Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq �MSFT�) and HP (NYSE �HPQ,� Nasdaq �HPQ�) today announced a three-year agreement to deliver an expanded portfolio of solutions for enterprise customers around the world. HP is the first premier global partner to deliver comprehensive solutions for the People-Ready Business, Microsoft�s vision for how people, armed with the right software, are the key to driving business success.

�With the recent announcement of the largest product launch to business customers in our company�s history with Windows Vista� and the 2007 Microsoft� Office system, we are bringing to market more than 30 new products and services in the next year that will further enable People-Ready Businesses,� said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft. �Through our collaboration with HP, our more than 20,000 joint customers will have access to an expanded set of solutions and services to tackle their most pressing business problems.�

�Extending our strategic alliance with Microsoft further strengthens HP�s enterprise strategy, which is focused on empowering CIOs to align IT with business by delivering more cost-effective, scalable, secure ways of enhancing employee productivity,� said Ann Livermore, executive vice president of the Technology Solutions Group at HP. �HP itself is a great example of the power of Solutions for the People-Ready Business, as we are using many of the technologies in the portfolio to empower our people to conduct business at any time, from anywhere.�

Building on a more than 20-year alliance, Microsoft and HP plan to invest at least $300 million over three years to cover collaborative efforts in solution development, testing, validation, deployment, and joint sales and marketing.

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