Avanade Announces Support for the 2007 Microsoft Office System, Windows Vista, and Exchange Server 2007

Business Wire, Nov 30, 2006

Through customer deployments and intensive training and readiness programs, Avanade is ready to help enterprise customers improve efficiency and productivity

SEATTLE -- Avanade Inc., a global IT consultancy dedicated to delivering solutions based on the Microsoft platform, today announced its support for the launch of the 2007 Microsoft Office system, Windows Vista, and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Avanade is currently partnering with more than 30 enterprise customers worldwide in early deployment programs to help them realize the efficiency and productivity gains these technologies offer to professionals and their organizations overall. An early adopter of Microsoft products itself, Avanade is in the process of deploying the 2007 Microsoft Office system, Windows Vista, and Exchange Server 2007 in its global network to serve more than 5,000 professionals.

"Avanade believes this is a critical and exciting time for customers to take advantage of this wave of innovation from Microsoft," said Larry LeSueur, vice president of Infrastructure and Security, Avanade. "The collaboration capabilities of Exchange Server 2007 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 combined with Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system will change the way customers empower their workforce, enable virtual teaming and enhance communication. Avanade believes that the three keys to successful migration are planning, testing and managing; and we have solutions to help customers through each of these phases of deployment."

To help enterprise customers address increasingly challenging technology and business issues, Avanade has developed a portfolio of solutions that extends to these newly launched products. Avanade has invested in several assets to automate deployments and manage applications within its Desktop Transformation solution to deliver quality and cost savings for customers.

Avanade's experience with large scale deployments and application management strategy, combined with its deep expertise on the Microsoft platform, positions it to provide immediate value to customers to deploy, manage and optimize Windows Vista. Avanade is currently working with seven customers to deploy Windows Vista, and 33 of Avanade's senior architects have completed the advanced desktop deployment training from Microsoft. Avanade plans to train an additional 50 Windows Vista deployment consultants by July 2007. Thanks to the security and mobility features in Windows Vista, Avanade's internal deployment of Windows Vista is resulting in better collaboration for Avanade's worldwide consultants and professionals working at customer sites.

"Microsoft is pleased to work closely with Avanade to provide our mutual customers with world-class technologies and solutions that empower their people with the right tools, information and opportunities to address their most critical business needs," said Peter Boit, vice president of Enterprise Partners, Enterprise & Partner Group, Microsoft Corp. "Enterprises looking to leverage our people-ready solutions will benefit from Avanade's shared history and expertise with Microsoft."

About Avanade

Avanade is the only global IT solutions consultancy dedicated to using the Microsoft platform to help enterprises achieve profitable growth. Through proven solutions that extend Microsoft technologies, Avanade helps enterprises increase revenue, reduce costs and reinvest in innovation to gain competitive advantage. Additional information can be found at www.avanade.com.

Avanade, Avanade Connected Architecture, ACA and the Avanade logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Avanade Inc. Other product, service, or company names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.