Press Releases (Consumer)

Microsoft Office 2010 Now Available For Consumers Across Canada

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:47:00 GMT

Millions of beta users help Microsoft deliver the best experience for getting things done across the PC, phone and browser.

MISSISSAUGA, ON - June 15, 2010 - Today, Microsoft Corp. announced the worldwide availability of Microsoft Office 2010, Visio® 2010 and Project 2010. Consumers can now purchase Office 2010 at retail stores across Canada, such as Future Shop, Best Buy, Staples; through online retailers, including Amazon.ca; and direct from Microsoft at Office.com/ca.

Office 2010 can also be purchased with the most popular desktops and laptops from leading PC makers including Acer Inc., Asus, Dell Inc., HP, Lenovo, Samsung and Sony Corp. In the next year, more than 100 million PCs will ship with Office 2010 preloaded, which can easily be activated with the purchase of any one of the three versions of Office 2010, including Office Home and Student 2010, Office Home and Business 2010, or Office Professional 2010.

"Working with major retail partners and PC makers, we've made dramatic changes in the way we deliver Office 2010 to give consumers more buying choice, making it easier than ever to unlock the power of Office on new and existing PCs," said Jason Brommet, Group Marketing Manager, Information Worker, Microsoft Canada. "For the first time, people can purchase a Product Key Card at retail to activate Office 2010 preloaded on new PCs. For those who want to download Office 2010 direct from Office.com for an existing PC, the new Click-to-Run technology will have them up and running in a matter of minutes."

"Today is an exciting day for Future Shop. We're all about offering cutting-edge technology to our customers, and the buzz around Office 2010 in our online forums and in our stores has been growing. We're excited to offer Office 2010 and help Canadians express their creativity and stay more productive and connected than ever," says Elliott Chun, Marketing and Communications Manager, Future Shop.

From a survey of Office 2010 beta users, Microsoft found 75 percent say they plan to buy Office 2010 within six months. The Office 2010 beta program had over nine million downloads, more than six times the size of the Office 2007 beta - indicating strong consumer interest in Office 2010.

Productivity solutions across the PC, phone and browser

Throughout its development cycle, customer feedback has been critical to the improvements found in Office 2010. Based on this valuable input, Microsoft has made considerable enhancements to help users do the following:

--Create great looking documents and presentations. Express creativity in PowerPoint 2010 presentations with new video and photo editing features. Add extensive text effects and table formatting options in Word 2010. Reveal important trends in data with Sparklines in Excel 2010. OneNote 2010 makes everything you need simple to find, organize and share.

--Connect and work together more simply. Advanced e-mail management and calendaring capabilities in Outlook 2010, and the new Outlook Social Connector help people stay productive and in touch with personal and business networks. Work with others more efficiently using new co-authoring in Word 2010, PowerPoint 2010 and OneNote 2010. Deliver presentations over the Web with new PowerPoint Broadcast Slideshow.

--Get things done from anywhere. With Office 2010 and the Office Web Apps - the online companions to Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote, people have the freedom to view, edit, and share Office 2010 documents in the cloud with Windows Live SkyDrive. The Office Web Apps preserve the look and feel of Office documents, so valuable content and formatting are not compromised while moving between the PC, phone and browser.*

Office Mobile 2010 is also available from Windows® Phone Marketplace for all Windows Mobile 6.5 phones. People using Office Mobile 2010 can perform lightweight editing of Office documents and take notes on the go, or work on Office documents stored on their phone or attached to an e-mail.

For more information, press only:

For more information, news and perspectives, please visit the Microsoft Canada News Centre at http://news.microsoft.ca, or contact:

Tania DiVito, on behalf of Microsoft Canada

tdivito@highroad.com, 416-644-2262

Allison Colalillo, on behalf of Microsoft Canada

acolalillo@highroad.com, 416-644-2227

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

^*An appropriate device, Internet connection and supported browser are required. Some mobile functionality requires Office Mobile 2010, which is not included in Office 2010 applications, suites or Web Apps. There are some differences between the features of the Office Web Apps, Office Mobile 2010 and the Office 2010 applications.

Kinect for Xbox 360 Sets the Future in Motion — No Controller Required

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:36:00 GMT

Microsoft reveals new ways to play that are fun and easy for everyone.

LOS ANGELES - June 14, 2010 - Get ready to Kinect to fun entertainment for everyone. Microsoft Corp. today capped off a two-day world premiere, complete with celebrities, stunning physical dexterity, and news from a galaxy far, far away, to reveal experiences that will transform living rooms in North America, beginning Nov. 4. Kinect will roll out to the rest of the world thereafter.

Opening with a magical Cirque du Soleil performance on Sunday night attended by Hollywood's freshest faces, Microsoft gave the transformation of home entertainment a name: Kinect for Xbox 360. Then, kicking off the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), today Xbox 360 invited the world to dance, hurdle, soar and make furry friends for life - all through the magic of Kinect - no controller required.

"With 'Kinectimals' and 'Kinect Sports,' 'Your Shape: Fitness Evolved' and 'Dance Central,' your living room will become a zoo, a stadium, a fitness room or a dance club. You will be in the centre of your entertainment, using the best controller ever made - you," said Kudo Tsunoda, creative director for Microsoft Game Studios.

Microsoft and LucasArts also announced that they will bring Star Wars® to Kinect in 2011. And, sprinkling a little fairy dust on Xbox 360, Disney will bring its magic to Kinect as well.

"Xbox LIVE is about making it simple to find the entertainment you want, with the friends you care about, wherever you are. Kinect is about making that experience more natural and engaging than ever before," said Marc Whitten, corporate vice president of Xbox LIVE at Microsoft. "Once you experience your movies and games with Xbox LIVE and Kinect, you won't ever want to go back."

Using Kinect is as simple as stepping in front of the sensor. It recognizes you, responds to your gestures, listens to your voice, and, best of all, it works with every Xbox 360.1

A Little Less Conversation, a Little More Action

Declaring "the time for talk is over," Tsunoda unveiled eight hurdling, running, dancing, driving and soaring Kinect games:

--"Kinect Adventures" (Microsoft Game Studios). Float in outer space. Experience the thrill of roaring rapids. Tackle mountaintop obstacle courses. And dive into the deep to explore a leaky underwater observatory - all from your living room. With "Kinect Adventures," you are the controller as you jump, dodge and kick your way through exciting adventures set in a variety of exotic locations.

--"Kinectimals" (Frontier Studio, Microsoft Game Studios). A wide-eyed Bengal Tiger cub cocks its head to the side and playfully peers at you. Memories of your first trip to the zoo come rushing back. "Kinectimals" invites children, their parents and animal lovers of all ages to build lasting friendships with some of the world's most exotic creatures. Just like real pets, your "Kinectimals" will come running when they hear your voice, respond to commands like "jump," "roll-over" and "play dead," and purr with joy when you scratch them behind the ears.

--"Kinect Joy Ride" (Big Park, Microsoft Game Studios). 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... Go! "Kinect Joy Ride," the first controller-free racing game, will take you and your friends on the ride of your lives - no drivers license required. "Kinect Joy Ride" reinvents driving and Kart racing by adding massive jumps and full body stunts to the classic Kart racing action. With a host of cool features and game modes you can take off for the ride of your life by yourself, pick up a co-pilot or team up with your friends and family to take on the world.

--"Kinect Sports" (Rare, Microsoft Game Studios). Turn your living room into a world-class stadium, bowling alley, soccer pitch or arena. With "Kinect Sports" you're not only the star player, you are the controller - through the magic of Kinect for Xbox 360. See a ball? Kick it. Spike it. Even give it a little top spin. "Kinect Sports" features soccer, beach volleyball, bowling, table tennis, boxing and multiple track and field events.

--"Dance Central" (MTV Games). "Dance Central"^TM is the first full-body, controller-free dance video game with fun choreography for beginners and experts. Featuring full-body tracking, the magic of Kinect for Xbox 360 allows you to experience real dance with your friends and family. Whether you're rehearsing in Break It Down! or owning the stage in Perform It, you'll be introduced to more than 600 moves in the game and more than 90 dance routines all created by professional choreographers. The game features tracks from an amazing mix of pop, hip-hop and R&B artists including Lady Gaga, No Doubt, M.I.A., Bell Biv Devoe, and more. Take your moves to the next level while connecting with the music you love!

--"Your Shape: Fitness Evolved" (Ubisoft). Get the most out of Kinect with "Your Shape: Fitness Evolved." Unlike other games, the proprietary Player Projection technology of "Your Shape: Fitness Evolved" puts your body into the game for the ultimate experience. You'll physically interact with virtual environments in ways you've never seen before, and you'll be captivated by unique and exciting visual effects that respond to your movement and impact. Burn calories your way - choose a personal trainer to help you meet your specific fitness goals, take a yoga or martial arts class, or play fun family-friendly minigames. As you exercise, you'll receive specific feedback on your every move, thanks to the game's real-time precise tracking system. You won't notice how hard you're working until you see the results!

--Also coming to Kinect this holiday are titles representing the top names in the gaming industry including interactive fitness product "EA SPORTS Active^TM 2" (EA SPORTS), "DECA SPORTS FREEDOM" (Hudson Entertainment), "Dance Masters" (Konami), "Adrenalin Misfits" (Konami), "Zumba Fitness"® (Majesco), "Sonic Free Riders"^TM (SEGA), "The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout" (THQ), "Motion Sports" (Ubisoft), and "Game Party^TM: In Motion" (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment). Additional exciting Kinect game experiences will be revealed by publishing partners in the near future.

Extraordinary Entertainment

Offering so much more than just games, Kinect for Xbox 360 takes your entertainment to the next level. Beginning this holiday, the Kinect Hub puts your favourite movies and TV programs all in one place - completely controller-free.

Jump right into a movie in instant-on HD in 1080p by simply saying "Xbox, play." Kinect also creates new ways for friends and family to have fun together.

With Video Kinect2, share a smile with distant friends and family as you open a window into living rooms around the world. Providing entertainment for everyone, with the power of Kinect, the Xbox LIVE experience is more intuitive, social and interactive than ever before.

For more information, press only:

Elisa Wegenast for Xbox Canada

ewegenast@highroad.com

416-644-2261

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a premier home entertainment and video game system. This November, with the addition of Kinect, Xbox 360 will forever transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play - no controller required. Xbox 360 is also home to the best and broadest games as well as the largest on-demand library of music, standard- and high-definition movies, TV shows and digital games, all in one place. The entertainment center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with the leading social network of 25 million Xbox LIVE members to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. More information about Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.ca.

About Microsoft Canada

Microsoft Previews Reinvented Windows Live Hotmail

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:24:00 GMT

The new Hotmail: the next generation in personal email

REDMOND, Wash. - May 17, 2010 - Microsoft Corp. today previewed the new Windows Live^TM Hotmail® - the next generation of personal email - designed with smart tools that help people manage the clutter in their inboxes, save time on the most common tasks they do with email, take the headache out of sharing large attachments like photos, and view and edit Microsoft Office documents right in the Hotmail inbox using just a browser.

Today's inboxes are overflowing with mail that most people consider junk. Even if it is mail that's legitimate, it's still not easy for customers to keep their inbox clean and organized. To help, the new Hotmail delivers the first and only virtual broom, enabling customers to easily sweep unwanted mail out of the inbox. It also helps cut through clutter with intelligent filters that in a single click will filter the entire inbox to show mail just from contacts, just social network alerts, or just mail from the groups users belong to.

With the new Hotmail, customers will also find ways to save time doing the things they most often do with email because Hotmail is giving people the ability to do things that would normally require them to leave their inboxes and jump to other websites. Now customers will be able to see rich previews of photos and videos from popular sites like Flickr and YouTube and see the status of tracked packages in real time, inside their emails. They'll also be able to accept invitations to connect with someone on a social or professional networking site like LinkedIn - all from the convenience of their inboxes.

"With over 360 million active Hotmail accounts worldwide, Microsoft has spent a lot of time listening to customer feedback and thoughtfully designing solutions to meet their needs," stated Owen Sagness, Vice President, Consumer and Online, Microsoft Canada Inc. "Whether it's organizing events, managing commercial transactions, searching for jobs, sharing photos, or communicating with friends and family, the new Hotmail will help increase personal productivity."

One of the biggest changes to Hotmail is the increased ability to manage and share personal photos and documents. Today, people are sharing over 1.5 billion photos and 350 million Microsoft Office documents per month in Hotmail. Still, the "attachment size problem" remains, regardless of which mail service people use. The new Hotmail lets customers send up 10 GB of attachments in a single message, erasing worries of attachment size limits. Send up to 200 attachments - each up to 50 MB in size - in a single message.

With the new version of Hotmail customers are able to view and edit Office documents right in inbox, and all you need is your browser to do so.

"By making it possible for you to create and edit Office documents right in your inbox, Hotmail makes it easier for you to be productive from virtually anywhere," says Sagness.

New features previewed today include those that help you quickly find important messages and manage the clutter in your inbox so that you can stay organized.

Hotmail highlights: Immediately see if you have new email from friends, social network updates, shipments, appointments and birthday reminders - all in a single glance the moment you log in.
Sweep. With this virtual broom you can quickly 'sweep' all unwanted mail out of your inbox and into folders or the trash. You can tell Hotmail to perform sweeps automatically with the simple check of a box. And you can sweep mail from your Gmail and Yahoo! Mail accounts by adding them to your Hotmail inbox, where you can send and receive mail from other email services.
One click filters. In just a single click you can filter your entire inbox to show you the mail you care about most, whether it's all messages from your contacts or from social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn or mailing groups you belong to. You can also click once to find all messages that contain photos, documents, videos, shipping updates or messages you've flagged.
Advanced search and automated search suggestions. Not only has Hotmail added an advanced search pane, but we've also made advanced search easy with inbox search auto-complete. From the moment you type a single letter into the search box, Hotmail automatically suggests a number of searches so that you can more quickly find the messages you're looking for.
Conversation view. Group your emails by conversation or don't - it's completely up to you. A single click turns conversation view on or off.

Microsoft also showed off work they've done together with a collection of top websites to enable people to do more without having to continually leave their inboxes.

Active views: A lot of messages prompt you to leave your inbox and hop to other websites to complete actions. Hotmail is saving you time by enabling you to complete those actions right within the messages themselves, whether it's viewing videos from YouTube or photos on Flickr, tracking the shipping status of packages in real time, or interacting with services like LinkedIn - all from the convenience of your inbox.

Given that security and privacy protection is at the forefront of everything that Microsoft does, the new Hotmail will provide a number of additional measures to help people keep their accounts safe.

Industry leading spam-fighting. By utilizing Microsoft's SmartScreen spam and malware cloud-based filtering heuristics - technology also used by Microsoft Exchange Server, Forefront^TM, and Internet Explorer to help protect against spam and malicious code - Hotmail has been able to reduce the amount of spam in the average inbox from what was a "low" of 35% of the average Hotmail inbox back in 2006 to just 4% today - a best practice for personal webmail. Hotmail continues to leverage Microsoft's $9.5 Billion R&D investment to innovate new ways to minimize spam and to outpace the bad guys. Some of innovations that the new Hotmail brings with it include time traveling filters, personalized spam filtering, spam tagging, and spammer infrastructure detection.
Trusted senders. With the new Hotmail, we help you to visually identify trusted senders in your inbox, particularly banks and other senders most commonly impersonated in phishing scams, by putting safety logos next to those senders who we recognize as legitimate.
Full-session SSL. In addition to providing SSL encryption of credentials at login for all accounts, the new Hotmail will soon support the option to maintain SSL encryption between you and Microsoft servers during your entire Hotmail session.
Single-use codes. This new security feature is designed to further help protect you by giving you the option to ask Hotmail to SMS to you a one-time temporary password if you'd prefer not to use your regular password when logging into Hotmail on public computers that could potentially harbor key logging malware that could steal your password, such as those sometimes found in internet cafes and airports.

Additional feature investments in the new Hotmail include the following.

Rich mobile browse. With the new Hotmail, the mobile experience is optimized for rich browsers and touch, so that the user experience feels seamless on the latest phones. The inbox supports filters, in-line message previews, HTML messages, offline e-mail viewing, conversation threading, the ability to flag messages, the option to turn header details on or off, and more.
Mobile Calendar. Manage invitations received via Hotmail, set reminders, aggregate multiple calendars, share your calendar with friends and family, and do it all from the calendar built into your phone with ActiveSync or from your phone's web browser.
Exchange ActiveSync. Hotmail supports push email on the Web, PC, and now also on the mobile phone. Using Exchange ActiveSync, available on nearly 300 million phones, you can not only seamlessly synchronize Hotmail between your phone and the Web, but also synchronize your calendar and contacts
Single contact list. The new Hotmail enables you to bring all your online contacts into one convenient place - even those from services like Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace or other email services like Gmail, Yahoo!, or AOL. Hotmail makes it easy to merge or remove duplicate entries for the same contact.
IM in the inbox. Improved integration of Messenger makes it easier to see who's online and chat with one or more person in the same window with tabbed conversations - all from within the Hotmail inbox.
IM with Facebook friends. IM with all your buddies - not just those on Messenger, but also those on Facebook.
Send and receive mail from other services like Gmail and Yahoo!. Now easier than ever to aggregate your accounts in Hotmail.
Post comments to Facebook and other websites. Do this from the Hotmail home page, a page you can see when you log in or permanently skip if you'd rather just go to your inbox and log in.
Update your status on Facebook and Windows Live Messenger. Also from the Hotmail home page.
Ever growing storage. While this isn't new, we wanted to remind you that Hotmail gives you 5 GB to start with and then automatically adds lots of additional storage each month if you run out. That's why some people today are using well over 20 GB of storage in Hotmail.
More themes. More ways to personalize your inbox than ever.

The new Hotmail will begin to rollout in mid-summer to customers worldwide. Learn more about the preview today by visiting http://www.hotmailpreview.com/ and sign up for Hotmail today at www.hotmail.com.

In Canada, people will soon be able to experience the added benefit of getting the Hotmail address they've always wanted: In addition to the new Hotmail, Microsoft Canada is also announcing the coming availability of Hotmail.ca email addresses. Hotmail.ca addresses will be available to Canadians starting in June - stay tuned for details.

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 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.

Elisa Wegenast

High Road Communications

ewegenast@highroad.com

416-644-2261

Meghan Neufeld

High Road Communications

mneufeld@highroad.com

416-644-2278

Internet Explorer 8 and Kinsa Help Canadians Browse with Confidence

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:31:00 GMT

Project raises awareness of online safety while generating funds for the Kids Internet Safety Alliance

Mississauga, ON - May 10, 2010 - Today Microsoft Canada Inc., unveiled Browse with Confidence (www.browsewithconfidence.ca), a new online destination designed to promote safe browsing.

"Canadians are among the most connected people around the world," said Eric Gales, President, Microsoft Canada. "We are banking, shopping, connecting and learning online. We want to make sure Canadians are also thinking about the safety of their personal information by helping them browse with confidence."

Browsewithconfidence.ca focuses on educating and empowering people to better protect themselves using the advanced security features in Internet Explorer® 8. Visitors can help spread the message of online security and help keep children safe online through an integrated Facebook application.

By simply clicking "Join us," and choosing to share the Browse with confidence message with their Facebook friends, Internet Explorer 8 will make a donation to Kinsa, the Kid's Internet Safety Alliance. As a Canadian charity dedicated to protecting children online, Kinsa is a natural fit for the Browse with confidence campaign.

"No one is more committed to online safety than Microsoft," said Paul Gillespie, President and CEO of Kinsa. "Browse with confidence is another great example of our ongoing partnership with Microsoft. Proceeds from the campaign will help Kinsa train a new group of law enforcement officers to better police the Internet and ensure the safety of children at home and abroad."

About Internet Explorer 8

A recent report from NSS Labs Inc., the world's leading independent information security research and testing organization, ranked Internet Explorer 8 as the No. 1 browser in malware protection, beating the nearest competitor by 30 per cent. Internet Explorer 8 has blocked over 560 Million malware site impressions and more than 125 million phishing attempts so far.

About Kids Internet Safety Alliance

Kinsa - the Kids' Internet Safety Alliance - works with Canadian law enforcement and other partners to deliver training for police in developing nations to help them rescue child victims of abuse whose images are shared on the Internet.

About Microsoft Canada

For more information - press contact:

Sheryl Davey, High Road Communications on behalf of Microsoft Canada
sdavey@highroad.com phone: 416 644 2274

Lesley Sturla, High Road Communications
lsturla@highroad.com phone: 613 688 1185

Eight-year-old from Saskatoon Boys and Girls Club Wins Microsoft Canada's National Holiday Greeting Card Contest

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:07:00 GMT

Eight-year-old from Saskatoon Boys and Girls Club Wins Microsoft Canada's National Holiday Greeting Card Contest

Mississauga, ON, December 9, 2009 - Roselle Castro, an eight-year-old girl from the Boys and Girls Club of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is this year's winner of Microsoft Canada's 13^thannual Holiday Greeting Card contest. To capture the essence of the holiday spirit, children from Boys and Girls Clubs across Canada were invited to design a holiday card based on the theme "This holiday season I promise to...." Roselle's card was selected from over 800 entries. Her artwork will appear on Microsoft Canada's corporate holiday greeting cards that will be distributed to thousands of Microsoft employees, customers and partners across the country.

"Microsoft believes that every child has creative potential; the greeting card contest encourages children to express their creativity through art." said Gavin Thompson, Director of Citizenship, Microsoft Canada. "Roselle's holiday card was very imaginative and her message "...let in peace" was true to this year's theme."

Microsoft Canada presented Roselle with a laptop computer loaded with Microsoft software, a printer and a laptop bag. Microsoft also awarded the Boys and Girls Club of Saskatoon with a $1,000 donation. Microsoft Canada works with Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada across the country to provide programs designed to empower children and youth through technology. This is the 13^th year that Microsoft has partnered with Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada on this initiative.

"Being the contest winner is very exciting! I've been writing about the whole experience in my journal." said Roselle. "I'm very happy and excited to test out my brand new laptop!"

"We are all very proud of Roselle's artistic talents." said Karen McCullagh, Regional Director, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, Western Region. "We believe it's important to foster creative development among children and youth and Microsoft's greeting card contest is a fun activity that encourages all of our members to express their artistic skills and imaginations."

About Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada

Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada is a leading charitable organization providing programs that support the healthy physical, educational and social development of more than 200,000 children, youth and their families each year. In 700 community locations across Canada, clubs offer after-school programs in physical recreation, technology, the arts, personal growth and more. Many clubs also provide meals, emergency shelter, family support programs and other supports to children and youth at risk. Boys and Girls Clubs have been helping young Canadians to discover, develop and achieve their potential, for over 100 years. To learn more, visit www.bgccan.com.

About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. 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.

-30-

For more information please contact:

Sherline Joe

Media Profile

sherline.joe@mediaprofile.com

416-342-1852

Don’t underestimate the gift of gab this holiday season

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:39:00 GMT

8 out of 10 Canadians judge a person based on his or her "social currency," according to an MSN.ca and Harris/Decima survey

Toronto -November 18^th, 2009- With holiday parties and festive staff functions on the horizon, it may be more important than you thought to be up to date on your current events. In fact, a survey released today by MSN.ca and Harris/Decima revealed that 79 per cent of Canadians judge one another based on their knowledge of what's happening in the world around them.

Since the holidays are a time filled with various social gatherings, Mary-Ellen Anderson, Executive Director/Producer for MSN.ca, believes it's a crucial time to ensure you're up-to-date on the information you need for all your conversations. This is because 40 per cent of Canadians are deeply interested in collecting information and knowledge on various topics, while 37 per cent consider themselves "Connectors" - bringing people together and spreading information.

Unfortunately, not all Canadians have as much general knowledge as they would like. Almost half (47%) of Canadians have frequently or sometimes wished they knew more information on a particular topic so they could actively participate in a conversation happening around them.

"The holidays are a time of giving, but this survey reveals if there's one present you should give yourself it's the gift of information," said Mary-Ellen Anderson. "Whether you are on your way to see your family or heading to the office party, MSN.ca is Canada's one-stop shop for the latest news, politics, movies, music and celeb gossip. Not to mention what's the coolest gadget to buy that special someone."

According to Debra Fine, conversation expert and American best-selling author, being that 'go to' person for current events and reliable information can really raise your status or 'social currency' among co-workers. This is also important in social circles - people will respect you more if you are 'socially current' and knowledgeable on a variety of topics.

Debra suggests the following tips and tricks for impressing colleagues and friends with your socially current knowledge:

- Get More Information For Your Conversations: Since 79 per cent of Canadians are apt to judge one another on their 'social currency' and 90 per cent feel it's important to be up to date on what's happening in the world, a great trick is to skim all the latest headlines for each genre of news i.e. - news, autos, entertainment, finance, etc. You'd be surprised how knowing a little bit about each topic will make you look like the star of the holiday party.

- Find Common Ground: Almost nine-in-ten (86%) Canadians consider themselves to be 'in the know' on a variety of subjects. This is great news because chances are you'll be able to find conversation topics that interest both you and your friend/cousin/colleague etc. For instance, if you know your boss is a car fanatic, check out the Autos Channel on MSN.ca to truly connect with him/her.

- Get Addicted: For almost two-in-five Canadians (38%), a day without their news source is like a day without their morning caffeine fix -they function much better with it. Become a News Junkie and get high on information. You will crave "being in the know" and being the one everyone comes to for socially current conversations this holiday season.

MSN.ca conducted this survey in support of its recent Talk MSN Campaign. The site recently launched its own independently run MSN.ca and is currently the #1 most visited portal in Canada (according to Experian Hitwise, Most Popular Websites in Computers and Internet, Portal Front Pages, ranked by Visits for the week ending November 7th). The site boasts exclusive columnists, trusted experts and amazing content partners.

About MSN and Windows Live

MSN attracts more than 440 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 new 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. 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 Canada

Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. 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 10 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 news.microsoft.ca.

About the Survey

Harris/Decima surveyed 1,013 Canadians from October 8^th to 11^th, 2009 through teleVox, Harris/Decima's telephone omnibus. Results for a sample of this size are considered accurate +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20.

For more details regarding the survey results or to speak to Debra Fine please contact:

Elisa Wegenast
High Road Communications
ewegenast@highroad.com
416-644-2261

Meghan Neufeld
High Road Communications
mneufeld@highroad.com
416-644-2278

Come Join The Largest Social Network on Your TV; Facebook and More Arrive on Xbox 360

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:02:00 GMT

Xbox 360 Delivers Unparalleled Games and Entertainment Experiences

What: Unlock a world of friends, entertainment and games from the comfort of your couch, displayed on the best screen in the house, using Xbox 360® and Xbox LIVE®. Tomorrow, members of Xbox LIVE around the world will have their Xbox 360 consoles transformed and plugged into great value in home entertainment, with access to Facebook, Twitter and Zune® video with instant on HD, all right in your living room.

- Facebook*- Update your status to share what movie, game or entertainment you're enjoying, connect with friends and view their Facebook stream, status updates and photos on the big screen - all seamlessly integrated and custom-built for Xbox 360. You can even compare your Xbox LIVE and Facebook friends lists to see which of your friends are on Xbox LIVE.

- Zune - Zune video on Xbox LIVE offers a full fidelity experience with on HD in 1080p and 5.1 channel surround sound. You can also share the experience with up to seven friends through voice chat and Avatar integration on the TV screen - it puts a whole new spin on "movie night."

- Twitter*- Stay in the know by discovering, posting and replying to Tweets right on your Xbox 360. You can even view friend profiles, trends and conversations, or search to see who's tweeting about your favorite game.

- TV on Your Xbox 360 - Canadians will now have access to more entertainment content than ever before, including the purchase of full-length TV shows from Xbox Live that can be streamed on-demand at any time. The network line-up includes original content from CBC Television, Nickelodeon, MTV, NBC Universal, Comedy Network and more.

Don't have an Xbox 360? Now, more than ever, Xbox gives you great ways to stay connected, share fun and entertainment, starting at $199 (CDN ERP; reseller pricing may vary).

Why: We're continuing to evolve Xbox LIVE to bring more games, more entertainment and more social experiences all from a single device. As a Gold member on Xbox LIVE, you get access to Facebook, Zune Video and Twitter - providing you with a pipeline of content that is always being updated and refreshed. For just under $5 per month, Xbox LIVE Gold membership is great value in home entertainment.

When: Launching on November 17

* Xbox LIVE Gold adult account required to access these features. Xbox LIVE Gold memberships are just under $5 (CDN) per month

For more information, please contact:
Pam Stillman, High Road Communications pstillman@highroad.com
416-644-2280

For more information, media only: http://www.xbox.com/en-CA/live/features/zune.htm

####

Microsoft Simplifies the PC with Windows 7

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:32:00 GMT

New PC Operating System Available Worldwide Today

MISSISSAUGA - Oct. 22, 2009 - Today Microsoft Corp. announced the worldwide availability of its new Windows® 7 operating system. Windows 7 delivers on a simple premise: make it easier for people to do the things they want on a PC. The new operating system offers a streamlined user interface and significant new features that make everyday tasks easier and allow people to get the most out of computers of all styles and sizes.

"Today is a great day to be a PC," said Owen Sagness, Vice President and General Manager, Consumer and Online, Microsoft Canada Co. "Thanks to the input of millions of users of Windows all over the world, Windows 7 delivers more of what customers are looking for, faster and easier than ever before."

Building Windows 7 has been a collaborative process from the beginning, with Microsoft's engineers and designers working with customers and partners to build an operating system that delivers on the vision of the PC, simplified. Hardware, software and retail partners were engaged early in the process, to ensure that today, the ecosystem is ready to deliver the - Windows 7 operating system to customers everywhere.

"With the amazing choices and options available from many partners, customers will find more PC options in more suggested price points then ever before," said Sagness. "Windows-based PCs have never been such a great value."

On Sale Worldwide Today

The global availability of Windows 7 is joined by an unprecedented array of new PCs and software programs. Finding a PC that fits your personality, style and needs has never been easier. Working with Canadian retailers and technology partners, Microsoft Canada is bringing together great deals on Windows 7-based PCs, devices, and software. Starting today through to December, consumers can visit http://www.windows.ca/offers to browse the great offers available.

To show how Windows 7 simplifies the PC, today Microsoft is launching the next wave of its global "I'm a PC" campaign. Executions from the global ad campaign will run in Canada, along with local initiatives to support Windows 7, including:

--Windows 7 Discovery Tour: Over the next six weeks, Microsoft Canada will be taking Windows 7 on tour, via interactive displays in top retail shopping destinations. Onsite staff will provide demos and answer consumer questions about key features. The first stop of the tour will be Yorkdale Mall, Toronto ON and the Richmond Centre, Richmond BC.

--Canadian Windows Guru program: Specially-trained Gurus will be working alongside store staff in select Future Shop and Best Buy locations across Canada. As Microsoft resources at the retail level, the Gurus will help match customers with the best Windows technology to fit their needs. There will be 17 full-time Gurus supporting stores in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

Simplifying the PC

Over the past 18 months, feedback from more than a billion opt-in customer sessions and eight million beta testers validated Microsoft's research on how to simplify everyday tasks. Here are a few of the many ways you'll experience a more simplified PC with Windows 7:

Simplifies everyday tasks

--Taskbar: The go-to spot for launching programs and switching windows, the taskbar has been completely redesigned to help you work smarter, cut clutter, and get more done, with features like thumbnail previews of webpages, documents-even running video.

--HomeGroup: Easily share your files and printers with other Windows 7-based PCs in your home.

--DeviceStage: Shows you the status of all your connected devices such as cameras and mobile phones and makes it easier to synchronize and manage them.

--Photos and Videos: Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Live Movie Maker offer customers great, free options to edit photos and videos and easily share with loved ones.

--Snap: Drag an open window to your screen's border to automatically re-size it. Snap two different windows to the left and right borders for a perfect comparison.

--Shake: Click a window pane and shake your mouse to minimize all other open windows. Shake the pane again to restore the windows to their original sizes.

--Internet Explorer 8: The fastest, easiest, and safest Microsoft browser ever. Smart new features like Instant Search, Accelerators, and Web Slices help you get more out of the Web.

Works the way you want

--Faster On, Faster Off: Every user of Windows 7 will benefit from the focus on underlying performance, faster startup, resuming and shut down time, and enhanced power management.

--Mobile Made Easier: All your mobile computing settings are in one place with the Windows Mobility Center.

--Protecting your PC: Safeguarding the data on your PC is easier with advanced backup capabilities and the free Microsoft Security Essentials download to help protect you against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

Makes new things possible

--Windows Touch: Interact with your PC with a touch-screen monitor, using your fingers and multi-touch gestures.

--PlayTo: Stream your digital music, videos, and photos to other PCs or devices such as your Xbox 360 connected to your TV.

--Rich Gaming and Graphics: Windows 7 includes performance enhancements that take power gaming and entertainment to a new level, with 64-bit support and DirectX11 graphics.

--Location-Aware Printing - your documents are sent to the right printer whether it's at home or at the office. And with Offline Files you can work offline and automatically synchronize between a PC and documents on your office network.

Partners Rally Around Windows 7

Along with increased customer involvement, Microsoft partners had a closer, more involved role in the product vision and planning process with Windows 7. The collaborative approach to engaging partners to inform development efforts has resulted in improved performance for PCs as well as compatibility with a broad range of software and hardware across the Windows ecosystem. More than 16,000 software and hardware companies are building solutions on Windows 7 and over 44,000 developers are enrolled in the Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program. Together, these partners are developing hardware, software and services capable of reaching more than a billion PCs around the world.

About Microsoft Canada Co.

Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. 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 http://www.microsoft.ca.

For more information, press only:

High Road Communications on behalf of Microsoft Canada
Michelle Lewis
416 644 2269 | mlewis@highroad.com

Michael Sznajdruk
613-688-1189 | msznajdruk@highroad.com

Microsoft Unveils New Windows Phones Worldwide

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:34:00 GMT

Windows phones move seamlessly from work to play, creating new experiences through a variety of hardware, applications and services.

REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 6, 2009 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of a new line of Windows^® phones around the world that are available in a broad range of styles and prices. With a Windows phone, people can navigate their phone easily with the touch of a finger¹ and browse the Internet on a great mobile browser. People can also connect to two new services that allow them to back up and share data from their phone to the Web and buy a variety of useful applications from the Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Microsoft expects partners to deliver more than 30 new phones in more than 20 countries by the end of 2009.

“We all want to connect quickly to the people and information that’s important to us from across our lives at work and at home,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “A Windows phone lets people take their entire world of digital information, communications, applications and entertainment with them wherever they go.”

One Phone for Work and Play

With a Windows phone, people can rely on their phone to balance their lives, from work to home to play. Whether it’s editing a document or sharing several vacation updates through a social networking application, Windows phones help people stay connected to the people and information they care about most. Because people’s phones often match their personality and unique needs, Microsoft now offers the Windows phone Custom Theme Creator. People can create personalized themes for their Windows phone by choosing the color and design that suits their style at http://www.windowsphone.com/theme.

With a Windows phone, people will have familiar work and play experiences right from their Start button, including these:

- A new enhanced Windows Live experience with What's New feeds and improved Windows Live photo sharing across major social networking sites (such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Flickr)

- A best-in-class e-mail experience and the ability to manage multiple accounts right from their phone with Outlook Mobile and Exchange Server synchronization

- The ability to use PowerPoint and open and edit Word and Excel documents from their phone with Microsoft Office Mobile

- The power to sync files on the phone through Windows Live Media Manager and play media files seamlessly with Windows Media Player

- A redesigned Windows Internet Explorer mobile browser with Adobe Flash Lite(2) that brings the mobile Web browsing experience closer to what people have come to expect from their PC

Powerful Mobile Services

With the launch of these new Windows phones, Microsoft debuts new services that bring added value to people.

My Phone is a free service that helps people manage and back up the invaluable information stored on their phone and provides peace of mind and an easy restore option in the event of a lost or damaged phone. My Phone automatically synchronizes the specific types of a phone’s content the user chooses — from contacts and appointments to texts, photos and more — to a password-protected Web site. People can also publish their photos from the My Phone Web site or their phone directly to Windows Live, Facebook, MySpace and Flickr. As part of the free service, people can go online and map the last known location of their phone from when it was last synchronized. In addition, a set of more advanced “lost phone” features are being offered as a premium package that people can activate as needed. The My Phone Premium package includes the ability to immediately locate the phone’s current location on a map (in the U.S. only); remotely lock a phone and post an “if found” message to its screen; loudly ring the phone even if it is set to vibrate or silent mode; and ultimately, if needed, completely erase the phone to protect personal data from falling into the wrong hands. People using My Phone on their phone running either Windows Mobile 6.0, 6.1 or 6.5 can access the premium package free of charge until Nov. 30, 2009. After that date, seven-day access to the premium package will be available for purchase for $4.99 in the U.S.

Also launching today is Windows Marketplace for Mobile, which offers people an easy way to find and purchase high-quality mobile applications for both work and play, while creating a new opportunity for developers to reach millions of people using Windows phones worldwide. Microsoft is pleased today to introduce 246 quality mobile applications initially in Windows Marketplace for work and play, with more than 753 ISVs worldwide on board to continue building out the catalog. People will have access to not only important line-of-business applications for work, but also popular mobile applications for play such as Facebook, MySpace, Netflix, Twikini, WunderRadio and ZAGAT, as well as leading game titles including Sudoku, “Guitar Hero World Tour” and the “PAC-MAN” series, all of which can be easily purchased and installed directly on a Windows phone. All purchased applications are certified by Microsoft to run on Windows phones and are backed by a simple return policy. Over the next few months, Microsoft will continue to evolve Windows Marketplace for Mobile to bring to market a fresh take on the app store that delivers strong value for developers and a great shopping experience for people.

Choice and Availability: A Phone for Everyone

Windows phones give people the power to choose the phone that best fits their style and budget by offering phones with a full physical QWERTY keyboard, others with just a large touch screen, and some with both touch screen and keyboard. Microsoft and its partners now deliver a variety of Windows phones for people to choose from in several regions:

In North America:

- HTC Pure from AT&T

- HTC Imagio from Verizon Wireless

- Samsung Intrepid from Sprint, available Oct. 11, 2009

- HTC Tilt 2 from AT&T, available in the coming weeks

In Latin America:

- Samsung Omnia II available in the coming weeks from TIM Brasil

In Europe:

- MDA Vario V, MDA Compact V and HTC Touch2 and the Samsung Omnia II from Deutsche Telekom in select European markets

- HTC HD2 from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France

- HTC Touch2 from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France, Spain, Switzerland and Romania

- A software update for the HTC Touch Pro2 from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France, U.K. and Romania

- Samsung Omnia II from Orange, available in the coming weeks in Poland, Switzerland and Slovakia and from early December in France

- Samsung Omnia LITE from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France and Spain

- Samsung Omnia PRO B7320 from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France and the U.K.

- Toshiba TG01 W from Orange, available as an update to the TG01 in the coming weeks in France, the U.K., Switzerland and Romania

- LG GM750 and Samsung Omnia II from SFR in France

- TMN Bluebelt 2 and TMN Silverbelt, made by ZTE Corp., from TMN in Portugal

- Samsung Omnia II and Omnia LITE from TMN in Portugal

- HTC Touch Diamond2 from Vodafone in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, South Africa and Central Europe

- HTC Touch Pro2 from Vodafone in the U.K. and Switzerland

- LG GM750 from Vodafone in Germany, the U.K., Spain and the Netherlands

The following phones are available on the open market in Europe:

- Samsung Omnia II, Omnia LITE, Omnia PRO B7320, Omnia PRO B7330 and Omnia PRO B7610 available in October

In Asia:

- ZTE X60 from China Unicom

- HTC Touch Diamond2 from Telstra

The following phones are available on the open market in Asia:

- Acer beTouch E100, beTouch E101, beTouch E200 and Acer neoTouch

- Garmin-Asus nüvifone M20

- HTC Snap, HTC Touch Pro2, HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch2

- LG GM730 and LG GM550

- Samsung Omnia II and Samsung Omnia PRO B7320, Omnia PRO B7330

Information about the latest updates and new Windows phones is available at http://www.windowsphone.com.

Additional information about Windows phones and on companies bringing the new Windows phones to market can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/newsroom/mobile/default.mspx.

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

¹ For users of Windows phones with touch screens

²Adobe Flash Lite availability may vary by phone.

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. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.

For further information: press only: Michael Sznajdruk, High Road Communications, (613) 688-1189, msznajdruk@highroad.com

Microsoft’s New Tool in the Fight Against Malware Free to Consumers

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:54:00 GMT

Microsoft Security Essentials, available for download now, provides real-time security protection.

MISSISSAUGA, ON - Sept. 28, 2009 - Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft Corp.'s new no-cost, core anti-malware service that helps protect consumers against viruses, spyware and other malicious software, will be available on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Microsoft Security Essentials, independently certified by West Coast Labs, is backed by the company's global security response team and is built on the same award-winning core security technology found in the company's security solutions for businesses. It requires no registration, trials or renewals and will be available for download directly from Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials.

"Consumers have told us that they want the protection of real-time security software but we know that too many are either unwilling or unable to pay for it, and so end up unprotected," said Amy Barzdukas, general manager for consumer security at Microsoft. "With Microsoft Security Essentials, consumers can get high-quality protection that is easy to get and easy to use - and it won't get in their way."

Making Microsoft Security Essentials broadly available as a free consumer download for genuine Windows-based PCs is part of Microsoft's ongoing commitment to provide a more trustworthy computing experience for all customers. By making Microsoft Security Essentials easy to get and easy to use, Microsoft hopes to encourage broader adoption of anti-virus protection across the consumer audience, which in turn will help increase security across the entire Windows ecosystem. For business customers, Microsoft continues to offer Forefront Client Security, providing centralized, comprehensive management and reporting capabilities.

Maximum Security, Minimum Resource Requirements

Microsoft Security Essentials is designed to run quietly in the background alerting users only when there is an action for them to take. It also limits CPU and memory usage, resulting in less impact on the tasks consumers perform every day such as opening documents or browser windows or loading search results, even on older or less powerful PCs. Microsoft Security Essentials uses real-time protection to help prevent PCs from becoming infected, and it is the first Microsoft security product to make use of the company's new Dynamic Signature Service, a technology that helps ensure users stay protected by the most current virus definitions available without having to wait for the next scheduled download.

"Microsoft is focused on the challenges that prevent consumers from running up-to-date anti-virus software today, particularly in emerging markets where there is a growing prevalence of malware," said Jon Crotty, security analyst at IDC. "With Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft is helping to reduce some of the barriers that constrain consumers from running AV."

Microsoft Security Essentials will be available for Windows XP SP2 or SP3, Windows Vista and Windows 7 including Windows XP mode on both x32 and x64 PCs.

Microsoft Security Essentials will be available in eight languages and 19 countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. More information about Microsoft Security Essentials and the product download is available at http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials.

For more information, Canadian press only:
High Road Communications on behalf of Microsoft Canada

Lesley Sturla, 613-688-1185, lsturla@highroad.com

Michelle Lewis, 416-644-2269, mlewis@highroad.com

MSN.ca Launches in Canada

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:53:00 GMT

Providing original news, views and entertainment to Canadians

Toronto - August 31, 2009 - Microsoft Canada Co. today announced the launch of MSN.ca, a new and exciting bilingual Web destination for Canadians. Publicly available September 1, 2009, MSN.ca will deliver relevant and timely news and information from across Canada and around the world. Trusted content partners and high-profile journalists will engage Canadians and provide a unique perspective on events that shape our lives.

After five successful years managing and operating the number one most-visited online portal in Canada* in connection with Bell Sympatico, Microsoft has announced the launch of MSN.ca - a portal owned and operated exclusively by Microsoft Corporation.

"Microsoft is focused on delivering the best consumer experiences and innovations across the PC, online and mobile. Microsoft's goal for MSN.ca is to give Canadians the best online and mobile destination in the world," said Owen Sagness, vice-president and general manager, Consumer and Online, Microsoft Canada.

The new MSN.ca offers a rich and dynamic web experience across a wide variety of channels with high-profile companies such as MSNBC, BBC, Delish, CBC/ Radio-Canada, Chatelaine and Protégez-vous to mention just a few. It will inspire, entertain and connect Canadians online with exclusive columnists, trusted experts, new and improved local and regional news, MSN guides, blogs, previews and reviews, photo galleries, streaming music, video, and so much more.

Canadians will be able to follow MSN.ca while on the go at msnmobile.ca and get latest updates and breaking stories on news, sports, lifestyle, entertainment and celebrity gossip on Twitter (http://twitter.com/MSNca) and become fans on Facebook. MSN.ca will also offer improved personalization with a unique Windows Live 'signed-in' experience that allows users to send and receive e-mail, instant message and participate in MSN channel blogs using Windows Live^TM Hotmail®, Windows Live Messenger and Bing ® embedded directly into the MSN.ca homepage.

"Canadian consumers are among the most connected around the world. Canadians want to stay current on news, weather, entertainment, sports and social issues from local, national and international perspectives. A well known and trusted web portal that allows Internet users to bring these elements together in a personalized experience is a recipe for success. Microsoft appears to be doing just that for Canadians with the upcoming new launch of MSN.ca," said Tony Olvet, Vice President, Research Domains, IDC Canada. "Advertisers should applaud the initiatives taken by Microsoft to refresh MSN.ca, not only for the portal's design and user interface, but through its services that allow marketers to differentiate brands and target new markets."

In creating MSN.ca, editorial, product management and development teams working in Canada and around the world for the past 10 months logged more than 20,000 hours to provide Canadians with a truly unique MSN experience.

"For Advertisers, MSN.ca reflects Microsoft's continued investment in the Canadian online marketplace," added Sagness. "Microsoft Advertising is here to form trusted long-term relationships with the Canadian advertising and marketing community, to invest time with clients and agencies to create compelling digital solutions, and to help grow the digital opportunity in Canada beyond what currently exists today."

Microsoft understands the relationship between consumers and their technologies. As more and more Canadians spend more and more time online-always connected, across multiple devices-Microsoft Advertising helps advertisers and marketers connect with their target audiences across many digital touch points. Microsoft Advertising is the sales, service and marketing group at Microsoft Canada that works with advertisers to help them find and engage their customers using a thoughtful combination of technology and tailored media communication platforms across any device, including the PC, mobile, gaming and the Web.

"Microsoft Advertising can take care of the complexity of digital media so that marketers and advertisers can focus on what they do best - amazing creativity and smart, effective planning," said Sagness.

For more information regarding advertising on MSN.ca, please call toll-free ENGLISH: 1-877-882-9482 / FRENCH: 1-877-882-9484 or visit advertising.microsoft.ca

* comScore Canada, June 2004 to May 2009

About Microsoft Canada

About Microsoft Advertising

Microsoft Advertising provides advertisers and publishers with media, tools and services to drive deep and profitable engagement with their audiences. This includes a media network that reaches hundreds of millions of consumers around the world; global technology platforms and tools that enable easy planning and management of campaigns and content; and services that help untangle the complexities of digital media to get more value from marketing and content investments. Microsoft Advertising makes buying and selling media simple, smart and cost-effective across media and devices in the Microsoft network of properties and beyond. Visit http://advertising.microsoft.ca for more information.

About MSN and Windows Live

For media inquiries, please contact:

Paolo Pasquini

Consumer & Online | Microsoft Canada

416-349-5531

Paolo.Pasquini@microsoft.com

Heather Anderson

High Road Communications

416-644-2272

handerson@highroad.com

Microsoft, Yahoo! Change Search Landscape

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:59:00 GMT

Global Deal Creates Better Choice for Consumers and Advertisers

SUNNYVALE, Calif. and REDMOND, Wash. - 29 July, 2009 - Yahoo! and Microsoft announced an agreement that will improve the Web search experience for users and advertisers, and deliver sustained innovation to the industry. In simple terms, Microsoft will now power Yahoo! search while Yahoo! will become the exclusive worldwide relationship sales force for both companies' premium search advertisers.

For Web users and advertisers, this deal will accelerate the pace and breadth of innovation by combining both companies' complementary strengths and search platforms into a market competitor with the scale to fuel sustained development in search and search advertising. Users will find what they care about faster and with more personal relevance. Microsoft's competitive search platforms will lead to more value for advertisers, better results for web publishers, and increased innovation and efficiency across the Internet.

Under this agreement,Yahoo! will focus on its core business of providing consumers with great experiences with the world's favorite online destinations and Web products.

"This agreement comes with boatloads of value for Yahoo!, our users, and the industry. And I believe it establishes the foundation for a new era of Internet innovation and development," said Yahoo! Chief Executive Officer Carol Bartz. "Users will continue to experience search as a vital part of their Yahoo! experiences and will enjoy increased innovation thanks to the scale and resources this deal provides. Advertisers will also benefit from scale and enjoy greater ease of use and efficiencies working with a single platform and sales team for premium advertisers. Finally, this deal will help us increase our investments in priority areas in winning audience properties, display advertising capabilities and mobile experiences."

Providing a viable alternative to advertisers, this deal will combine Yahoo! and Microsoft search marketplaces so that advertisers no longer have to rely on one company that dominates more than 70 percent of all search. With the addition of Yahoo!'s search volume, Microsoft will achieve the size and scale required to unleash competition and innovation in the market, for consumers as well as advertisers.

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said the agreement will provide Microsoft's search engine, Bing, the scale necessary to more effectively compete, attracting more users and advertisers, which in turn will lead to more relevant ads and search results.

"Through this agreement with Yahoo!, we will create more innovation in search, better value for advertisers and real consumer choice in a market currently dominated by a single company," said Ballmer. "Success in search requires both innovation and scale. With our new Bing search platform, we've created breakthrough innovation and features. This agreement with Yahoo! will provide the scale we need to deliver even more rapid advances in relevancy and usefulness. Microsoft and Yahoo! know there's so much more that search could be. This agreement gives us the scale and resources to create the future of search."

"This deal fits the long-term strategic direction of Yahoo! to remain the world's leading online media company and Carol Bartz has the full and unanimous support of the Yahoo! Board behind this deal," said Roy Bostock, chairman, Yahoo! Inc. "This is a significant opportunity for us. Microsoft is an industry innovator in search, and it is a great opportunity for us to focus our investments in other areas critical to our future."

The key terms of the agreement are as follows:

--The term of the agreement is 10 years;

--Microsoft will acquire an exclusive 10 year license to Yahoo!'s core search technologies, and Microsoft will have the ability to integrate Yahoo! search technologies into its existing web search platforms;

--Microsoft's Bing will be the exclusive algorithmic search and paid search platform for Yahoo! sites. Yahoo! will continue to use its technology and data in other areas of its business such as enhancing display advertising technology.

--Yahoo! will become the exclusive worldwide relationship sales force for both companies' premium search advertisers. Self-serve advertising for both companies will be fulfilled by Microsoft's AdCenter platform, and prices for all search ads will continue to be set by AdCenter's automated auction process.

--Each company will maintain its own separate display advertising business and sales force.

--Yahoo! will innovate and "own" the user experience on Yahoo! properties, including the user experience for search, even though it will be powered by Microsoft technology.

--Microsoft will compensate Yahoo! through a revenue sharing agreement on traffic generated on Yahoo!'s network of both owned and operated (O&O) and affiliate sites.

--Microsoft will pay traffic acquisition costs (TAC) to Yahoo! at an initial rate of 88% of search revenue generated on Yahoo!'s O&O sites during the first 5 years of the agreement.

--Yahoo! will continue to syndicate its existing search affiliate partnerships.

--Microsoft will guarantee Yahoo!'s O&O revenue per search (RPS) in each country for the first 18 months following initial implementation in that country.

At full implementation (expected to occur within 24 months following regulatory approval), Yahoo! estimates, based on current levels of revenue and current operating expenses, that this agreement will provide a benefit to annual GAAP operating income of approximately $500 million and capital expenditure savings of approximately $200 million. Yahoo! also estimates that this agreement will provide a benefit to annual operating cash flow of approximately $275 million.

The agreement protects consumer privacy by limiting the data shared between the companies to the minimum necessary to operate and improve the combined search platform, and restricts the use of search data shared between the companies. The agreement maintains the industry-leading privacy practices that each company follows today.

The agreement does not cover each company's web properties and products, email, instant messaging, display advertising, or any other aspect of the companies' businesses. In those areas, the companies will continue to compete vigorously.

The transaction will be subject to regulatory review. The agreement entered into today anticipates that the parties will enter into more detailed definitive agreements prior to closing. Microsoft and Yahoo! expect the agreement to be closely reviewed by the industry and government regulators, and welcome questions. The companies are hopeful that closing can occur in early 2010.

The companies have established a website at http://www.choicevalueinnovation.com to provide consumers, advertisers ad publishers with additional information about the benefits of the agreement.

Yaho! and Microsoft will host a conference call with Yahoo! CEO Carol Bartz and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to discuss the agreement at 5:30 a.m. Pacific/8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today. To listen to the call, please dial 1-866-515-2908 in the U.S. and Canada; +1-617-399-5122 international, reservation number: 47968026. A live webcast of the call can be accessed through Yahoo!'s Investor Relations website. In addition, an archive of the webcast will be available through the same link. An audio replay of the call will be available for two weeks following the conference call by calling 1-888-286-8010 in the U.S. and Canada; +1-617-801-6888 international, reservation number: 91217610.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release refers to operating cash flow (operating income before depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, and stock-based compensation expense, or OCF), which is a non-GAAP financial measure. The most comparable GAAP measure is income from operations. The estimated annual OCF benefit of $275 million included in this press release is the estimated annual benefit in income from operations of $500 million less approximately $225 million of estimated annual savings in depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation expense.

About Yahoo!

Yahoo! Inc. is a leading global consumer brand and one of the most trafficked Internet destinations worldwide. Yahoo! is where millions of people go every day to see what is happening with the people and things that matter to them most. Yahoo! helps marketers reach that audience with its unique and compelling advertiser proposition. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit http://pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal at http://yodel.yahoo.com.

"Owned and Operated sites" refers to Yahoo!'s owned and operated online properties and services.

"Affiliate sites" refers to Yahoo!'s distribution network of third-party entities who have integrated Yahoo!'s advertising offerings into their websites or their other offerings.

This press release and its attachments contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning Yahoo!'s expected financial performance (including without limitation the quotations from management in this press release), as well as Yahoo!'s strategic and operational plans. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the expected financial and other benefits of the agreement with Microsoft may not be realized, including as a result of actions taken by United States or foreign regulatory authorities and the response or acceptance of the agreement by publishers, advertisers, users, and employees and Yahoo!'s strategic and business partners; the impact of management and organizational changes; the implementation and results of Yahoo!'s ongoing strategic and cost initiatives; Yahoo!'s ability to compete with new or existing competitors; reduction in spending by, or loss of, marketing services customers; the demand by customers for Yahoo!'s premium services; acceptance by users of new products and services; risks related to joint ventures and the integration of acquisitions; risks related to Yahoo!'s international operations; failure to manage growth and diversification; adverse results in litigation, including intellectual property infringement claims; Yahoo!'s ability to protect its intellectual property and the value of its brands; dependence on key personnel; dependence on third parties for technology, services, content, and distribution; and general economic conditions and changes in economic conditions; All information set forth in this press release and its attachments is as of July 29, 2009. Yahoo! does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances. More information about potential factors that could affect the Company's business and financial results is included under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, which are on file with the SEC and available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Additional information will also be set forth in those sections in Yahoo!'s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, which will be filed with the SEC in the third quarter of 2009.

This press release and its attachments also contain financial projections that are necessarily based upon a variety of estimates and assumptions which may not be realized and are inherently subject, in addition to the risks identified in the forward-looking statement disclaimer, to business, economic, competitive, industry, regulatory, market and financial uncertainties, many of which are beyond Yahoo!'s control. There can be no assurance that the assumptions made in preparing the projected financial impact will prove accurate. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from the projected financial impact. In addition, all projections exclude anticipated reinvestment by Yahoo! in its non-search business.

Yahoo! and the Yahoo! logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Yahoo! Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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.

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. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx

Summer just got even hotter! The 2nd Annual Summer of Arcade burns up Xbox LIVE® Arcade

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:42:00 GMT

Xbox LIVE Arcade is turning up the heat! 'Splode, race, and cowabunga your way through five weeks of this year's hottest blockbusters in the second annual Summer of Arcade program.

Last year's Summer of Arcade saw unprecedented success, with games on-par with retail blockbusters, including award-winning "Braid." Now we're burning it up again with five more scorching smash hits beginning Wednesday, July 22, 2009.

Xbox LIVE Arcade has raised the bar, delivering the biggest and best selection of downloadable games on any console. So grab a popsicle and turn up the air-conditioning because these games will keep you sizzling all summer long.

"MARVEL vs. CAPCOM 2" (Backbone Entertainment/Capcom): One of the most popular fighting games of all time, "MARVEL vs. CAPCOM 2," arrives on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Choose from 56 legendary characters from Marvel Comics and Capcom history, including Ryu and Wolverine. With online multiplayer over Xbox LIVE and enhanced HD graphics, you decide who is the dream team in the ultimate tag-team fighting experience.

"Shadow Complex" (Chair Entertainment and Epic Games/Microsoft): The next evolution in downloadable games, "Shadow Complex" marries the quality and depth of a full retail title, the stunning visuals of Epic Games' industry-leading Unreal Engine 3, and a classic side-scroller. "Set in the world of Orson Scott Card's best-selling novel, "Empire," Shadow Complex introduces a compelling universe in which you collect items and power-ups, and evolve your character into a force of destruction."

Splosion Man^TM (Twisted Pixel Games/Microsoft): Fools they were, to tread where knowledge should stay forbidden. For what emerged was not a man - it was a Splosion Man. "And all who saw him were sploded, for he was the fire and they were but meat." Able to splode himself at will, the Splosion Man launches his way through levels, an uncontainable force. From Twisted Pixel Games, developer of the award winning The Maw^TM, Splosion Man will keep you on your toes as you play through more than 50 single-player levels and 50 multiplayer levels.

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles^TM: Turtles in Time Re-shelled" (Ubisoft Singapore®/Ubisoft®): Cowabunga! Everyone's favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game is back with a brand new look in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled." The arcade classic has been revamped with all new 3D graphics, but the same classic beat 'em up gameplay.

"Trials HD" (RedLynx/Microsoft): Put on your helmet, and rev your way through "Trials HD," a fully-featured, physics-based motorcycle racing game in stunning HD graphics. Tear up more than 50 tracks and test your metal in two unique game modes: Race and Skill. Create, share and download an unlimited number of free tracks with the level editor, and customize your rider to fit your personality.

*Xbox LIVE Gold membership required for online multiplayer

For more information, please contact:

Pamela Stillman, High Road Communications, pstillman@highroad.com, 416-644-2280
Rhiannon Clifford, High Road Communications, rclifford@highroad.com, 416-644-2277

Xbox Unveils Entertainment Experiences That Put Everyone Center Stage

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:17:00 GMT

Microsoft rewrites the rules on fun with controller-free entertainment, Facebook for your TV, plus instant on 1080p HD streaming video.

LOS ANGELES - June 1, 2009 - The future of home entertainment has a new name: Xbox 360. Today, Microsoft Corp. opened the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) with a historic Xbox 360 briefing that rocked, tweeted, revved and awakened the world to a new era of fun and entertainment. In addition to premiering 10 exclusive new games, revolutionizing the way we watch TV, and making it easier than ever to connect to friends, Xbox also welcomed visionary filmmaker Steven Spielberg to introduce "Project Natal" and controller-free gaming.

"Today with cultural visionaries at our side and controller-free gaming on our horizon, Xbox 360 authored a new page in home entertainment history," said Don Mattrick, senior vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "For us, this E3 is about breaking down barriers - between generations, between games and entertainment, and most important, between video game players and everyone else - in a way that only Xbox 360 can."

During its briefing, Microsoft showed why Xbox 360 continues to defy industry sales trends. First: A lineup of blockbuster games to ignite every passion, including "Forza Motorsport 3," "Alan Wake," "Halo 3: ODST," and "The Beatles: Rock Band." Next? A host of groundbreaking Xbox LIVE services, from instant on 1080p HD streaming movies and television to Facebook and Last.fm tailor-made for your TV. And rounding it all out, "Project Natal," a whole new way to play, no controller required.

"Project Natal": No Strings (or Controllers) Attached

Unveiled for the first time to the public was "Project Natal," pronounced "nuh-tall" and a code name for a revolutionary new way to play, no controller required. See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it. If you know how to move your hands, shake your hips or speak, you and your friends can jump into the fun. The only experience needed is life experience.

Compatible with any Xbox 360 system, the "Project Natal" sensor is the world's first to combine an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and custom processor running proprietary software all in one device. Unlike 2-D cameras and controllers, "Project Natal" tracks your full body movement in 3-D, while responding to commands, directions and even a shift of emotion in your voice.

In addition, unlike other devices, the "Project Natal" sensor is not light-dependent. It can recognize you just by looking at your face, and it doesn't just react to key words but understands what you're saying. Call a play in a football game, and players will actually respond. Want to log onto Xbox LIVE? Simply step in front of the sensor.

"The next step in interactive entertainment is to make the controller disappear," said Steven Spielberg, visionary director and producer. "With 'Project Natal,' we'll see games that bring everyone together through technology that actually recognizes us."

The Best of the Internet, Custom-Made for Your TV

Groove, party or connect with a friend. Xbox LIVE, the world's largest social network on TV, today announced Facebook and Last.fm would be tailor-made for your TV, only on Xbox 360. Microsoft also announced Xbox LIVE Party for movies, which allows movie experiences to be shared - on the couch or across the country over Xbox LIVE in supported movies.

"We are always asking ourselves how to make the TV more social," said John Schappert, corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment LIVE, Software and Studios at Microsoft. "By bringing Facebook, Last.fm and Xbox LIVE Party for movies and TV shows to Xbox LIVE, we're not only extending the walls of your living room beyond your home to your friends in different corners of the world, we're creating the definitive social network, uniting more than 200 million people to share status updates, pictures, thoughts on music and the world's best online gaming experience."

The addition of Facebook to Xbox LIVE means friends are always connected, anytime, anywhere - from virtually any couch. But updating your status and sharing photos won't be the only things you can do. Using Facebook Connect, you can share your greatest moments in gaming by posting updates and screenshots from supported games directly to Facebook. Don't let your moment of glory fade away - make sure everyone sees it with Facebook Connect, starting with the future version of the premier EA SPORTS golf franchise "Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®."

A first for TV, Last.fm1, part of the CBS Interactive Music Group, will give Xbox LIVE subscribers access to millions of songs streaming through Xbox 360 to the best speakers in the house. Xbox LIVE subscribers will be able to create their own free, personalized radio stations and listen to them with friends in the living room or across the country.

Xbox 360 also solidified its place as one of the leading social entertainment networks by announcing Xbox LIVE Party for movies. Go to the cinema with your friends whether you are sitting on the same couch or in living rooms across the country. Starting this year, you can share a virtual theater, see your avatar (a virtual you) on the screen, all while you listen to each other laugh and cry at the movie through voice chat on Xbox LIVE. With movie parties, the only thing you can't share is the popcorn.

1080p HD in an Instant

Continuing a pioneering effort that began with the introduction of the industry's first video marketplace in November 2006 and broke new ground with the announcement of the first live TV straight from a gaming console last week in the U.K., Microsoft today announced that Xbox would deliver yet another first-to-the-world: instant on 1080p movies and TV with 5.1 surround sound - direct to consoles connected to compatible HD TVs through the Xbox LIVE social entertainment network.

Starting this fall, a broad selection of movies and TV shows from Zune video on Xbox 360 will be available to start and stream instantly, in the highest video quality and at the push of a button.2 No discs, no waiting for downloads and no delays. Get the selection of a video megastore, the best video clarity available and the convenience of on-demand, only on Xbox 360.

In addition, Microsoft announced it will more than double the number of markets where Xbox LIVE offers its TV shows and movies, growing from eight to 18, by adding Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Xbox LIVE members in these markets will have access to instant on 1080p video. New Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace advancements also came for the U.S., U.K. and Ireland specifically:

- More choices with Netflix. Watch movies instantly streamed from Netflix.3 Browse and add selections to your instant Queue - right on your TV with your Xbox 360. Plus now with Xbox LIVE Party, you can watch and share supported movies with up to seven friends on Xbox LIVE. Debating between comedy and horror? Recommend your favorites to friends and see your virtual you as an avatar on the silver screen.

- Live TV with BSkyB Ltd. The Xbox LIVE commitment to providing the best global entertainment gains momentum with its newest partner, Sky. Now, for the first time, watch live or on-demand TV from Sky on Xbox 360, including Sky Sports. Never miss a moment of your favorite live TV shows, sports, movies and family-friendly entertainment across the U.K. and Ireland on Xbox LIVE. You can even share your favorites with up to seven friends in an Xbox LIVE Party.

Games for Everyone

Get behind the steering wheel of the sleek Audi R8. Rock out with your friends to the latest music and party games. Discover a new chapter set in the iconic universe of "Halo." Xbox 360 has the most celebrated, highly anticipated games and experiences in the industry. With more than 1,000 titles to date, there's more than just one for you.

- Get behind the wheel. Hit the straightaway in more than 400 cars on the world's most beautiful tracks in the definitive racing game for this console generation, "Forza Motorsport 3." Or get your avatar in the driver's seat as you tear up the track with your friends in "Joy Ride."

- Adrenaline-rushing exclusives. Xbox 360 is your top destination for the biggest exclusives this year and beyond, including "Halo 3: ODST," "Crackdown 2," "Alan Wake," "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction^TM" and "Left 4 Dead 2."

- Tap into your inner musician. Xbox 360 continues to be the preferred venue for the music games you love. Discover the magic of music and The Beatles with "The Beatles: Rock Band" or start a spontaneous singing party with "Lips: Number One Hits."

- The best blockbuster experiences. Third-party games play better on Xbox 360. Pairing must-have titles such as this year's blockbuster from Infinity Ward, "Modern Warfare 2" with Xbox LIVE, Xbox 360 offers more friends to play with and an exclusive collection of Game Add-ons.

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a premier video game and entertainment system. It is home to the best and broadest games as well as the largest on-demand library of standard- and high-definition movies and TV shows connected to the television - with music coming this fall. The digital center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with the largest online social network of 20 million members on Xbox LIVE to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. With the addition of currently code-named "Project Natal," Xbox 360 will forever transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play - no controller required. More information about "Project Natal" and Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.ca/projectnatal and http://www.xbox.ca

About Xbox LIVE

Xbox LIVE is the largest gaming and entertainment network and delivers more entertainment than any device connected to the television, including movies, TV, music and games. Xbox LIVE is also the only entertainment service to provide instant on 1080p streaming HD video from Zune video. With an active community of more than 20 million people across 26 countries, Xbox LIVE lets you play the best games, enjoy the largest on-demand library and, coming soon, listen to millions of songs - all while connecting to friends anytime. An Xbox LIVE Gold membership provides you with exclusive benefits and premium access to entertainment from the top studios and services, all in one place. More information about Xbox LIVE can be found online at http://www.xbox.ca

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.

1 Xbox LIVE Gold Membership required.

2 Users will need a 1080p-compatible HD TV, an HDMI cable and broadband speeds greater than 8 Mbps for instant viewing at 1080p and 5.1 surround sound.

3 Netflix is available in the U.S. only.

For more information, press only:

Pamela Stillman, High Road Communications, 416-644-2280, pstillman@highroad.com

Rhiannon Clifford, High Road Communications, 416-644-2277, rclifford@highroad.com

Xbox 360 Primes Every Passion With Games That Rock, Race and Sizzle

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:13:00 GMT

Microsoft unveils "Forza Motorsport 3," "Halo: Reach," "Crackdown 2," "Shadow Complex," and "Alan Wake"on Xbox 360.

LOS ANGELES - June 1, 2009 - Rock out. Duck and cover. Shift into overdrive. On the eve of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Microsoft Corp. today made it perfectly clear: No matter who you are or what games you crave, Xbox 360 is the only gaming and entertainment console for you.

At a time when, according to NPD Group Inc., nearly seven in 10 consumers plan to spend the same or more on video games compared with last year, Xbox 360 today unveiled a lineup that is sure to tip the scales in favor of more - more fun, more entertainment value and more games available only on Xbox 360.

A "who's who" of hot games, the list of Xbox exclusives includes "Forza Motorsport 3," "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction^TM," "Left 4 Dead 2," "Alan Wake," "Shadow Complex," "Crackdown 2," blockbuster "Halo 3: ODST" and the surprise announce of Halo trilogy prequel "Halo: Reach." Sharing the stage were blockbusters Infinity Ward's "Modern Warfare 2" and the "The Beatles: Rock Band."

"We know that your fun and our success boil down to one thing: our ability to make games that are creative, diverse and entertaining. Period. And this year, we deliver in spades with the biggest and best lineup in our history," said Phil Spencer, general manager of the global Microsoft Game Studios business. "From the core first-person-shooter fans who've enjoyed Xbox since the first 'Halo' to new audiences who are discovering us today with genre-defining games like '1 vs 100,' we have something for everyone with our best and broadest lineup ever."

Xbox 360 has the most celebrated, most played, most coveted and most E-rated games in the industry - and with 1,000-plus titles to date, there's more than one for you.

Heart-Thumping Entertainment, Exclusively on Xbox 360

Get behind the wheel of an Audi R8 V10 in "Forza Motorsport 3," jump into the immersive movie-like action of "Alan Wake," and download "Shadow Complex," the newest Xbox LIVE Arcade game from the minds behind the blockbuster "Gears of War" franchise. Some of the most exciting games in 2009 and beyond are only on Xbox 360, including the following:

- "1 vs 100" (Microsoft Game Studios). Are you ready to win big? The "1 vs 100" U.S. and Canadian beta launches today, June 1, at 7:30 p.m. PDT. For the first time, "1 vs 100" on Xbox LIVE combines the best of TV gameshow experiences with social gaming to create the largest interactive game show in the world. Based on the hit TV game show of the same name, "1 vs 100 Live" is regularly scheduled and features a live studio host who provides comedic commentary throughout the show and fresh content from a team of trivia writers and experts. Players can play as "the one," "the mob" or "the crowd," for the chance to win real prizes. Check your local Xbox LIVE listings to join "1 vs 100 Live."1

- "Alan Wake" (Remedy/Microsoft Game Studios). "Alan Wake" is the all-new psychological action thriller from the renowned creators of the "Max Payne" franchise. Coming in spring 2010 and exclusive to Xbox 360, "Alan Wake" will immerse players in an intense cinematic thrill ride of dreams and reality, where light is the only ally.

- "Crackdown 2" (Ruffian Games/Microsoft Game Studios). The sequel to the award-winning "Crackdown," "Crackdown 2" is the premier open-ended action experience that lets you be judge, jury and executioner for a vast city. Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 in 2010, "Crackdown 2" will take multiplayer2 gaming to unprecedented levels for the ultimate cooperative and competitive multiplayer experience, providing you and your friends with the complete freedom to explore, destroy and play as you return to restore justice and peace to Pacific City - by any means necessary.

- "Forza Motorsport 3" (Turn 10/Microsoft Game Studios). Launching this October, "Forza Motorsport 3" is the definitive racing game for everyone from hardcore tuners to anyone who's ever dreamed of driving at full-throttle. Backed by breathtaking HD graphics and bone-jarring physics, you'll take the wheel of more than 400 of the most-beloved cars on over 100 renowned real-world tracks and exotic road courses from around the globe. "Forza Motorsport 3" includes driving assists and adjustable skill levels to make the game a gripping pick-up-and-play experience for audiences of all ages and skill levels, while new customization and sharing tools will further fuel the imaginations of the thriving "Forza Motorsport" community on Xbox LIVE.

- "Gears of War 2: Dark Corners" (Epic Games Inc.). The "Gears of War 2: Dark Corners" Game Add-on includes seven brand new multiplayer maps and a new campaign chapter, "Road to Ruin." "Dark Corners" launches on Xbox LIVE Marketplace on July 28. The entertainment blockbuster of 2008, "Gears of War 2" has now surpassed 5 million copies sold worldwide.

- "Halo 3: ODST" (Bungie). Launching Sept. 22, "Halo 3: ODST" is a new game in the landmark "Halo" saga that lets players experience the events leading up to the epic story told in "Halo 3" through the eyes of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper). In addition to an all-new campaign, "ODST" includes three new "Halo 3" multiplayer maps and the complete, stand-alone "Halo 3" multiplayer experience.2 The game also introduces Firefight, an exciting new cooperative multiplayer mode that pits up to four players against increasingly challenging waves of enemies. As a special bonus, "Halo 3: ODST" also includes an invitation to the "Halo: Reach" multiplayer beta on Xbox LIVE. Also, launching on the same date with "Halo 3: ODST" is the "Halo 3: ODST Collector's Pack," which offers "Halo" fans a new and exclusive wireless controller and the game title in one package at a great price.

- "Joy Ride" (Big Park/Microsoft Game Studios). Avatars, start your engines! Full of wild driving fun, "Joy Ride" will get your adrenaline pumping as you tear up the track with your friends, or jump, flip and trick your way through the Stunt Park as you work with the whole community to unlock rewards. "Joy Ride" is completely free to download and gives you all new ways to play, whether you're looking for a quick game or a deep, custom social experience, all on Xbox LIVE.2 Design your dream car or purchase new tracks, game modes and avatar items. You can share the racetracks and game modes with your friends so no one is ever left out.

- "Left 4 Dead 2" (Valve). "Left 4 Dead 2" is the sequel to the best-selling and critically acclaimed cooperative multiplayer smash from Valve, creators of "Half-Life," "Portal," "Team Fortress" and "Counter-Strike." Introducing melee weapons and new enemies to the original's award-winning gameplay, "L4D2" casts players as one of four new "Survivors" battling zombie hordes as they travel from Savannah, Ga., through New Orleans' French Quarter.

- "Shadow Complex" (Epic Games Inc. and Chair Entertainment Group/Microsoft Game Studios). New from Epic Games and Chair Entertainment, "Shadow Complex" combines the best of old-school side-scroller design with modern, cutting-edge gameplay and incredible high-definition graphics. Collect power-ups, discover new abilities and evolve your character into a force of destruction as you explore an original story set in the world of Orson Scott Card's best-selling novel, "Empire." "Shadow Complex" marries the quality and depth of a full retail title with the accessibility you love, exclusively on Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE Arcade.

- "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction^TM" (Ubisoft). Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 this fall, unleash the ferocious skills of renegade agent Sam Fisher and uncover a deadly terrorist plot in "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction^TM." Completely reinvented and revolutionized, "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction^TM" ushers in a new breed of action gameplay leaving players fully immersed in the life of the world's most dangerous spy. Take full advantage of the 20 million member Xbox LIVE community in this latest installment of the award-winning "Splinter Cell" franchise.

Blockbusters Here, There, Everywhere on Xbox 360

It's a simple truth: third-party games play better on Xbox 360. Why? Because only Xbox 360 can pair must-have titles like this year's blockbuster from Infinity Ward, "Modern Warfare 2," "The Beatles: Rock Band" and "Tony Hawk®: RIDE^TM" with Xbox LIVE, the world's largest social network on your TV. The result? As the world's largest online gaming network, Xbox LIVE gives you more friends to play with and its exclusive collection of Game Add-ons ensures the fun never ends. It leaves only one question: Why would you play these blockbusters anywhere else?

- "Final Fantasy® XIII" (Square Enix). The world-renowned "Final Fantasy" will continue making its home on Xbox 360 with the upcoming release of "Final Fantasy XIII," the eagerly anticipated title from Square Enix. "Final Fantasy XIII" uses the power and cutting-edge technology of Xbox 360 to deliver seamless transitions between real-time gameplay and in-game cinematics as gamers summon the courage to execute powerful attacks with an evolved Active Time Battle system and ultimately fulfill their destiny. Scheduled to be released only in North America and Europe.

- "Modern Warfare 2" (Infinity Ward/Activision). On Nov. 10, 2009, Infinity Ward will make its return with the release of "Modern Warfare 2" on Xbox 360, the most-anticipated game of the year and the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game of all time, "Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare^TM." "Modern Warfare 2" continues the gripping and heart-racing saga with an unprecedented level of action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. Xbox LIVE gamers will also be the first to get their hands on two "Modern Warfare 2" map packs coming first to Xbox 360.

- "The Beatles: Rock Band" (Harmonix/MTV Games). On 09.09.09, "The Beatles: Rock Band" will allow fans all over the world to pick-up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles' extraordinary catalogue of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band's legendary career. In addition, "The Beatles: Rock Band" offers Beatles fans the opportunity to rock out with new hardware replica controllers modeled after instruments used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr throughout their careers. And, for the first time, players will be able to download music and make a change: Available only on Xbox 360, all Apple Corps, MTV Games and Microsoft proceeds from downloads of "All You Need is Love" will benefit Doctors without Borders.

- "Tony Hawk: RIDE" (Activision). "Tony Hawk: RIDE" redefines the sports genre by offering a dynamic hands-free gaming experience featuring an innovative skateboard controller. Using full motion sensing technology, players physically control the action by performing various movements and gestures on the board that directly translate into amazing tricks in the game. The skateboard controller provides an accessible and social gaming experience on Xbox 360 that allows players of all skill levels to battle for skateboard supremacy by challenging gamers worldwide over Xbox LIVE, the largest social gaming network.

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a premier video game and entertainment system. It is home to the best and broadest games as well as the largest on-demand library of standard- and high-definition movies and TV shows connected to the television - with music coming this fall. The digital center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with the largest online social network of 20 million members on Xbox LIVE to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. With the addition of currenly code-named "Project Natal," Xbox 360 will forever transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play - no controller required. More information about Project Natal and Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.ca/projectnatal and http://www.xbox.ca.

About Xbox LIVE

Xbox LIVE is the largest gaming and entertainment network and delivers more entertainment than any device connected to the television, including movies, TV, music and games. Xbox LIVE is also the only entertainment service to provide instant on 1080p streaming HD video from Zune video. With an active community of more than 20 million people across 26 countries, Xbox LIVE lets you play the best games, enjoy the largest on-demand library and coming soon, listen to millions of songs - all while connecting to friends anytime. An Xbox LIVE Gold membership provides you with exclusive benefits and premium access to entertainment from the top studios and services, all in one place. More information about Xbox LIVE can be found online at http://www.xbox.ca/live.

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.

1 Full details, including prize rules, are available at http://www.xbox.ca/1vs100.

2 Xbox LIVE Gold Membership required for online multiplayer. "Halo Reach" beta will require a hard drive and Gold membership.

For more information, press only:

Pamela Stillman, High Road Communications, 416-644-2280, pstillman@highroad.com

Rhiannon Clifford, High Road Communications, 416-644-2277, rclifford@highroad.com