REDMOND, Wash. — June 16, 2008 — Recognizing partners that delivered exemplary solutions to customers, Microsoft Corp. today announced the winners and finalists of its 2008 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards. The awards honor Microsoft Registered, Microsoft Certified and Microsoft Gold Certified partners that delivered exemplary solutions for their customers during the past year. Award winners and finalists were chosen from among nominations from around the world. Winners and finalists will be recognized at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2008, the company’s premier annual event for industry partners, being held July 7–10 in Houston.

More than 2,000 entries were submitted by partners worldwide. The award finalists and winners were selected from a group of nominations based on their dedicated use of Microsoft technologies to provide solutions for their customers’ needs.

“The Partner of the Year Awards recognize the incredible innovation and value that Microsoft partners are delivering to our customers,” said Allison L. Watson, corporate vice president of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft. “The winners and finalists announced today have helped raise the standard for delivery of customer solutions and support. It is a privilege to recognize their work in designing and deploying exemplary customer solutions built on Microsoft technologies.”

Categories, winners and finalists appear below. A complete list including category descriptions is available at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/wwpc/docs/POTY08FS.doc.

Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Active Directory Partner of the Year

Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Exchange Migration and Deployment Partner of the Year

Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Hosting Solutions Partner of the Year

Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Storage Solutions Partner of the Year

Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Systems Management Partner of the Year

Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Windows Desktop Deployment Partner of the Year

Business Process and Integration Solutions Partner of the Year

Citizenship Partner of the Year

Custom Development Solutions, Application Infrastructure Development Partner of the Year

Custom Development Solutions, Smart Client Development Partner of the Year

Custom Development Solutions, Web Development Partner of the Year

Data Management Solutions, Business Intelligence Partner of the Year

Data Management Solutions, Database Management Partner of the Year

Distribution Partner of the Year

Enterprise Alliance Partner of the Year

Global ISV Consumer Partner of the Year Special Recognition Award

Global ISV Infrastructure Partner of the Year Special Recognition Award

Global ISV Line of Business Partner of the Year Special Recognition Award

Global ISV Technology Innovation Partner of the Year Special Recognition Award

Information Worker Solutions, Data Visualization Partner of the Year

Information Worker Solutions, Enterprise Content Management and Forms Partner of the Year

Information Worker Solutions, Enterprise Project Management Partner of the Year

Information Worker Solutions, Office Deployment Partner of the Year

Information Worker Solutions, Office Solutions Development Partner of the Year

Information Worker Solutions, Performance Management Partner of the Year

Information Worker Solutions, Portals and Collaboration Partner of the Year

Information Worker Solutions, Search Partner of the Year

Information Worker Solutions, Unified Communications Partner of the Year

ISV/Software Solutions Partner of the Year

ISV/Software Solutions, Innovation Partner of the Year

Learning Solutions Partner of the Year

Licensing Solutions, License Delivery Partner of the Year

Licensing Solutions, Software Asset Management Partner of the Year

Microsoft Dynamics AX Partner of the Year

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner of the Year

Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner of the Year

Microsoft Dynamics NAV Partner of the Year

Microsoft Dynamics Point of Sale Solutions Partner of the Year

Microsoft Dynamics SL Partner of the Year

Mobility Solutions Partner of the Year

Networking Infrastructure Solutions Partner of the Year

OEM Hardware Solutions, Device Manufacturing Partner of the Year

OEM Hardware Solutions, System Building Partner of the Year

Security Solutions, Identity and Secure Access Partner of the Year

Security Solutions, Infrastructure Security Partner of the Year

Small Business Specialist Partner of the Year

International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners Partner of the Year

About the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference

The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference provides Microsoft’s partner community with access to key marketing and business strategies, leadership and information regarding specific customer solutions designed to help partners succeed in the marketplace. Along with informative learning opportunities covering sales, marketing, services and technology, the Worldwide Partner Conference is an ideal setting for partners to garner valuable knowledge from their peers and from Microsoft. More information can be found at https://partner.microsoft.com/US/trainingevents/wwpartnerconference and on the Partner Program home page at https://partner.microsoft.com.

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.

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