Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer kicked off the third and final day of the Microsoft® Worldwide Partner Conference 2004, the company's premier event for partners, with a message of increased company investments to fuel innovation in the industry. The conference is attended by more than 5,500 business leaders, marketing executives, sales professionals and solution architects from around the world.

Over the past three days, Microsoft executives have highlighted ways in which the company is increasing its commitment to its business partners. Announcements made during the conference include these:

• A significant increase in investment in the partner channel for fiscal year 2005
• Advances in Microsoft's integrated platform
• Technology and business enablement programs for independent software vendors (ISVs)
• The new Windows® Marketplace
• Microsoft's intention to license Windows XP Media Center Edition to the system builder channel
• An extension of the Microsoft logo program
• New ways that partners can develop customized solutions on top of the Microsoft Office System platform by participating in the new Information Worker Productivity Solutions Competency

Ballmer underscored the strength of Microsoft's innovation pipeline and outlined key areas where the company sees great growth potential in the industry and benefits for the company's partner ecosystem. These include PC market growth; new information worker scenarios; the enhanced position of Windows Server (TM) 2003; reduction of complexity and cost for IT professionals and developers; expansion of Microsoft Business Solutions; non-PC consumer electronics; entertainment; the value delivered to advertisers by MSN® and the Microsoft platform; and the increasing importance of communications.