May 17, 2004

Small Businesses Fuel Economy With Help From Technology

Microsoft Celebrates National Small-Business Week Recognizing Contributions Made by America's Small Businesses With New Services and Tools

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses in the United States will produce more than half of all innovations and create 75 percent of all new jobs this year. In recognition of this, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) today announced it is joining other advocates of small business, including the SBA, to show support for small businesses. Together with its partners, Microsoft is helping the 7.5 million U.S. small businesses realize their potential by expanding their opportunities through new technology services, tools and training.

"Small businesses are a major force in the U.S. economy when you look at their capital expenditures and how much of their revenue is distributed back into local communities," said Cindy Bates, general manager of Small Business for the U.S. Small and Midmarket Solutions & Partners Group at Microsoft. "Today small businesses are looking for new ways to expand their customer base and stay competitive; many are leveraging technology to support their growth. That's why we're working to bring technology to small businesses -- making it easier for them to obtain the resources necessary for success."

Microsoft(R) Across America (MAA) is one of several new Microsoft programs designed to make technology more accessible to small businesses and enable them to start realizing their potential right away. MAA is a mobile solutions center loaded with the latest technology tools for small businesses, such as Office Small Business Edition 2003, MapPoint(R), Microsoft Retail Management System and Windows(R) Small Business Server 2003. MAA is making stops in cities across the United States, providing small businesses with valuable hands-on technology demonstrations in the convenience of their own communities. This week small businesses are invited to experience the MAA mobile solutions center at the SBA Expo '04 in Orlando, Fla., May 19-24.

"We're very excited to be honoring small businesses in Orlando with SBA Expo '04, and we're happy to have Microsoft joining us as a co-sponsor," said Hector Barreto, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. "The Expo will be a tremendous opportunity for small businesses to acquire new tools, win contracts and network. I truly believe that every single one of the 3,000 attendees who attend Expo will go home at the end of the week with new ideas and tools for growing their businesses and creating jobs."

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