Press Releases (Business)

Windows Server 2012 Powers the Cloud OS

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 14:54:00 GMT

New server is built from the cloud up for the modern datacenter.

REDMOND, Wash. - Sept. 4, 2012 - Today in a global online launch event Satya Nadella, president of Microsoft Server and Tools Business, announced the general availability of Windows Server 2012. In his keynote speech, Nadella described how Windows Server 2012 is a cornerstone of the Cloud OS that provides customers with a modern platform for the world's applications.

"The operating system has always been the heartbeat of IT and is now undergoing a renaissance in the new world of continuous cloud services, connected devices and big data," Nadella said. "Microsoft's unique legacy in the most widely used operating systems, applications and cloud services positions us to deliver the Cloud OS, based on Windows Server and Windows Azure, helping customers achieve a datacenter without boundaries."

Enabling the Modern Datacenter

Microsoft built Windows Server 2012 from the cloud up, applying its experience operating global datacenters that rely on hundreds of thousands of servers to deliver more than 200 cloud services. Windows Server 2012 expands the definition of a server operating system, incorporating traditionally separate technologies, such as advanced storage, networking, virtualization and automation capabilities. Hundreds of new features can help customers achieve a transformational leap in the speed, scale and power of their datacenters and applications. In combination with Windows Azure and System Center, Windows Server 2012 empowers customers to manage and deliver applications and services across private, hosted and public clouds.

Customers Find Success With Windows Server 2012

Customers can use their existing skills and investments in systems management, application development, database, identity and virtualization to take advantage of Windows Server 2012 and realize the promise of cloud computing. Many enterprise customers are already seeing tremendous value in early deployments. A survey of 70 early adopter customers from across the globe revealed that they expect, on average, 52 percent reduction in downtime, 41 percent reduction in workload deployment time, and 15 hours of productivity time saved per year, per employee. 91 percent of the companies surveyed expect a reduction in server administration labor, and 88 percent expect reduction in network administration labor.^*
Menzies Aviation, an airline passenger and cargo handling company that employs more than 17,000 people, is using Windows Server 2012 to provide identity access management and information access policies to its employees as it rapidly incorporates newly acquired businesses.

"We are very impressed by Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft's overall solution to help us manage our systems and applications across our private cloud environments as they scale with our business," said Martin Gallington, senior vice president of IT at Menzies Aviation. "This is a dramatic leap forward, matched by a simple, cost-effective pricing model."

Equifax is a global information solutions provider that organizes and assimilates data on more than 500 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide. It now counts on Windows Server 2012 for improved reliability and uptime of its information services to clients.

"Windows Server 2012 revolutionizes how we can operate our datacenter, allowing us to better meet our commitments," said Bryan Garcia, chief technology officer at Equifax. "The new high availably technologies help us deliver 'always-on' applications, and we're betting on Hyper-V as a critical component of our private cloud strategy. We are gaining tremendous efficiencies, which translate into more time to innovate for company growth."

More information about Windows Server 2012 and the Cloud OS is available here. Read Satya Nadella's post on The Official Microsoft Blog here. The conversation on Twitter can be followed at #WinServer.

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

^* "Windows Server 2012 Rapid Deployment Program: TCO Study Whitepaper," Microsoft Corp., June 2012

Microsoft Office 365 for Education Launches, Gets High Marks From Schools

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:03:00 GMT

Students and educators around the world benefit from cloud-based desktop suite and collaboration tools.

TORONTO, ON - June 27, 2012 - Starting today, Microsoft Office 365 for education is available, providing the world's best productivity, communications and collaboration experiences to schools at no cost. Office 365 for education is a cloud-based suite that includes the familiar Microsoft Office desktop applications, as well as Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online and Microsoft Lync Online. It provides educators with powerful tools to create anytime, anywhere^* learning opportunities across multiple devices in addition to email, calendars, Microsoft Office Web Apps, video and online meetings plus advanced document creation features for curriculum planning and student projects.

"The cloud and online learning are key trends transforming education today. Office 365 for education delivers a holistic collaboration platform that will change the game," said Shann McGrail, national director of education, Microsoft Canada. "As schools face ever-tightening budgets and the pressure to innovate, we are offering enterprise quality technology for free that will modernize teaching practices and help prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow."

Schools Benefiting From Office 365

Announced as part of the one-year anniversary of Office 365, prestigious K-12 and higher education institutions around the world are moving to Office 365 for education.

Here in Canada Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology has leveraged the features of Office 365 for education to drive student engagement and collaboration while increasing access to education.

"We were looking to further invigorate student engagement and break down geographical barriers for our students," said Michael Alloy, CIO at Cambrian College. "With Office 365 for education, in conjunction with our on premise Microsoft Lync implementation, both staff and students are able to connect and communicate instantly, at any time, across multiple devices. Group work has gone virtual, and so too have our classrooms - a key advantage for all of our students. Plus, by working on the latest suite of Microsoft tools, Office 365 for education is teaching our students on the tools they'll be using in the workforce, setting them up for success. Through using Microsot Lync for Virtual College delivery, we have already helped employers to retrain their workforce, without our students having to leave their family, career, or home community."

Classrooms Without Boundaries

Office 365 allows schools to teach from virtually anywhere,^* reach more students, teach software skills employers are looking for and provide enterprise-class tools that reduce IT costs.

- Students can engage in ad-hoc instant messaging or video chats to collaborate on class projects in real time, regardless of where they are working or on what device. They can create documents with Office Web Apps that provide the same features as the desktop version of Microsoft Office, share class notes by synchronizing OneNote notebooks, and create digital portfolios.

-Teachers can create curriculum, record lectures and publish them on online class sites in the cloud where students are able to view, open, produce, edit and share their homework. Office 365 provides new ways to extend classroom teaching time and distance learning, tutor students online, and whiteboard ideas.

-Educational institutions and parents will get peace of mind knowing students' content and personal data are protected and won't be scanned for advertising purposes, thanks to a rich set of privacy, security and protection capabilities that adhere to federal laws.

-School IT departments can save money and free up more critical time by counting on Microsoft to manage routine tasks such as applying server updates and software upgrades. With the influx of digital content, data center demands and lessened and with 25GB mailboxes, people won't be forced to purge files.

Education institutions currently using the Microsoft Live@edu platform will be upgraded to Office 365 beginning this summer. Customers can sign up for a 30-day trial now. More about Office 365 for education is available at http://www.microsoft.com/education/office365.

About Microsoft in Education
At Microsoft, we are deeply committed to working with governments, communities, schools and educators to use the power of information technology to deliver technology, services and programs that provide anytime, anywhere learning for all. For more information: http://www.microsoft.com/education.

About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has nine regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit www.microsoft.ca.

For more information, press only:
Becky Brescacin
High Road Communications
416-644-1398
Becky.Brescacin@highroad.com

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

Microsoft Canada Announces Student Winners of Imagine Cup 2012

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:43:00 GMT

Team from George Brown College representing Canada in the software design category at the worldwide finals in Australia

TORONTO, May 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Showcasing some of the country's brightest young minds, Microsoft Canada is proud to announce the winners of the 2012 Imagine Cup Canada, a design competition that encourages students to change the world through the innovative use of the latest technology tools.

Team Greeni, from George Brown College, won the software design category and will represent Canada at the worldwide finals in Sydney, Australia. Team Project Beacon, from Carleton University, won the Windows 7 phone game design category.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Imagine Cup, one of the world's premier student technology competitions. This year, Microsoft Canada selected six finalists from high schools and post-secondary schools across the country in two categories - software design and Windows Phone 7 game design - to compete in the national championship at the University of Waterloo on April 30.

These students, fuelled by Microsoft-based technology, were inspired to develop innovative ways to address some of the world's biggest problems such as healthcare in developing countries and rural areas, climate change, world hunger, and medical research.

Winning the software design category, George Brown students Timur Sharaftinov, Alecsander Granger, Vasily Gurin, and Dmitry Zhivotovsky created a solution to help save energy. Called Greeni, their solution uses Microsoft Kinect, light and carbon dioxide sensors and programming logic in the cloud on Windows Azure to monitor workspaces and determine when lighting and ventilation systems should be active. A pilot project in their school lab produced energy savings.

"Great ideas don't accomplish much if they remain on paper," says team mentor Leo Salemi, a faculty member from the Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies at George Brown College. "I'm very proud of Team Greeni and we are thrilled to be given the opportunity to showcase how we used technology to turn our ideas into reality at Imagine Cup 2012 in Australia."

Winning the Windows Phone 7 game design category are students Gar Lam, Clark McGillis, Curtis Field, and Eva Demers-Brett, along with mentor Jean-Sylvain Sormany, from Carleton University, who developed a game demonstrating the impact of human activity on the planet. Players in the game help an astronaut, who has returned from space to find earth polluted, solve puzzles to clean up the earth before his oxygen runs out.

"I am extremely impressed and inspired by our winners, our six finalists and all our student competitors at this year's Imagine Cup. They clearly demonstrated the amazing things that can happen when we mix education, intuition, creativity and drive to transform technology into global solutions," said Gladstone Grant, Vice President, Developer & Platform Group, Microsoft Canada Inc. "These students have shown they have what it takes to make a real difference, and Microsoft is proud to be able to give them the platform to display their skills on the world stage."

The Imagine Cup 2012 Worldwide Finals takes place from July 6 to 10 in Sydney Australia, where the winners from each local software design competition and the top 10 international finalists in the Windows 7 Game Design category will compete for global titles.

About Imagine Cup

The Microsoft Imagine Cup is one of the world's premier student technology competition. Eligible students from around the world are invited to use their imagination and passion to create a technology solution that addresses the Imagine Cup 2012 theme: Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problem. In ten years, the Imagine Cup has grown to be a truly global competition focused on finding solutions to real-world problems. Since 2003, more than 1.4 million students have participated in the Imagine Cup with 358,000 students representing 183 countries and regions registering for the Imagine Cup 2011 competition. This year, the Imagine Cup 2012 Worldwide Finals take place in Sydney, Australia from July 6-10. For more information on Imagine Cup, please visit http://www.imaginecup.com/.

About Microsoft Canada

Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has nine regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit www.microsoft.ca.

For further information:
Or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Kara Carnduff
High Road Communications
416-644-2271
Kara.Carnduff@highroad.com

Survey shows Office Workers, Bosses Want to Work from Everywhere and Anywhere

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:28:00 GMT

Microsoft Canada survey results found workers and bosses often feel more productive working remotely

March 29, 2012 – Microsoft Canada today announced the results of its Flexible Workspaces survey – a study which examined the workstyle preferences of employees and bosses with regards to working remotely and how they ranked their productivity while working remotely. The survey found that while many employees are seeking flexible work arrangements, not all of their bosses believe they work as efficiently when they are working outside the office. In fact, only one-quarter of Canadian bosses polled feel employees are more productive when working remotely, compared to when in the office. However, the findings from employees countered the bosses’ perceptions, with 55% reporting that they believed they were more productive when working remotely. The survey polled Canadians who work full time in an office with 10 or more employees and for companies which allow remote working arrangements.

“What we once considered the traditional office is changing,” said James Nicholson, Deployment Specialist for Windows with Microsoft Canada. “More and more customers, colleagues and technology partners are finding themselves taking business calls from airport waiting lounges, reviewing work documents as they wait at the dentist office or sit on the train, or running important personal errands during their work day. And at the centre of their workstyles, people expect increased technological capabilities to keep up with them – everything from real time collaboration with colleagues to video conferencing and secure access to their files.”

» Infographic: What are employers doing to create a flexible workspace that works?

The good news is: almost half of the polled bosses (42%) say that they do support remote working arrangements for their employees. Mike Kennedy, Vice President at Aon Hewitt and National Lead, Health Strategies and Solutions, agrees, “As workers juggle longer hours and aim to maintain a work-life balance, employers who can offer flexible workspaces to their employees are leading the pack in becoming employers of choice. We are seeing more and more that employees are seeking out flexible work arrangements and the opportunity to work outside the office walls – anywhere and anytime, from the airport to the soccer field. And as the competition for top talent continues, particularly for the next generation entering the workforce and for the highly skilled experienced talent, employers who aren’t keeping up may be left behind.”

Thinking Outside the Cubicle

The need for up-to-date technology is one thing everyone can agree on, the study found. The overwhelming majority of both bosses (95%) and employees (90%) polled say that it is very important to have similar capabilities when working remotely compared to when working in the office.

“Organizations that will be successful in the future are those that remove the barriers between people, workplace and technology,” said James Nicholson. “When you empower your people by creating a workplace that facilitates flexibility with the technology and solutions that help them to be productive wherever they are, you get the most out of your people.”

The top reasons cited by the survey respondents for working remotely include needing to finish work that couldn’t be finished at the office (48%); having fewer distractions (44%); being more productive than in the office (35%); and having a better balance of work/home priorities (35%).

Leading Change – Right from the Top

“Boundaries between work and life are blurring, “says Carolyn Buccongello, Vice President of Human Resources with Microsoft Canada. “You may dismiss this as a Generation-C issue but this speaks broadly to all generations. There are pros and cons to this new way of work, but it is not going away and technology can become the key to resetting those boundaries.”

According to Ms. Buccongello, there are three core dimensions to transforming business for flexible work:

*Technology – With the advances made in technology, the ability to work any time, any place, from virtually anywhere shatters the myth of the office as the primary work location.

*Places – Canadian workers are on the move from airports, other offices, commuting home on the train – they are becoming more fluid in terms of their physical presence.

*People – Canadian modern society is shifting as technology becomes commonplace, enabling Canadians to work and communicate in different ways.

“To create a flexible workforce begins with leadership teams building a culture of trust and a vision that focuses on individual results rather than how much time they spend at their desk. You have to empower your people with self-direction. That’s not just common sense, that’s business sense,” said Ms. Buccongello.

According to Mr. Kennedy, employers who combine these three elements will empower both the organization and people with an environment that lets them do their best work wherever they are. “For businesses large and small, there are several benefits including increased productivity, and the ability to attract and retain the best talent,” said Mr. Kennedy.

Additional stats-at-a-glance:

*The survey revealed bosses’ top pet peeves in dealing with remote workers were: the inability to talk face-to-face (49%), lack of focus (26%), lack of accountability (22%) and the belief that employees are doing less work (22%).

*Bosses are much more likely than employees to conduct business in public spaces (62% vs. 34%).

**The most frequent places mentioned by bosses include while driving (46%), on public transportation (29%) and at a bar or restaurant (25%).

*The majority of respondents (89%) indicate that their companies provide tech support for company owned devices. In contrast, more than half (54%) of companies that respondents work for do not provide tech support for personally owned devices.

*Bosses (62%) rate themselves higher than employees (55%) in feeling that they are more productive when working remotely.

To learn more about how Microsoft can accelerate your team’s productivity, visit: www.microsoft.com/canada/media.

In 2011, Microsoft was ranked the #1 overall “Best Workplaces in Canada”, for companies with more than 1,000 employees.

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About Microsoft Canada

About the survey:

From February 14, to February 21, 2012, an online survey was conducted among 1,249 employees (n=607) and bosses (n=642) who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. Employees are defined as Canadian adults who work full time in an office with 10 or more employees; Bosses are defined as Mid-Tier Managers and Business Owners who have direct reports and work in an office with 10 or more employees. All respondents must work in companies which allow remote working arrangements. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Maria De Romana
High Road Communications, on behalf of Microsoft
416-644-1720
maria.deromana@highroad.com

Cloud powers innovation, spurs sky high job growth in Montreal and across the globe

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:37:00 GMT

New IDC study says cloud will deliver almost 7,800 new Montreal jobs by 2015; 70,000 in Canada

Montreal, March 14, 2012 – Cloud technology is expected to create millions of new jobs around the world and will be an important force in inspiring the business innovation needed to restore global economic health, according to a new IDC study released today. The study, commissioned by Microsoft, found that by the end of 2015, nearly 14 million new jobs will be created worldwide, and just over 70,000 across Canada.

In Montreal, new jobs related to the cloud will increase an average of 20 per cent annually, resulting in almost 7,800 by 2015.

The cloud is a web-based way to process, manage and store data – an IT solution so cost-effective that businesses of all sizes are moving away from the expensive maintenance of legacy systems, and instead opting to build on top of the cloud’s common infrastructure. By using the cloud’s global scalability, businesses can, in turn, invest those savings directly into business innovation.

IDC reports that worldwide, at least 75 per cent of IT spending is currently tied up with the maintenance of legacy systems and routine upgrades.

“By harnessing the power of the cloud, businesses can benefit from reduced fees and equipment costs, and in turn free up IT staff to turn their focus to more mission-critical and strategic tasks,” says John Weigelt, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Canada. “But we often overlook one of the cloud’s most compelling benefits: by empowering business innovation and helping to increase revenues, using cloud technology can lead to job creation across all sectors, and in turn, drive Canada’s economy forward.”

The IDC also reveals several other interesting cloud facts:

- In 2011, more than $28 billion was spent on cloud services worldwide.
- In 2011, the cloud helped businesses around the world generate more than $400 billion in additional revenues and 1.5 million new jobs. More than 50 per cent of those jobs accrued to small and medium businesses.
- By 2015 in Montreal, businesses with less than 500 staff (SMEs) will see an increase of more than 3,800 new jobs, while larger enterprise companies will increase by more than 4,000 jobs.

“At Microsoft, we’re challenging businesses to really see the path that the cloud offers: increased flexibility and technology cost savings, allowing for greater productivity, more innovation, and eventually, business growth,” says Weigelt. “Businesses across the globe are realizing that if they act now, they can reap big benefits both today and into the future.”

Canadian company VRX Studios has been reaping the benefits of the cloud. After ten years of faithfully serving the company, VRX Studios’ home grown digital asset management system wasn’t able to support the company’s size, scale and growth rate. Realizing its dilemma, VRX Studios needed to quickly find a new, highly scalable, enterprise-class digital asset management system that could meet the global needs of its business. With over 10,000 hotel customers around the world and more than 20 terabytes of data, the benefits the cloud offered were too good to ignore.

“We knew we needed to build a system that was 100 per cent cloud-based in order to eliminate the enormous capital expenses that would be required to launch a global solution and to reduce operating costs to a small fraction of what an on-premises or collocated system would,” says David MacLaren, President and CEO, VRX Studios. “Using Microsoft’s Windows Azure platform, we developed the first 100 per cent cloud-based digital asset management system to improve our content production, licensing and distribution business. Since building the core system, we’ve branded it MediaValet and now offer the solution as a stand-alone SaaS product, providing cloud-based digital asset management services to companies of all sizes, industries and locations. Due to the demand that we’re seeing for this new product, we expect MediaValet to surpass the success of VRX Studios within the next few years.”

Microsoft offers a variety of cloud computing solutions worldwide, ranging from platform and infrastructure offerings (Windows Azure, Windows Server), productivity offerings (Office 365) and private cloud solutions (Windows Server, System Center) to consumer-focused offerings (Xbox Live, Hotmail).

For more information on Microsoft’s cloud services, please visit www.microsoft.com/cloud.

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About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has nine regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit www.microsoft.ca.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Alexandre Lainesse
High Road Communications
514-908-0110 x 310
Alex.Lainesse@highroad.com

Cloud powers innovation, spurs sky high job growth in Canada and across the globe

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:33:00 GMT

New IDC study says cloud will deliver more than 14,500 new Toronto jobs by 2015; 70,000 in Canada

Toronto, March 5, 2012 – Cloud technology is expected to create millions of new jobs around the world and will be an important force in inspiring the business innovation needed to restore global economic health, according to a new IDC study released today. The study, commissioned by Microsoft, found that by the end of 2015, nearly 14 million new jobs will be created worldwide, and just over 70,000 across Canada.

In Toronto, new jobs related to the cloud will increase an average of 20 per cent annually, resulting in more than 14,500 by 2015.

IDC reports that worldwide, at least 75 per cent of IT spending is currently tied up with the maintenance of legacy systems and routine upgrades.

The IDC also reveals several other interesting cloud facts:
- In 2011, more than $28 billion was spent on cloud services worldwide.
- In 2011, the cloud helped businesses around the world generate more than $400 billion in additional revenues and 1.5 million new jobs. More than 50 per cent of those jobs accrued to small and medium businesses.
- By 2015 in Toronto, businesses with less than 500 staff (SMEs) will see an increase of more than 6,300 new jobs, while larger enterprise companies will increase by more than 8,100 jobs.

“As our company grew, we realized our resources weren’t able to support the IT infrastructure needed to ensure our employees could in turn, provide the best customer experiences possible,” says Randy Clemens, CEO, Redwood Global Inc. “Redwood shifted its business to the cloud using Microsoft Office 365, and since then we have been able to scale our business exponentially by hiring more people and opening our services to new markets. Our employees can now work remotely in different locations providing our clients with the same experience they would have at our headquarters in Toronto.”

For more information on Microsoft’s cloud services, please visit www.microsoft.com/cloud.

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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Kara Carnduff
High Road Communications
416-644-2271
Kara.Carnduff@highroad.com

Becky Brescacin
High Road Communications
416-644-1398
Becky.Brescacin@highroad.com

Microsoft Brings the Cloud Down to Earth for Enterprises

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:07:00 GMT

System Center 2012 is a true "private cloud builder."

REDMOND, Wash. - Jan. 17, 2012 - In an online broadcast today from Microsoft Corp. headquarters, Satya Nadella, president of Microsoft Server and Tools Business, laid out how Microsoft's private cloud solution will help businesses move faster, save money and better compete in 2012. He highlighted how companies, such as webcast participants Lufthansa Systems, T. Rowe Price and Unilever, can use Microsoft System Center 2012 to build and operate private clouds for the delivery of business applications across both private and public cloud platforms. System Center 2012 is available today in a Release Candidate as a single, integrated private cloud management solution for the first time.

"IT leaders tell me that private cloud computing promises to help them focus on innovation over maintenance, to streamline costs and to respond to the need for IT speed," Nadella said. "We are delivering on that promise today. With System Center 2012, customers can move beyond the industry hype and speculation, and progress into the here and now of private cloud."

All Together Now: Private Cloud Simplicity and Best Economics

New advances in System Center 2012 demonstrate Microsoft's commitment to easing the acquisition, deployment and economics of private cloud computing.

"A private cloud is our answer to corralling our server infrastructure into a single entity we can use to more rapidly deliver services that really matter to our business," said Peter Daniels, vice president of IT at T. Rowe Price. "System Center 2012 is truly a game changer."

System Center 2012 integrates eight separate component products into one unified solution, streamlining installation and reducing the time it takes to deploy from days down to hours. The number of product versions has also been simplified, so customers will be able to choose between the Standard and Datacenter editions of the product, based on their virtualization requirements. And because System Center 2012 Datacenter edition licensing covers unlimited virtual machines, customers can continually grow their private clouds without additional licensing costs for virtualizing their infrastructure and applications.

The Microsoft Private Cloud: Built for the Future. Ready Now

Lufthansa Systems and Unilever are also relying on System Center 2012 and the Microsoft private cloud.

"We are making the move to cloud computing across our company, and after looking at our options, Microsoft offers the right solutions for us," said Holger Berndt, head of Microsoft Servers at Lufthansa Systems. "With the integrated approach and technology, we can use the people and skills we have in place now to build the private cloud services we need to meet the complex IT requirements of our customers. Microsoft brings it all together, including the clear path to public cloud on Windows Azure."

"Our private cloud will help us meet our goal of doubling Unilever's business without increasing our environmental footprint," said Mike Royle, enterprise services IT director at Unilever. "Working with Avanade, we are betting on System Center 2012 as the management platform to extend our investments in virtualization toward private cloud, to automate processes, and to ensure the reliability of our infrastructure and application services."

More information is available here, including the on-demand broadcast, links to the Microsoft private cloud evaluation software and more. The conversation on Twitter can be followed at #MSFTprivatecloud.

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

For more information, press only:

Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, (503) 443-7070, rrt@waggeneredstrom.com

WESTBPRIVATECLOUDTEAM@waggeneredstrom.com

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

HP and Microsoft Deliver Global Communications and Collaboration Solutions via the Cloud

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:02:00 GMT

Public and private cloud services to provide IT efficiency and flexibility for enterprises and governments

PALO ALTO, Calif., and REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 8, 2011 - HP Enterprise Services and Microsoft Corp. today announced a global, four-year initiative to deliver Microsoft's leading communications and collaboration applications via global private and public cloud services.

Under the agreement, HP and Microsoft will offer private and public cloud solutions designed to help organizations rapidly scale new users, shift IT resources from maintenance to innovation and change IT from a capital to operating expense. The solutions include:
- Private cloud: HP Enterprise Cloud Services - Messaging, HP Enterprise Cloud Services - Collaboration and HP Enterprise Cloud Services - Real-Time Collaboration deliver Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 and Microsoft Lync Server 2010 productivity applications as a service from HP data centers around the world.
- Public cloud: Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft's Office collaboration and productivity tools, will be delivered by Microsoft through the cloud.
- Hybrid solution: HP will resell Microsoft Office 365 with HP Enterprise Cloud Services - Messaging, HP Enterprise Cloud Services - Collaboration and HP Enterprise Cloud Services - Real-Time Collaboration.⁽¹⁾

HP and Microsoft engineering resources will collaborate to deploy, support and enhance the new solutions. The solutions will launch globally, with initial availability this month in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

"Large organizations, particularly those in regulated industries like financial services and public sector, have demanding functionality and service level requirements," said Brandt Faatz, vice president, Workplace Services, HP Enterprise Services. "HP and Microsoft help meet these needs with a flexible range of global, cost-efficient, cloud-based productivity solutions running on the latest technology."

"Microsoft is committed to putting the unique and ever-evolving needs of customers at the core of cloud innovation," said Mark Hill, vice president, Enterprise Partner Group, Microsoft. "This alliance with HP not only broadens Microsoft's geographic reach, it gives customers maximum flexibility to choose a cloud computing solution that meets their organization's specialized messaging and collaboration needs."

HP and Microsoft have delivered technical innovation together for more than 25 years. They offer joint solutions that help organizations around the world improve services through the use of innovative technologies. More information about the HP and Microsoft alliance is available at http://h10134.www1.hp.com/insights/alliances/microsoft/.

The new solutions enable organizations in their pursuit of an Instant-On Enterprise. In a world of continuous connectivity, the Instant-On Enterprise embeds technology in everything it does to serve customers, employees, partners and citizens with whatever they need, instantly.

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.

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world's largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

(1) HP Enterprise Cloud Services - Messaging, HP Enterprise Cloud Services - Collaboration and HP Enterprise Cloud Services - Real-Time Collaboration for some end users, and Microsoft Office 365 for others.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, including execution of growth strategies, transformation initiatives and restructuring plans; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the competitive pressures faced by HP's businesses; the development and transition of new products and services (and the enhancement of existing products and services) to meet customer needs and respond to emerging technological trends; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the protection of HP's intellectual property assets, including intellectual property licensed from third parties; integration and other risks associated with business combination and investment transactions; the hiring and retention of key employees; expectations and assumptions relating to the execution and timing of growth strategies, transformation initiatives and restructuring plans; the resolution of pending investigations, claims and disputes; and other risks that are described in HP's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2011 and HP's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

© 2011 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

For media inquiries:
John Clute, High Road Communications on behalf of Microsoft Canada
416-644-2267
jclute@highroad.com

Canadian businesses unclear when it comes to cloud computing

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:48:00 GMT

19 per cent of Canadian businesses who thought they weren’t using cloud services actually are

MISSISSAUGA, ON, November 24, 2011 –Canadian businesses are unclear when it comes to cloud computing reveals a Microsoft Canada survey released today. The survey, conducted by Leger Marketing, polled Canadian C-level executives across all sectors and found that 19 per cent of those who indicated they are not currently using cloud services were in fact leveraging cloud computing solutions and services like Microsoft Web Apps, Microsoft Office 365 and Windows Azure.

Simply put, the cloud is a network-based way to cost-effectively process, manage and store all of your data – everything from corporate documents to family photos.

The survey also found that those who are not using cloud-based services (67 per cent) admit they don’t know enough to make major decisions about it at this time.

“This confusion comes as no surprise because “Cloud” can refer to a wide variety of different services,” says John Weigelt, National Technology Officer for Microsoft Canada. “The market is rife with misinformation and myths surrounding cloud computing, and Canadian businesses are losing out as a result. The truth is that the cloud can deliver huge benefits such as cost-savings, increased productivity and greater efficiency, but businesses don’t know where to start.”

The survey indicated security and privacy are the top two barriers for entry into cloud computing for organizations including government and healthcare, whereas security and reliability (data loss) are the major barriers for private sectors.

“Many businesses are already in the cloud whether they know it or not,” says Weigelt. “It’s time to take stock of what is already used in-house and consider what other cloud technologies can be introduced. Only by understanding the principles, technology and processes associated with Cloud computing, will Canadian businesses be able to reap the rewards and unlock the potential that cloud offers.”

“It’s important that businesses become more knowledgeable about cloud computing and understand that they can have both privacy and functionality,” said Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Information and Privacy Commissioner for Ontario. “With proper privacy protections designed into the system from the very beginning of its lifecycle, and integrated at every system layer, businesses can gain the huge financial and competitive advantages of cloud and ensure security.”

Many Canadian businesses also don’t realize they have a choice between adopting public or private cloud solutions or a combination of both, called a hybrid approach, allowing businesses to select services from locations where they make the most sense. A private cloud can be managed in-house or by a third party, with data hosted on or off-site, whereas public cloud is an infrastructure made available to the general public or a large industry group, owned by a vendor providing cloud services.

“Every organization’s journey to the cloud will be unique. Some organizations will call for customized, dedicated cloud resources, while others will benefit most from the massive scale of the public cloud,” says Weigelt. “In many cases, a hybrid approach is the answer, providing the freedom to select services from where they will most benefit the organization and even move back and forth at will.”

Canadian organizations are beginning to take advantage of the cloud for their service delivery initiatives, reaping the benefits of the low-cost, low-management and flexible cloud offerings.

“At the University of Toronto, we are implementing Microsoft Live@edu email and software service for all of our 70,000 students to simplify online collaboration and document sharing, while keeping students’ data private and promoting online safety,” said Robert Cook, Chief Information Officer, University of Toronto. “This cloud-based service helps the university reduce costs through lower IT management and hosting fees, allowing us to divert resources back into the core of our academic mission. Our students benefit from improved communication and collaboration and are equipped with the tools for success in both their academic pursuits and future careers.”

Survey Design/Research Methods

The Leger Marketing Survey was completed using Leger Marketing’s online panel, LegerWeb, with a sample of 705 Canadian businesses/organizations across all sectors/industries and with a minimum of five computers in use in their individual installed bases. Leger Marketing is the largest Canadian-owned polling and market research firm. Founded in 1986, the company now has over 650 employees, including more than 115 professionals specializing in marketing research, communication effectiveness and public opinion polling. Our professionals are located in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Philadelphia, Denver and Tampa in the United States.

About Microsoft Canada

###

For media inquiries:

Allison Colalillo, High Road Communications on behalf of Microsoft Canada
416-644-1644
acolalillo@highroad.com

Livy Feldgajer, High Road Communications on behalf of Microsoft Canada
416-644-2280
livy.feldgajer@highroad.com

Illegal software harms Canadian and global economies

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:09:00 GMT

Microsoft's global Play Fair Day spotlights the $1.5 billion disadvantage pirated software causes in local economies.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario - Nov. 17, 2011 - Manufacturing companies in Brazil, Russia, India and China that choose to use illegal software steal more than U.S. $1.5 billion from their in-market competitors that choose to play fair by using genuine software.

As part of a study to examine the broader economic impacts of software piracy, analysts from Keystone Strategy evaluated the illegitimate competitive advantage of companies that use illegal software. For example, manufacturers in China that "play fair" with legal, licensed software lose more than $863 million to companies using pirated software. This translates to more than $1 billion each year that cannot be reinvested into the economy in the form of 500 new manufacturing plants; or 65,000 new machines; or 200,000 additional employees in China alone.

Released as part of Play Fair Day, a global Microsoft initiative to emphasize the importance of utilizing legitimate software, this study examined the financial impact using illegal software has on the competitive landscape within developing and developed economies and quantifiably demonstrates the harm software piracy has on businesses that choose to play fair.

"Software piracy strains our industry's ability to innovate and generate jobs in Canada, harms local IT service firms, saps government tax revenues and increases the risk of computer security problems," said Chris Tortorice, Corporate Counsel, Anti-Piracy, Microsoft Canada. "The underlying effect these illegal activities have on the economy go beyond software publishers; they can have negative repercussions across the entire economic landscape. Companies that do not pay for the software they use have an unfair cost advantage over companies that do."

Here in Canada, the effects of illegal software piracy do not go unnoticed. Channel resellers are feeling the pinch as revenue for potential sales is lost to those unscrupulously selling illegal versions or from businesses not licensing their software

For Mike Marracino, Vice President of sales and marketing at Hypertec Systems Inc., a company that designs, develops and distributes computer products, sales would be higher if he didn't have to compete with grey market and pirated software resellers.

"Being a business manager in a slower economy, I can sympathize with a customer who recognizes the need to upgrade their technology, but feels limited in what they can afford at the moment," said Marracino. "Often times, the counterfeit or pirated software some customers buy online or perhaps in a backstreet shop creates serious problems with their hardware. Our sales and technical support teams are forced to spend a lot of time trying to put out fires our hardware didn't cause.

Unfortunately, because our clients decide to take a risk and buy from the least expensive vendor - rather than through a trusted advisor like me, my business suffers. The criminals producing this software have an unfair advantage, making it extremely difficult for businesses like mine to compete. It is time for all companies to play fair."

Playing fair begins when people and businesses take a stand and demand legal software. More information about the financial impacts of using illegal software can be found by visiting http://www.playfairday.com. More information on software piracy and its effects can also be found on the official Microsoft antipiracy Twitter account, @MSFT_BuyLegit.

Tips from customers and technology partners are vital in helping law Microsoft address piracy. Microsoft encourages anyone who receives suspicious software to visit http://www.howtotell.com for more information about genuine Microsoft products, licensing and labels.

About Microsoft Canada

# # #

For more information, press only:

Samia Makhlouf, Fleishman Hillard

(416) 416-598-5792

Samia.makhlouf@fleishman.ca

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Launches Worldwide

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:51:00 GMT

Modern, "powerfully simple" enterprise resource planning solution delivers true business value to customers.

REDMOND, Wash. - Sept. 8, 2011 - Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer today announced that Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is available to customers around the world in 25 countries and 23 languages. Kicking off a series of more than 100 global launch events celebrating the general availability of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, Ballmer and Microsoft Business Solutions president Kirill Tatarinov joined industry experts, customers and partners to share how technology innovations enable companies to be more agile, breaking down the barriers and limitations of outdated enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions.

"Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is a new generation of business applications. It's the ERP solution that sets customers free and puts them in control of their business," said Ballmer. "Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 helps companies be more agile, simplify decision-making and succeed in any environment."

The flexible architecture of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, which includes built-in capabilities for multiple industries and geographic regions, lets people make quick and easy changes to processes and personal experiences to fulfill the shifting needs of their business, no matter how complex the organization. The simplicity of the Microsoft Dynamics RoleTailored experience gives people across the company the information they need to do their job, access to the Microsoft productivity tools they use every day, and built-in, contextual business intelligence, empowering better decisions. And because Windows Azure-based cloud services, such as Rapid Start, Site, Payment and Commerce services, are directly accessible from within Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, companies can immediately realize the benefits of public cloud services from within their private cloud or on-premises deployment.

"With 57 locations and 30,000 customers across Canada, Microsoft Dynamics AX will help us streamline our industrial component distribution business," said Francois Arbique, Information Technology Vice-President at Montreal-based Kinecor Inc. "New out-of-the-box features of Dynamics AX 2012, combined with the solution's flexible architecture will provide us with greater efficiency as well as increased services to our customers."

As enterprise organizations recognize the limitations of legacy ERP solutions to enable their dynamic businesses, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 serves as a highly scalable, yet cost-effective, solution for their operations, subsidiaries or divisions to maintain a competitive edge, while retaining their legacy investment to cover administrative ERP needs at the corporate level.

At the same time, large and midmarket companies are looking to Microsoft as a safe haven from current ERP vendors that may not offer clear product road maps or commitment to long-term innovation. One such customer is the City of Redmond, which chose to replace its JD Edwards system because it couldn't support the city's operations, was hard to use and caused concerns about continued support. The City of Redmond implemented Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, significantly improving operations, user satisfaction and efficiency. City employees are now provided with transparent, relevant and rich information so that they can provide innovative services to their citizens.

To help businesses transition to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 more easily, Microsoft will offer a range of incentives. The first of those is a 50 percent license discount on Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 for eligible customers with valid Lawson S3 or M3 licenses who make the switch. In addition, qualifying partners can receive a revenue credit for each Lawson-certified consultant that obtains Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 certification. These offers are valid from Sept. 8, 2011, until June 22, 2012. Customers and partners can learn more at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics/switch-to-ax.aspx.

While all customers and partners benefit from the prebuilt industry capabilities in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, global independent software vendors, such as Aldata, Ferranti, Harris and LexisNexis, take things a step further, embracing Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 as the core foundation they offer to customers, complemented with their own unique solutions across a wide range of verticals and industries, such as retail, utilities, professional services and legal services, to name a few.

More information about Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, a replay of the opening keynote webcast and information about local launch events can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/ax2012launch/. The Microsoft Dynamics ERP team can be followed on Twitter at @MSDynamicsERP and by using the hashtag #AX2012.

About Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics CRM and ERP solutions empower your people to be more productive and your systems to last longer and scale as your business grows, while enabling you to derive the insights necessary to respond quickly in an ever-changing world of 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.

For more information, press only:

Allison Colalillo, High Road Communications on behalf of Microsoft Canada

(416) 644-1644

Allison.Colalillo@highroad.com

University of New Brunswick Adopts Microsoft Live@edu for Students

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:20:00 GMT

UNB students will have access to a rich suite of online tools that further support their academic and technology needs.

July 19, 2011, FREDERICTON - Microsoft Canada and the University of New Brunswick (UNB) are pleased to announce that they are working together to bring Microsoft Live@edu, an innovative suite of online communication and collaboration tools, to UNB's 11,000 students. With Live@edu, UNB students will have the advantage of a leading technology environment to support their successes inside and outside the classroom.

"Microsoft Live@edu was selected because it directly supports our vision to delight users, reduce costs for the university and advance UNB's mission of creating the premier university environment," says Terry Nikkel, associate vice-president, Integrated Technology Services at UNB. "Technology plays a key role in our students' lives and will be integral to their future careers. We're looking forward to offering Live@edu to our students. It will help them excel in their university studies and will prepare them to be active participants in the Canadian and global workforce."

Microsoft Live@edu provides the flexibility of Office Web Apps that include web-optimized versions of Word, Excel, OneNote and PowerPoint. UNB students will now be able to access these essential tools anywhere, anytime, on their PCs or mobile devices. Live@edu also includes Outlook for email plus a 10 GB inbox, and enables powerful document sharing and collaboration with 25GB of password-protected online storage. UNB joins a rapidly growing community of 10,000 schools worldwide whose students are benefiting from the power of Live@edu.

"With the implementation of Live@edu, UNB joins a growing number of universities providing the latest technology to help students prepare for their future careers," says Shann McGrail, director of education, Microsoft Canada. "Collaboration software and services are increasingly being used in the workplace and employers expect a certain level of experience from new grads. UNB students now have access to the tools that will allow them to enter the workforce and hit the ground running."

About Live@edu

Live@edu innovations include great tools such as:

Communication Services: Free, hosted email and calendaring with a 10 GB inbox and instant messaging through Outlook Live

Collaboration Services: Ability to access, share and collaborate through SkyDrive, with 25 GB of free online storage space

Productivity Services: Create, view, edit, and share Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote files online with SkyDrive

More information about Microsoft Live@edu can be found at www.microsoft.com/liveatedu

About University of New Brunswick

Established in 1785, UNB is one of the oldest public universities in North America. More than 11,000 full- and part-time students from more than 100 countries are studying on campuses in Fredericton and Saint John and several thousand more take UNB courses online and at partner institutions around the world. As the largest research institution in New Brunswick, UNB conducts more than 75 per cent of the province's university research. The university has an annual operating budget of more than $165 million and employs more than 3,500 faculty, staff and students.

About Microsoft Canada

For more information:
Name: Natasha Ashfield, Communications Officer, University of New Brunswick
Telephone number: (506) 458-7969
Email: natasha.ashfield@unb.ca

Name: John Clute, High Road Communications on behalf of Microsoft Canada

Telephone number: (416) 644-2267

Email: John.Clute@highroad.com

MICROSOFT CHOOSES TORONTO FOR 2012 WORLDWIDE PARTNER CONFERENCE

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:46:00 GMT

15,000 people from 130 countries expected for prestigious conference in Toronto

TORONTO (July 13, 2011) – One of the world’s most prestigious and advanced conferences will come to Toronto next July as Microsoft Corporation announced today that its Worldwide Partner Conference will meet in Toronto in 2012.

More than 15,000 people are expected to attend the Toronto conference, representing technology companies in 130 countries. While the main hubs of the action will be the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and the Air Canada Centre, many other venues will be involved as 500+ events take place during the conference and at least 32 hotels across the Toronto region will host delegates.

“Winning a prestigious meeting, for such a widely admired company, is not only a boost to the local economy but a testament to Toronto’s ability to host major events,” said David Whitaker, President and CEO of Tourism Toronto, who submitted the winning bid along with provincial and local partners.

“Microsoft Corporation’s annual Worldwide Partner Conference attracts more than 15,000 delegates,“ said Eric Gales, General Manager, Microsoft Canada. “The four-day event celebrates the accomplishments of the company’s 640,000 global technology partners. Microsoft Canada is thrilled that next year’s event will be hosted in the city of Toronto and excited by the opportunity for the city to showcase its diverse culture, entertainment, and world-renown hospitality.”

From July 9 through 13, 2012, Worldwide Partner Conference is a must–attend conference for the technology industry that attracts delegates, vendors and suppliers from around the world. It is an opportunity to showcase Toronto as a destination as well as Toronto and Ontario’s innovative information technology businesses.

“Our government is thrilled that Toronto has been chosen to host next year’s Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference and we’re proud of our support to help bring it here,” said Laura Albanese, MPP York South-Weston. “This is a major win for the GTA and Ontario – it will put us front and centre on the world map, while boosting support for jobs, the economy and increased tourism.”

Tourism Toronto has committed to create a scholarship program to assist international students participating in the 2012 conference, with more details on this initiative to be shared in the coming months. Tourism Toronto will also provide opportunities for students in Ontario’s tourism and hospitality programs to gain valuable experience in event management through a marquee international conference.

“We are confident this will prove to be the most inspiring and technically advanced Worldwide Partner Conference ever for Microsoft, and will highlight our ability to come together as a tourism community to host large and sophisticated global corporate events,” said Mr. Whitaker.

Meetings in Toronto
The meeting and convention industry is a lucrative and competitive one that is a vital part of the tourism economy in the Toronto Region. Conventions generate spending on a range of services and businesses including meeting facilities, hotels, restaurants, retail, attractions and taxis. In 2010, meetings and conventions injected $495 million into the local economy. Overall, there are 224,000 people employed in tourism and hospitality in the Toronto region.

Toronto has been building a reputation among meeting planners as a desirable place to hold important meetings and was ranked #1 out of 46 North American cities in several key categories in the most recent survey of meeting planners by Watkins Research. This year some of the top global meetings will take place in Toronto:

· American Bar Association – August 2011 (20,000 attendees)

· SWIFT/SIBOS (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) – September 2011 (7,000 attendees)

· U.S. Green Building Council – October 2011 (25,000 attendees)

About Tourism Toronto
Tourism Toronto, Toronto’s Convention and Visitors Association, is an industry association of more than 1,200 members established to sell and market the greater Toronto region as a remarkable destination for tourists, convention delegates and business travellers around the globe. Tourism Toronto operates in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture as Regional Tourism Organization 5, representing the cities of Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton. For more information please visit www.seetorontonow.com.

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For more information contact:

Cathy Riches

Ph: 416-987-9077

Cell: 647-981-4834

criches@torcvb.com

Lack of uptake of Cloud technology leads Canadian businesses to risk chance at growth

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:02:00 GMT

Seventy-three per cent of Canadian SMBs see the value, only thirty per cent are investing in cloud services, Microsoft Canada survey reveals

Mississauga, ON – June 28, 2011 - Canadian small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are hesitant to harness the power of the cloud, in large part because they find it difficult to keep pace with rapid technology advancements, according to a survey conducted by Leger Marketing and commissioned by Microsoft Canada.

The study found that although nearly 73 per cent of SMBs understand that cloud-based technology offers a cost-effective means of accessing the latest technology, just 30 per cent are currently investing in cloud services.

“We all know that with great technology, you are at a better business advantage. Yet with 83 per cent of SMBs finding it hard to keep pace and 79 per cent settling on old tech even though they know there are better options, it is clear that Canadian businesses require simple and cost-effective cloud-based services to drive productivity, efficiency and give them the competitive edge,” says Eric Gales, President of Microsoft Canada. “Three-quarters of Canadian SMB are ready to invest in their own growth, but they want to invest smartly in technology that is going to work for them. This is why we’re so excited to announce the launch of Office 365 to meet Canada’s SMB technology needs.”

Office 365 brings together Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Exchange Online and Lync Online in an always-up-to-date service, with a predictable monthly cost that starts at just $7 per user, per month.

A game-changer for businesses of all sizes

Moving to the cloud with Office 365 doesn’t require a team to change the way it works, because the service is based on familiar tools people know and trust, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook and more. Employees get new ways to work together with ease, on virtually any device or mobile phone, and businesses get the reliability, security and IT controls they need in the cloud, even without a dedicated IT staff.

“I’m a road warrior and my office is a coffee shop, a hotel room or my clients’ board room” said James Won, founder of Servant4Stewards, a financial planning consultancy. “Office 365 gives me the power to work anywhere with full access to my documents on my computer and my mobile phone. The best thing about Office 365 is the fact that I can collaborate with clients and third-parties, revising, sharing and updating documents seamlessly in the cloud. “

Office 365 partners

Microsoft is building a massive partner ecosystem around Office 365, which includes new ways of partnering with service providers such as telecommunications and hosting firms around the world. Bell, Canada’s largest communications company, is the first Canadian syndication partner. Bell will be offering Office 365 bundled with their communication services, creating a one-stop-shop for small and midsize businesses.

“Bell and Microsoft have worked closely for years to help Canadian businesses with their collaboration needs, and we’re happy to partner with Microsoft to bring Office 365 to the Bell cloud portfolio,” said Strahan McCarten, Director of Product Management, Hosting & Cloud Computing, Bell Business Markets, Bell Canada. “With Office 365, Bell customers can reduce their costs and maximize their IT productivity whether they’re starting a new business venture or enhancing their existing technology operations.”

About Office 365

With Office 365 for small businesses, customers can be up and running with Office Web Apps, Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Lync Online and an external website in minutes, for $7 per user, per month. These tools put email, voicemail, enterprise social networking, instant messaging, Web portals, extranets, video conferencing, web conferencing and more at everyone’s fingertips.

Office 365 for enterprises has an array of choices, from simple email to comprehensive suites to meet the needs of midsize and large businesses, as well as government organizations. Customers can now get Microsoft Office Professional Plus on a pay-as-you-go basis with cloud-based versions of the industry’s leading business communications and collaborations services. Each of these plans comes with the advanced I.T. controls, security, 24x7 IT support and reliability you expect from Microsoft.

Office 365 for small businesses and Office 365 for enterprises are available now. Businesses can try it for free for 30 days by signing up at www.office365.ca or from their local Microsoft partner. Follow Office 365 on Twitter (@Office365), Facebook (Office 365) and the Office 365 blog at http://community.office365.com for the latest information.

-30-

About Microsoft Canada

Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT"), the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Microsoft Canada is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario with MSN.CA offices located in Toronto and eight regional offices across the country. The company supports local communities across Canada by creating innovative technology and partnerships that help people realize their full potential. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit www.microsoft.ca.

For more information, press only:

Marshneill Abraham, High Road Communications on behalf of Microsoft Canada

(416) 644-2271

Marshneill.Abraham@highroad.com

University of Toronto Supports Students’ Success with Microsoft Live@edu Web-Based Tools

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:58:00 GMT

UofT the latest of more than 10,000 schools worldwide to deliver Microsoft's Live@edu to students

June 1, 2011, Toronto, ON. - Microsoft Canada and the University of Toronto are pleased to announce that UofT is the latest higher education institution to deliver Microsoft's Live@edu e-mail and document management service. This joint initiative enables UofT's 77,000 students to join a rapidly growing community of 11 million peers in more than 10,000 schools worldwide who are benefiting from the power of Live@edu.

This cloud-based collaboration suite will help the University reduce costs, improve communication and collaboration between students, and equip them with the tools they need for their academic career.

"Live@EDU is an outstanding addition to UofT's robust student support services," says Cheryl Misak, Vice-President and Provost for the University of Toronto. "Our students are very much looking forward to having this powerful tool to help them get the most out of their university experience."

Outside of the classroom, Canadians are increasingly using collaboration software and services and now expect these same capabilities in their learning experience. Extensive consultation with students led by the University's Chief Information Officer, Robert Cook, showed that students wanted more comprehensive tools to complement their academic involvement.

The platform provides the flexibility of Office Web Apps that include web-optimized versions of Word, Excel, OneNote and PowerPoint - essential tools now accessible to UofT students anywhere, anytime, via any popular web browser or mobile device. Live@edu also includes Outlook for e-mail plus a 10 GB inbox, and enables powerful document sharing and collaboration with 25GB of password-protected online storage.

"Now more than ever, universities such as the University of Toronto require security-enhanced cloud services to deliver the flexibility and functionality that students need to succeed in their studies and in their future careers," says Mike Tremblay, Vice President, Public Sector, Microsoft Canada. "Live@edu is arming University of Toronto students with tools that drive success in the classroom, and eventually the boardroom."

About Live@edu

The University of Toronto joins more than 10,000 schools in more than 130 countries around the world that have chosen Live@edu as a platform for student communication and collaboration. Live@edu innovations include great tools such as:

Communication Services: Free, hosted email and calendaring with a 10 GB inbox and instant messaging through Outlook Live
Collaboration Services: Ability to access, share and collaborate through SkyDrive, with 25 GB of free online storage space
Productivity Services: Create, view, edit, and share Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote files online with SkyDrive

More information about Microsoft Live@edu can be found at www.microsoft.com/liveatedu.

About University of Toronto

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto is Canada's largest university, recognized as a global leader in research and teaching. U of T's distinguished faculty, institutional record of groundbreaking scholarship and wealth of innovative academic opportunities continually attract outstanding students and academics from around the world. U of T is committed to providing a learning experience that benefits from both a scale almost unparalleled in North America and from the close-knit learning communities made possible through its college system and academic divisions. Located on three campuses in and around Toronto, one of the world's most diverse regions, U of T's vibrant academic life is enhanced by cultural diversity in its learning community. For more information the University of Toronto, please visit www.utoronto.ca

About Microsoft Canada

For more information, Canadian press only:

High Road Communications on behalf of Microsoft Canada

Tricia Floyd

TEL: 416-644-2295

Email: Tricia.Floyd@highroad.com