Bill Gates European Tour and Windows Vista Launch Events
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates travels to Europe to meet with government officials and take part in the European launches of Windows Vista, with stops in London, Edinburgh, Bucharest and Paris.
LONDON — 29 Jan 2007 — Microsoft Corp’s Chairman, Bill Gates will be travelling to Europe on a tour that will begin with participation in the UK launch of the Windows Vista and Office 2007 system and continue with engagements in Edinburgh, Bucharest and Paris.
To aid journalists interested in learning more about news announcements made during this tour, the Microsoft EMEA Press Centre is providing an overview of the Gates trip with the appropriate PR contacts and links to additional information. As the tour progresses, breaking news announcements will be highlighted on this page with web links to local resources. Please RSS the Microsoft EMEA Press Centre to keep updated.
During this visit, Gates will give the keynote speech at the UK launch of Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system in London at the British Museum on the morning of Tuesday, 30 January. He will then travel to Edinburgh, Scotland to attend the Microsoft European Government Leaders Forum (GLF) 2007 and give the closing keynote on Wednesday, 31 January.
Following his visit to Edinburgh, Gates will travel to Bucharest, Romania for the opening of Microsoft’s newest Global Technology Support Centre on the morning of Thursday, 1 February. He will wrap up the day, and the tour, in Paris where he will participate in a press conference with the Senator Mayor of Lyon and give speeches at the HEC Business School and Salon des Entrepreneurs.
More information about each stop on the Gates trip can be found below, along with links to further press material and related organisations.
Contact Peter Devery or Microsoft EMEA Response Centre for more information.
UK Launch of Windows Vista
London, UK
30 January
Bill Gates will take part in the UK launch of the Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system. The launch event in London will take place at the British Museum where Gates will give a keynote speech focusing on the capabilities and features of Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system, highlighting in particular its benefits to the consumer experience.
A number of other announcements will be made on the day as part of launch events happening around the world. Please check back to the EMEA Press Centre for breaking news related to Windows Vista and the 2007 Office Suite launch.
During today’s UK launch of Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system, Bill Gates and Lynne Brindley, head of the British Library, also announced the digital reunification of Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks, famous for images such as the Vitruvian Man. The two pieces, known as the Codices, are owned by the British Library (Codex Arundel) and Bill Gates (Codex Leicester) respectively. A technology called ‘Turning The Pages’, which is based on Windows Vista, has made it possible to bring the two parts of da Vinci’s notebook together for the first time since his death in 1519.
Microsoft partners Betfair, EasyJet, Franklin Covey, IMG, ITN and Universal Music Group also participated in the launch by demonstrating services and tools developed using the Vista platform.
Contact James Blamey or UK Press Centre for more information.
Additional links:
British Library website www.bl.uk
Windows Vista and Office UK Launch http://www.microsoft.com/uk/launch2007/dev/default.mspx
Global Windows Vista Launch Press Room (Bill Gates webcast from New York launch available after 22.00 GMT 29th Jan) http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/VistaOfficeLaunch/default.mspx
Windows Vista website http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/
UK Windows Vista Launch press release http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/content/presscentre/releases/2007/01/PR03792.mspx
Broadcast footage from the UK event is available from http://br.thenewsmarket.com/Microsoft/br/Login/LoginPreRegistration.aspx.
In addition the following satellite feeds are available:
Satellite Feed Available via Reuters
Time: 14:05-14:15 GMT
Path: ALL PATHS WNS - WORLDWIDE
Re-Feed for Asia Path WNS Only
Satellite Feed Available via Reuters
Time: 18:05-18:15 GMT
Path: Asia PATH WNS - ASIA
Microsoft European Government Leaders Forum 2007
Edinburgh, Scotland
30–31 January
When Gates arrives in Edinburgh on Tuesday afternoon, he will take part in a press conference with Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell to discuss Microsoft’s input into the Scottish economy and Scottish employability. He will then visit Edinburgh University to witness demonstrations that are part of the Regenerative Medicine Initiative.
During his visit to Edinburgh, Gates will also participate in the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum (GLF) Europe 2007. This two-day event will bring together the top government and education leaders from across Europe with a goal of improving cooperation between businesses; local, regional and central governments; and educational leaders to develop and encourage ICT solutions that have a positive impact on European governments and how they interact with and support their citizens.
GLF will be held in the unique setting of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, the first time the event will have taken place within a working parliament. Watch the Forum live here from 29th Jan.
On Wednesday, 31 January, Gates will close the event with a keynote speech, the transcript of which will be available to the public online at Bill Gates’ website. In his keynote, Gates will discuss how Microsoft engages effectively at a local level to support the Scottish and other European economies through partnerships with agencies and business organisations.
During Bill Gates’ closing keynote at GLF, he announced the significant worldwide expansion of the Innovative Schools programme. Tailored to meet local community needs, the Innovative Schools programme will be rolled out in 12 locations around the world: Brazil, Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Mexico, Qatar, Sweden, and the UK.
Through this initiative, Microsoft will work with governments, educators and partners around the world to help schools meet the challenges of 21st-century learning. Microsoft will provide assistance such as guidance and expertise in business process and best practice for technology integration in education.
Contact Janelle Poole for more information.
Additional links:
Bill Gates and Gordon Brown attending GLF Press Release http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/content/presscentre/releases/2007/01/PR03793.mspx
GLF Europe 2007 Virtual Press Room (including press releases and further press material) http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre/glf2007/default.mspx
Scottish Parliament Website http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-068.htm
Opening of Global Technology support Centre
Bucharest, Romania
1 February
Gates will travel to Bucharest to take part in celebrations marking ten years of successful operation in Romania and Microsoft’s contribution to the local economy. Just as importantly, the day’s event will focus on the next decade of innovation and how Romania will contribute to this.
Bill will take part in two significant events for the IT industry in Romania: the official opening of a Global Technological Support Centre (GTSC) in Bucharest and the announcement of general availability in Romania of Windows Vista/Office 2007/Exchange 2007.
Contact Katie Peters or Paula Apreutesei for more information.
Additional links:
Microsoft Romania http://www.microsoft.com/romania/
Major agreement with the City of Lyon
Salon des Entrepreneurs, HEC Business School,
Paris, France
1 February
On Thursday afternoon, Gates will travel to Paris, France where he will participate in a press conference with the Senator Mayor of the city of Lyon, Gérard Collomb.
He will then attend the Salon des Entrepreneurs exhibition in Paris with approximately 3000 attendees from the small business and entrepreneur community. Gates will participate in a ‘Grand Débat’ to discuss how IT is a key driver for the success and development of small businesses.
Gates will wrap up the day and this trip with a final keynote speech at the HEC International Business School, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Here, he will address students and faculty members and discuss the theme of entrepreneurship in a global and technological society.
During this afternoon’s visit, Gates and the Mayor of Lyon, Gérard Collomb, will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) covering a wide variety of areas: economic development, the fight against digital divide in Lyon and in Africa, education and training, e-administration and e-democracy and European cooperation. During a press conference, Gates and Mayor Collomb will outline how the MOU, the largest of its kind in Europe, will strengthen the partnership between Microsoft and the France’s second largest city and will help develop Lyon’s local e-administration for better services for citizens, support the local economy and encourage digital inclusion.
Contact Paul Charoy for more information.
Additional links:
Microsoft France http://www.microsoft.com/fr/fr/default.aspx
