'Our customers increasingly appreciate the option of moving certain applications and services into the cloud while maintaining an on-premise option for their ERP solution,' said Crispin Read, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics ERP.

'Providing this choice and flexibility is a competitive advantage for us and our partners around the world.'

The Sites Service allows customers to seamlessly create and manage Web sites within the Microsoft Dynamics ERP application. For example, people can easily create landing pages for marketing campaigns, dedicated request for quote sites to get quotes from business partners, sites for product registration information and customer feedback, human resources sites for job recruiting, and sites on anything that the customers would want to reach out to their community on. Sites Service capabilities will include embedded intelligence and optimization models, which provide analytics to help customers make the most of their marketing efforts all within the context of their Microsoft Dynamics ERP application.

Another new service, Commerce, extends multichannel commerce scenarios by providing a link between the ERP products and different e-commerce opportunities such as business-to-consumer e-commerce marketplaces, dedicated e-commerce storefronts or built-in shopping cart functionality. This enables customers to list products and accept orders from a multitude of places, all from one easy-to-use interface.

Lastly, Payment enables customers to process payment transactions from the Microsoft Dynamics ERP interface across multiple channels, including e-commerce, point of sale and call center transactions. The Payment Service currently works with leading payment processing services, including First Data Merchant Services Corporation, for all major credit cards, such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express and PayPal. As part of today's announcement, Microsoft shared that the company has recently signed agreements with CyberSource Corp. and Pensio to provide these services to its ERP customers in the U.S. and Europe, with more agreements forthcoming.

'We are excited to be working closely with Microsoft as it extends its ERP offerings to allow for online capabilities such as payment processing and e-commerce,' said Michael Bolton, partner at Keyora Inc.

'More customers are demanding speed to market. This move by Microsoft can help increase its competitiveness.'

There are now more than 150 partners delivering subscription-based Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions in geographies around the world, with strong momentum for new partners joining the program.

'The ability to provide Microsoft Dynamics ERP cloud solutions to Microsoft partners worldwide is central to our business strategy,' said Herb Prooy, CEO of SaaSplaza, a Microsoft hosting partner.

'Our partners appreciate the ability to move certain of the customers' applications into the cloud while maintaining an on-premise option or any mix of these. This option protects their current investment while getting them ready for the future, something that other vendors do not provide today. It's been a real competitive advantage for us at SaaSplaza, our partners and their customers as well.'

As further evidence of customers' desire for choice in deployment, Saugatuck Technology Inc., a Westport, Conn.-based research firm focused on emerging and disruptive technologies, revealed that software as a service (SaaS)-based solutions are being increasingly linked with on-premise data, applications and processes through Web services-based integration APIs, such as those contained in Microsoft Dynamics ERP, and that although most SaaS vendors with on-premise and cloud-based offerings will not have interoperating versions, or seamless data compatibility through 2011, Microsoft Dynamics ERP will be among the handful of first-wave 'hybrid' exceptions.

The new Microsoft Dynamics ERP Sites and Commerce Services are expected to be available in the first half of 2010, with the additional payment service providers available in the first quarter of 2010. More information about the details of Microsoft's online ERP strategy, or the new online services being announced today, can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/en/us/erp-software-plus-services.aspx .

About Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics is a line of easy-to-use, integrated and adaptable ERP and CRM applications that enable business decision-makers to quickly respond to market shifts, take advantage of new trends, increase their competitive edge and drive business success. Microsoft Dynamics solutions are delivered through a world-class network of partners who provide specialized services and additional innovation to help customers excel in their industry.

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.

*Saugatuck Technology Report: Key Trends in SaaS/Cloud: Clearing the Air; Oct. 20, 2009

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Richard Rabins, Co-Chairman of Alpha Software, continues talking about more of the reasons that web developers have been giving Alpha Five Version 10 rave reviews even before it has been released.

To find out more about our topic: "In Order To Have a Successful Web Application -- Being Easy to Modify and To Maintain is a Must" and to read a complete transcript of this interview go to: http://www.alphasoftware.com/press/letstalkcomputers/a5v10_part5.asp

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'It enables people to do more of what they want to do more easily and more quickly, and customers are responding. Since launch, we've already sold twice as many units of Windows 7 than any other operating system we've ever launched in a comparable time.'

Ballmer also pointed to the momentum the company was experiencing in other key areas of its business, with delivery of products and services including Bing, Windows Server 2008, Windows Azure, and the upcoming release of Microsoft Office 2010.

Over 98 percent of the voting shareholders supported the company's executive compensation practices in Microsoft's first vote on executive compensation, also known as

'say on pay.' In September, Microsoft's board adopted a triennial

'say on pay' model in which the company's shareholders will have the opportunity to vote every three years on the compensation program for the company's named executive officers. Microsoft's executive compensation program emphasizes long-term equity, rather than short-term cash, to link executive compensation more closely to company performance and the interests of shareholders. Microsoft is the first company to proactively implement a triennial vote.

In addition, the following proposals were acted on by the company's shareholders at the shareholder meeting:

* Elected nine directors to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders

* Ratified the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the company's independent auditor

* Approved amendments to the company's articles of incorporation, creating a right for shareholders to call a special meeting

* Voted down two shareholder proposals related to healthcare reform and charitable contributions

All director nominees, the 'say on pay' proposal and the ratification of the independent auditor each received a vote of over 98 percent of votes cast.

The proposed amendments to the articles of incorporation received a vote of over 99 percent of votes cast (and 85 percent of shares entitled to vote).

The shareholder proposals that were not approved each received 4 percent of votes cast.

Microsoft's board of directors consists of William H. Gates, Microsoft chairman; Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft chief executive officer; Dina Dublon, former chief financial officer of JPMorgan Chase; Raymond V. Gilmartin, former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Merck & Co. Inc.; Reed Hastings, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Netflix Inc.; Dr. Maria Klawe, president of Harvey Mudd College; David F. Marquardt, general partner at August Capital; Charles H. Noski, former vice chairman of AT&T Corp.; and Dr. Helmut Panke, former chairman of the board of management at BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. Seven of the nine board members are independent, consistent with the requirement in the company's governance guidelines that a substantial majority be independent.

The board has five committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Finance Committee, a Governance and Nominating Committee, and an Antitrust Compliance Committee. The Audit Committee members are Dublon, Panke, and Noski (chairperson). The Compensation Committee members are Dublon (chairperson), Hastings and Panke. The Finance Committee members are Hastings, Marquardt (chairperson) and Noski. The Governance and Nominating Committee members are Gilmartin (chairperson) and Marquardt. The Antitrust Compliance Committee members are Gilmartin, Klawe, and Panke (chairperson). 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 .

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'We're moving into an era of solutions that are experienced by users across PCs, phones and the Web, and that are delivered from datacenters we refer to as private clouds and public clouds. Built specifically for this era of cloud computing, Windows Azure and SQL Azure will give developers what they need to build great applications and profitable businesses.'

In his keynote address, Ozzie described the company's 'three screens and a cloud' vision, where software experiences are seamlessly delivered across PCs, phones and TVs, all connected by cloud-based services. Underscoring the IT industry's shift toward a hybrid approach of online services combined with on-premises software, Ozzie described the programming model for a powerful new generation of applications for both businesses and consumers, enabled by new Microsoft development tools and technologies. He also demonstrated customer and partner commitment to Microsoft's development platform with Seesmic, WordPress and Cheezburger Network.

Marketplace and Information Services for Developers, Partners and Users

Ozzie also unveiled the next evolution of Microsoft Pinpoint, an online marketplace for Microsoft partners to market and sell their applications. The company introduced a new information service, Microsoft Codename 'Dallas,' also available through Pinpoint and built completely on the Windows Azure platform, that enables developers and users to access premium commercial and reference datasets and content on any platform. Datasets currently available through 'Dallas' include those from the Associated Press, Citysearch, DATA.gov, ESRI, First American Corp., infoUSA.com Inc., NASA, National Geographic TOPO!, NAVTEQ, RiskMetrics Group, the United Nations, WaveMarket Inc. and Weather Central Inc. Starting today, 'Dallas' is available as a limited community technology preview (CTP)

Next-Generation Application Model

Bob Muglia, president of the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft, detailed the company's strategy and road map for extending the Windows developer platform to the cloud, which is the next-generation application model, according to Muglia.

'Microsoft is converging on a common developer platform for both servers and services,' Muglia said.

'Through this convergence, Microsoft will enable developers to continue using familiar .NET Framework and Visual Studio tools and technologies, as well as third-party tools such as Eclipse, to create and monetize applications that run on the server and as services in the cloud.'

Muglia described Microsoft's key investments to enable developers to move applications to the private, hosted and public clouds, enhance them with additional services, and transform them to take full advantage of capabilities unique to cloud computing.

'Kelley Blue Book aims to provide a reliable and flexible environment for consumers, enabling them to research all options before they commit to purchasing a vehicle,' said Justin Yaros, executive vice president of product design and development and chief technology officer of Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc.

'With the Windows Azure platform, we can provide the right environment for consumers searching for vehicles, providing them the most up-to-date information needed to make informed purchasing decisions, whether 10 or 10,000 people are on the site at the same time.'

As part of these key investment areas, Microsoft is delivering Windows Server AppFabric Beta 1 , a set of integrated, high-level application services that enable developers to more easily deploy and manage applications spanning both server and cloud. The AppFabric technology combines hosting and caching technologies (formerly known as Microsoft code-named 'Dublin' and Microsoft code-named 'Velocity') with the Windows Azure platform AppFabric Service Bus and AppFabric Access Control (formerly referred to as .NET Services). Together, these technologies deliver a consistent set of application services to enhance both Windows Server and Windows Azure with a common, scalable foundation for running .NET applications. Windows Server AppFabric Beta 1 is available for download today at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/appfabric with final availability in 2010. Additional CTPs of Windows Azure platform AppFabric technologies will be made available in 2010.

Muglia today also announced the company's plan to offer Windows Server virtual machine support on Windows Azure, enabling customers to more easily support virtualized infrastructure across the continuum of on-premises and cloud computing, and the release to manufacturing of Windows Identity Foundation, helping developers to provide more secure, simplified user access to both cloud and on-premises applications with open, identity-based claims.

In addition, Muglia announced the new release of ASP.NET MVC2 beta, a free, fully supported framework that enables developers to rapidly build standards-based Web applications through rich asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) integration and enhanced extensibility. ASP.NET MVC2 beta is available today at http://www.asp.net/mvc .

News, information and live streaming coverage from the event are available at http://www.microsoftpdc.com . Follow the latest Twitter updates at http://twitter.com/pdc09 and http://twitter.com/ch9live , and join the conversation using #pdc09. See Flickr images at http://flickr.com/photos/microsoftpdc , and join the community by using the pdc09 tag. Become part of the PDC community on Facebook at http://facebook.com/microsoftpdc .

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 .

((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com.