CompUSA Attains Gold Certified Partner Status in Microsoft Partner Program, Now Offering Windows Vista Business and Microsoft Office 2007

Business Wire, Nov 30, 2006

New Certification Recognizes Company for Expertise in Marketplace and Serving Small Business Customers

CompUSA TechPros Available to Install New Microsoft Software

DALLAS -- CompUSA today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program, recognizing CompUSA's total impact and expertise in the technology marketplace. CompUSA small business customers will benefit from the knowledge, skills, and commitment of the CompUSA Business Services Sales team and CompUSA TechPros to identify the technology products and solutions that best fit their business needs.

As a Gold Certified Partner, CompUSA represents the highest level of competence and expertise with Microsoft technologies and has demonstrated a proven ability to meet customers' needs. As a result, the company will have greater access to resources and support to better serve small business customers and give them a competitive advantage in the channel.

CompUSA received its Gold Certified Partner status with a competency in Networking Infrastructure Solutions. CompUSA's expertise in building networks allows small businesses to save money, while remaining competitive with larger enterprise companies.

"We're committed to providing our customers with a higher level of service and support," said Bill Maddox, executive vice president of business services at CompUSA. "The benefits provided through our Gold Certified Partner status give our small business customers another layer of confidence that we have an advanced level of knowledge to better serve them."

Microsoft 2007 Software Now Available

Also beginning today, small-business owners who visit CompUSA stores nationwide will be able to purchase Windows Vista Business and Microsoft Office 2007 Co products specifically designed for small businesses. The products are available through Microsoft's business volume licensing offers tailored to provide a simple, flexible and cost-effective way for small businesses purchasing five or more licenses to manage Microsoft technology across multiple PCs.

Through CompUSA's Business Services Sales team, customers can purchase either the Microsoft Open Value or Microsoft Open Business discount licensing options to get the Windows Vista Business operating system and Microsoft Office 2007 prior to the general availability of these products in early 2007.

Part of Microsoft's Small Business Value Program, Open Business and Open Value are simple and flexible software license offerings designed to save money for small businesses that can be easily managed online and require as few as five licenses. Open Value, the most comprehensive, cost-effective way for small businesses to purchase Microsoft software, by spreading payments annually, comes with the added benefits of Microsoft Software Assurance, which includes technical and end-user training along with new version upgrades. Open Business licensing enables small organizations to gain significant savings from the estimated retail prices of full packaged Microsoft products, with the option of adding Software Assurance.

CompUSA TechPros Ready to Help with Installs and Upgrades

As small business customers purchase new Microsoft software they can obtain installation and upgrade assistance from CompUSA TechPro technicians. With its small business expertise, CompUSA TechPro is the service of choice for thousands of small business customers throughout the country. CompUSA TechPro has an extensive and highly qualified force of more than 12,000 technicians that provide solutions to meet the needs faced by smaller companies.

More than 50 percent of the services performed by CompUSA's TechPros are for small business customers. In many cases, CompUSA acts as the IT department for small businesses with CompUSA TechPro technicians specializing in providing high-end services, including VoIP, networking, data storage and management, security and backup, customized service plans and repair and support.

About CompUSA

CompUSA, Inc., a Dallas-based company, is one of the nation's leading retailers and business resellers of technology products and services. CompUSA currently operates more than 229 locations in more than 90 major metropolitan markets across the United States and Puerto Rico. In addition, CompUSA's Web site, www.compusa.com, offers an assortment of more than 80,000 items.