Microsoft Opens New Developer Center in Switzerland

New York, June 20 -- Microsoft has opened its first Developer Center for Collaboration Technologies in Switzerland, reports Mario Brossi of the Swiss Foreign Investment Agency Location: Switzerland. The opening followed the integration of media-streams.com, a Zurich-based start-up company Microsoft acquired in November 2005, Mr. Brossi said. The new facility currently employs 18 and is developing collaboration technologies and products for the Microsoft Office system.

Gurdeep Singh Pall, a corporate vice president at Microsoft Corporation, said “Key factors in the company's decision to settle in Zurich were its thriving business environment and the proximity to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ). Specialized software developers are still in scarce supply all over the world,” he said. “Zurich puts the Microsoft Developer Center in an excellent position when it comes to hiring young talent and new recruits.”

Other selection criteria included Zurich's overall score as a business location, in particular as a Swiss hotbed for information and communications technologies. “The Microsoft Developer Center in Zurich perfectly embodies the innovatory power of the software business in Switzerland,” Mr. Pall said. “It underscores the high quality of education and training in this country, and its economic attractiveness."

Mr. Brossi noted that Microsoft has several high-technology neighbors in the Greater Zurich Area. Recent settlers include Google, Environmental Software Providers, Advanced Digital Information Corporation, Postini, IBM with its operating hub, InVision Software and systems integrator Avanade.

-0-

Contacts:

Microsoft (Schweiz) AG, Zurich, Holger Rungwerth, +41 78 844 60 83

Location: Switzerland, John Williamson +908 730-9622