Microsoft® Corporation Launches Windows Vista™ and the 2007 Microsoft® Office System to Consumers Worldwide
Flagship products will deliver new computing experiences to Canadians
TORONTO, ON - Jan. 29, 2006 - At midnight tonight the most significant product launch in Microsoft history culminates with the release of Windows Vista™ and the 2007 Microsoft® Office system to consumers. The two flagship products — which were released to business customers on November 30, 2006 — will be available to consumers starting tomorrow in retail stores across Canada and in thirty countries worldwide. Designed to transform the way people use technology to communicate, connect, create and share content, as well as access entertainment, Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system deliver significant advancements that will help eliminate the barriers between people, information and communities.
“The general availability release of these two products is definitely a landmark launch for Microsoft worldwide,” said Jill Schoolenberg, General Manager of Windows Client, Microsoft Canada Co. “Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system will provide Canadians with computing experiences that are easier, more connected and more entertaining – whether they are at home, at work or on the go.”
A New Era of Connected Experiences
Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system deliver innovations in interface design that transform the desktop and make these two products visually exciting and significantly easier to use. New capabilities make it easy for anyone to create and share digital content including photos, music and videos; participate in digital communities by posting blogs, creating Web sites or playing games online; and better manage your communication and information in one place for home, school, or the office.
With Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system, Canadians will be able to experience all kinds of entertainment — from television and video games to music and movies — on their own terms and according to their own schedule. With the PC as the hub for keeping in touch with family, friends and colleagues who use e-mail, voice or video, communication will be richer and more convenient. Additionally, productivity can continue to improve as new tools make it easy to find the right piece of information, image or media clip, no matter where it is stored.
The new versions of Windows and Office also deliver advances in security to help parents better protect their kids as they explore the Internet, while also helping to safeguard their personal information so they can share experiences, shop and have fun with greater confidence. One example in Windows Vista is the Parental Control Panel, a feature that provides a central location where parents can manage Internet and computer access, and receive reports about which Web sites their children have visited and the amount of time they have spent on the computer. In addition, features like Windows Defender help protect consumers against attacks from spyware and malicious Web sites.
New Opportunities
To give Canadians an opportunity to see and experience the new features and capabilities that the two products deliver, Microsoft Canada has created the Microsoft Canada Digital Ice House, a unique structure at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto. The Microsoft Canada Digital Ice House will showcase the improved Office menus and tools, as well as some never before seen Windows Vista-based mini-applications called Gadgets, as well as Windows-Vista ready hardware and peripherals. For more information please visit: www.microsoft.ca/wow
Analysts worldwide believe that the launch of Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system will have a significant impact on the global computer industry. According to data from IDC, Windows Vista will enable IT industry companies and user organizations in Europe and North America to sustain more than 2.5 million existing jobs, and add 150,000 new positions. Worldwide partner revenue from the two geographies is expected to exceed $140 billion.
The consumer launch of Windows Vista is also expected to unleash a flood of new next-generation hardware devices and peripherals. Currently, there are more than 1.5 million devices and peripherals on the market that work with Windows Vista, including more than 2,000 devices that are Windows Vista Certified. Among the new devices designed specifically to work with the features of Windows Vista and available today are the Toshiba Portege R400, which features a SideShow display that lets users view their e-mail without turning on the PC or opening the lid; the LG Electronics S1 Express Dual Series, a sophisticated piano black notebook with cinematic quality graphics and premium virtual surround sound that optimizes entertainment and communication, and the Fujitsu LifeBook T4215 Tablet PC Convertible features an industry-first bi-directional LCD hinge, three display options, and a built-in modular bay.
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 Internet technologies for personal and business computing. 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. Visit Microsoft Canada's web site at www.microsoft.ca.
©2007 Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
