Microsoft Releases New Version of Its Windows Live Mobile Developer Program

Today at Mobile World
Congress 2008, Microsoft Corp. announced that it is releasing a new version of
its Windows Live Mobile Developer Program, enabling developers to create
mobile versions of its popular Windows Live services that can be built for
virtually any mobile phone independent of phone operating system. Microsoft
also announced Windows Live @mobile, a new program that allows operators to
adopt and deploy Windows Live services. These two initiatives will enable
Microsoft's developer community to deliver compelling Windows Live services
and provide flexibility to access the Windows Live platform to innovate on top
of those services. In addition, mobile operators can connect their customers
to Windows Live, one of the largest communications and sharing networks in the
world, create additional revenue opportunities and enhance the customer
experience.

Windows Live Mobile Developer Program

These latest updates to the Windows Live Mobile Developer Program include
new features to Microsoft's Mobile Services Protocol and a new software
development kit (SDK), enabling developers to create mobile versions of
Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Spaces that can
work on any phone operating system. These updates give developers the
capability to create applications with an exceptional user experience and more
advanced functionality, all built on a WS*-compliant protocol.

Microsoft launched the Windows Live Mobile Developer Program more than two
years ago. Today, over 70 independent software vendor partners are building
applications that work on more than 800 devices equipped to support Windows
Live for Mobile. Recently Nokia, with its Series 60 platform, adopted the
Mobile Services Protocol to offer new capabilities to its mobile phone
offering, including the ability to share media files within an instant
messaging conversation and e-mail, integrated access to users' Windows Live
Contacts and phone address book, and one-click file photo upload to users'
Windows Live Spaces.

"Our relationships with operators and developers are key to our strategy.
By providing developers with access to these platforms, we are enabling
operators to provide access to Windows Live services for their customers and
make money as well," said Matt Champagne, director, Product Management, Mobile
Communications Business at Microsoft. "Our Windows Live @mobile program is all
about enabling operators to deploy our services as quickly as possible by
providing standard ways to launch our services."

Windows Live @mobile

Microsoft is also announcing the availability of Windows Live @mobile, a
program that enables mobile operators to deploy a set of standard Microsoft
mobile services such as Windows Live for Mobile and MSN Mobile to their
customers quickly and efficiently. These standard deals support different
business models, providing operators with several choices, including
subscriptions, transactions or advertising so they fit with their existing
business or new business ideas. Operators can choose to deploy browser-based
services that work on nearly any phone with a data plan or with any of the
certified third-party clients developed by Microsoft partners.

Currently, @mobile is available in 46 countries and is expanding to
additional markets in the next year. Additional information on both Windows
Live @mobile and the Windows Live Mobile Developer Program can be found at
http://msnmobile.members.winisp.net.

About MSN and Windows Live

MSN attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per month. With
localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a
world leader in delivering compelling programmed content experiences to
consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide.
Windows Live, a comprehensive set of personal Internet services and software,
is designed to bring together in one place all the relationships, information
and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security
features across their PC, devices and the Web. MSN and Windows Live will be
offered alongside each other as complementary services. Some Windows Live
services entered an early beta phase on Nov. 1, 2005; these and future beta
updates can be found at http://ideas.live.com. Windows Live is available at
http://www.live.com. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com. MSN
worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx.

About Microsoft

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