 8500 Turkey Fax: +44 1223 479 999 Postbus 12377 Microsoft Bilgisayar Yazilim 1100 AJ Amsterdam-Zuidoost Saudi Arabia Barbaros Plaza Rare The Netherlands Microsoft Saudi Arabia Emirhan Cad. 145-C Manor Park Tel: +31 20 5001 500 PO Box 17100 Dikilitas Twycross Fax: +31 20 5001 999 Abraj Atta’awuneya, King Fahd Road, Istanbul, 34349 Warwickshire CV9 3QN Olaya Turkey UK Nigeria 16th Floor, North Tower Tel: +90 212 326 5000 Tel: +44 1827 883 400 PO Box 17100, Riyadh 11484 Fax: +90 212 258 5954 Fax: +44 1827 883 410 Microsoft Nigeria Saudi Arabia 3rd Floor, Octagon Building Ukraine 13A, A. J Marinho Drive Tel: +966 1 2180808 Victoria Island Annex Fax: +966 1 2180809 Microsoft Ukraine Lagos 30A, Spasskaya Str. Nigeria Serbia and Montenegro Podil Plaza, offi ce 3-2b¯ Tel: +234 1 2625239 Microsoft Software d.o.o. 04070, Kiev Makedonska 30, 6th fl oor Ukraine Tel: + 380 44 4960310 Norway 11000 Belgrade Serbia and Montenegro Microsoft Norge AS United Arab Emirates Postboks 43, Lilleaker Tel: +381 11 330 66 00 0216 Oslo Fax: +381 11 330 66 01 Microsoft Gulf FZ LLC Norway P O Box 52244 Tel: +47 22 02 25 00 Slovakia Dubai Internet City, Building No 8 Fax: +47 22 95 06 64 Microsoft Slovakia s.r.o. Sheikh Zayed Road Westend Court Dubai UAE Oman Dubravska cesta 4 841 04 Bratislava Tel: +9714 391 7000 Offi ce no 35, Qurum Plaza, Fax: +9714 391 7001 108, Al Walaj Street, Muscat Slovakia Tel: +421 2 5929 5111 P.O. Box 1261 United Kingdom Jibroo 114 Fax: +421 2 5929 5100 Sultane of Oman Microsoft Ltd Tel: +968 24 56 5757 Slovenia Thames Valley Park Fax: +968 24 56 7121 Microsoft d.o.o. Ljubljana Reading BTC City stolpnica/VII RG6 1WG UK Pakistan Smartinska 140 1000 Ljubljana Tel: +44 870 60 10 100 Microsoft Pakistan Fax: +44 870 60 20 100 Liaison Offi ce 24 Slovenia Bahria Complex 1 M.T. Khan Road Tel: +386 1 5 484 100 Karachi 74000 Fax: +386 1 5 484 122 Pakistan Tel: +922 1 561 18 56 Fax: +922 1 56 11 860

MICROSOFT EMEA • JUNE 2006 27 i For More Information:

Contact the Microsoft EMEA press offi ce at +44 870 243 0515 or by e-mail at [email protected].

For additional information on Microsoft EMEA and Microsoft Corp., our home page can be viewed on the web at www.microsoft.com/emea.

For media and background information, visit www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre and www.microsoft.com/presspass.

For fi nancial questions, visit www.microsoft.com/msft.

Microsoft, Windows, MSN, Windows Live, Windows Server System, Windows Server, MSDN, Visio, InfoPath, OneNote, SharePoint, Dynamics, Xbox 360, Visual C++, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Visual Studio, Axapta, Navision, Great Plains, Hotmail, Halo, MS-DOS and Windows Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp, Microsoft Development Center Copenhagen ApS or their affi liates in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft Development Center Copenhagen ApS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. 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. © 2006 Microsoft Corp. All rights reserved.