Increased investments in 64-bit, Virtual Server 2005 R2, new system management products, and the worldwide launch of Microsoft Dynamics GP all announced at IT Forum 2005.

Microsoft Corp. today kicked off its premier European conference for IT professionals, IT Forum 2005, in Barcelona, Spain, by announcing a range of new software technologies and applications. In a dual keynote address to an audience of over 4,000 international attendees, Bob Muglia, senior vice president of Microsoft Server and Tools, and Jeff Raikes, president of the Microsoft Business Division, emphasized how Microsoft�s innovative products and tools � from IT infrastructure to desktop solutions � will help people overcome the challenges of the changing workplace and have a greater impact within their organizations.

These announcements demonstrate Microsoft�s commitment to delivering new capabilities and benefits to its wide array of customers, including developers, IT professionals, business decision-makers and information workers. The final quarter of 2005 marks the beginning of a 12-month period during which Microsoft will release many new products to help customers achieve greater efficiency, productivity and security.