Auckland, New Zealand – Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Microsoft New Zealand has launched a website to keep users informed about the availability of software updates for its products to handle the upcoming changes to New Zealand Daylight Savings. From September 2007, clocks will go forward by an hour one week earlier than previously, on the last Sunday in September, and go back an hour on the first Sunday in April, instead of the third Sunday in March. Unless certain updates are applied to a computer, the time zone settings for the computer's system clock and any calendar and scheduling applications may be incorrect during the three-week transition period.

The website, www.microsoft.co.nz/timezone , will be updated with release dates and information for Daylight Savings upgrades for a range of Microsoft products as soon as they become available. IT managers and users are invited to check this website regularly.

Microsoft will provide a combination of downloadable upgrades or guidance for all currently supported versions of Microsoft products that are likely to be affected and have timekeeping or scheduling functions. This includes Windows, Exchange Server, Sharepoint, Dynamics Customer Relationship Management software and Windows Mobile. For details of the particular versions supported, users should visit the website.

For the majority of Windows users, such as those with automatic updates enabled and using Microsoft Windows XP (SP2) and Windows Vista as well as Windows Server 2003, the updates will happen automatically as part of a Windows Update download and should require no additional action by the user. The date for this update is still to be confirmed. Microsoft understands that testing updates before deploying them is a pre-requisite for many companies and plans to have updates available before the Daylight Savings time change with sufficient time to allow for testing.

For older versions of Windows, users will be able to download Microsoft’s free Windows Time Zone Editor to change their settings or change the time manually each year themselves. Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 98 and Windows 95 are no longer actively supported by Microsoft. However, business users of Windows 2000 and Windows NT will be able to purchase Extended Hotfix Support and Custom Support Agreements if desired.

"We realise the daylight savings change potentially affects a wide range of computer systems. Many IT managers are starting to plan ahead for this change, so we’ve set this site up to act as a resource for them," said David Rayner, Microsoft New Zealand’s Windows Client Product Manager.

"Our advice is that IT managers should work out what systems and applications they are running, and reference them against the list on our website to see what software they should check. We will keep this site updated as product update dates are confirmed."

As well as updating the website, Microsoft New Zealand will keep its partners, resellers and the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) informed of updates.

For more information on Extended Daylight Savings Hours in New Zealand visit the dia.govt.nz website

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

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