REDMOND, Wash. , and REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — June 24, 2013 — Microsoft Corp. and Oracle Corp. today announced a partnership that will enable customers to run Oracle software on Windows Server Hyper-V and in Windows Azure. Customers will be able to deploy Oracle software — including Java, Oracle Database and Oracle WebLogic Server — on Windows Server Hyper-V or in Windows Azure and receive full support from Oracle. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

As part of this partnership, Oracle will certify and support Oracle software — including Java, Oracle Database and Oracle WebLogic Server — on Windows Server Hyper-V and in Windows Azure. Microsoft will also offer Java, Oracle Database and Oracle WebLogic Server to Windows Azure customers, and Oracle will make Oracle Linux available to Windows Azure customers.

Java developers, IT professionals and businesses will benefit from the flexibility to deploy fully supported Oracle software to Windows Server Hyper-V and Windows Azure.

“Microsoft is deeply committed to giving businesses what they need, and clearly that is the ability to run enterprise workloads in private clouds, public clouds and, increasingly, across both,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft. “Now our customers will be able to take advantage of the flexibility our unique hybrid cloud solutions offer for their Oracle applications, middleware and databases, just like they have been able to do on Windows Server for years.”

“Our customers’ IT environments are changing rapidly to meet the dynamic nature of the world today,” said Oracle President Mark Hurd. “At Oracle, we are committed to providing greater choice and flexibility to customers by providing multiple deployment options for our software, including on-premises, as well as public, private, and hybrid clouds. This collaboration with Microsoft extends our partnership and is important for the benefit of our customers.”

Additional information about support and the licensing mobility changes that went into effect today is available on Oracle’s blog at https://blogs.oracle.com/cloud/entry/oracle_and_microsoft_join_forces.

About Oracle

Oracle engineers hardware and software to work together in the cloud and in your data center. For more information about Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL), visit www.oracle.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

REDMOND, Wash. — June 24, 2013 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the release of third-party qualification guidelines for Microsoft’s cloud solutions Windows Azure and Microsoft Office 365, demonstrating that these platforms can address the necessary regulatory requirements for life sciences organizations to maintain compliance in the cloud. Microsoft is the only major combined infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS) public cloud provider to undergo an independent review of system documentation against GxP qualification requirements, the set of production and testing practices in FDA-regulated industries, demonstrating documentation against applicable regulations.

“As life sciences organizations move information to the cloud, they are required to leverage qualified cloud solutions that address necessary regulatory requirements,” said Andrea McGonigle, managing director, Life Sciences at Microsoft. “Microsoft is already a trusted data steward for healthcare organizations, and the ability to achieve GxP qualification for Windows Azure and Office 365 is a testament to our commitment to providing life sciences organizations with secured infrastructure and platforms in the cloud.”

Montrium, an organization specializing in quality assurance, regulatory GxP compliance and SaaS document collaboration and quality management solutions for the life sciences industry, conducted the qualification review of Microsoft’s Windows Azure and Office 365 solutions.

“When evaluating public, off-premises, cloud solutions, life sciences organizations must assess cloud service providers controls that help ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of customer data,” said Paul Fenton, president and CEO, Montrium. “Microsoft has clearly demonstrated that these solutions have the necessary controls to provide a GxP-qualified cloud service. This coupled with the guidelines that Montrium has produced will enable life sciences organizations to deploy validated solutions on top of the Microsoft cloud platforms for processes like Regulated Document Management and Clinical Trials Management.”

Microsoft’s approach to providing qualified cloud platforms for life sciences organizations is to provide system documentation and certifications across a wide range of standards, such as ISO27001, SSAE16 SOC 1 and 2, HIPAA/HITECH and others, to enable customers and partners to qualify Microsoft’s cloud platforms. This qualification helps the customers or partners build and deploy validated applications that meet regulatory requirements, including FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Electronic Records, Electronic Signatures (21 CFR Part 11) and Eudralex Volume 4 - Annex 11 Computerised Systems (Annex 11).

More information on how Microsoft’s cloud solutions support qualified GxP applications is available via health@microsoft.com. More information about how organizations are turning to Microsoft technology is available in the Microsoft Customer Spotlight newsroom.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

REDMOND, Wash. — June 24 , 2013 — Microsoft Corp. today announced a new collection of 34 K–12 schools and school districts that have signed on to use Windows 8 to inspire collaboration and creativity in the classroom, improve student learning outcomes, and better prepare students for the workforce ahead.

Microsoft’s rapidly growing community of Windows education adopters now includes the following: Albemarle County Schools (Virginia), Auburn City Schools (Alabama), Clear Creek Independent School District (Texas), Laredo Independent School District (Texas), Leon County Schools (Florida), Palmer Trinity School (Florida), San Diego Unified School District (California), Somers Central School District (New York), Springfield Public Schools (Massachusetts), and Walnut Valley Unified School District (Calif.), as well as 24 school districts within Maine’s Department of Education, including Scarborough School District, Brewer School Department, Maine School District #74, and Maine School District #60.

These schools and districts join some of the nation’s largest school districts, which also recently announced Windows 8 deployments, including Atlanta Public Schools (Georgia), Fresno Unified School District (California) and San Antonio Independent School District (Texas).

“Educators who experience the difference of a touch tablet running Windows 8 realize that with one device, they can have both a touch tablet and a laptop with no compromises,” said Margo Day, vice president of U.S. Education, Microsoft. “Teachers using Windows 8 tell us they are seeing a renewed excitement to learn among their students and that Windows and Office are the tools they need to prepare students to succeed in college and career.”

With its cloud foundation, Windows 8 lends a flexible, anywhere-anytime learning experience across a range of devices. Designed to help students and teachers consume and create content, Windows 8 devices are ready for the modern Office applications that customers choose to install, applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, and OneNote. Windows RT devices come with Office Home and Student 2013 RT, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, already installed. Microsoft also recently announced that the Windows 8.1 update for Windows RT devices, due later this year, will include Outlook 2013 RT as well. Windows 8 devices drive further efficiency as they can connect to 450 million peripherals that schools already own, including printers, projectors and assistive technology.

“What I love about Windows 8 is that it flattens the learning environment for an improved, more interactive classroom dialogue between teachers and students,” said Chris White, director of technology at Somers Central School District in New York, which is deploying Dell Latitude 10 tablets with Windows 8 and Office 365 for Education for 1,675 teachers and students in grades 6–12.

“As just consumption devices, iPads could only take us so far — they weren’t great in front of the classroom,” White said. “Teaching with Windows 8 devices is more personalized and project-based to better reflect the college- and career-ready skills that will be required of students once they graduate.”

Microsoft extends special Windows 8 device offers to educators

Microsoft is also distributing free Surface RT tablets to the schools of up to 10,000 educators attending the ISTE 2013 Conference this week. As part of its Windows in the Classroom Surface Experience Project teachers will be able to see how Windows 8 can help create engaging teaching and learning opportunities for their students.

In addition, Microsoft is pleased to offer special pricing directly to schools and universities in 26 markets around the globe, including the U.S., for a limited time. Between June 17, 2013, and Aug. 31, 2013, K–12 and higher education institutions can purchase any amount of Surface RT (32 GB) devices for $199, with the Touch Cover for $249 and with the Type Cover for $289 while supplies last.

Representatives of interested schools and universities can contact their Microsoft Education Account Representative or visit their local Microsoft Store to place an order. More information on the program and on downloading an order form can be found at the Microsoft in Education blog.

Buck Lake Elementary School in Tallahassee, Fla., is piloting Surface Pro tablets for its pre-K–5 teachers, and they plan to take advantage of Microsoft’s special offer and will purchase Surface RT tablets for their students later this year.

“Our teachers need more versatile instructional technology that engages students and helps simplify their own everyday managerial tasks, and the Windows 8 Surface Pro tablets do just that,” said Eydie Tricquet, principal at Buck Lake Elementary School in Tallahassee, Fla.

About Microsoft in Education

At Microsoft, we are deeply committed to working with governments, communities, schools and educators to use the power of information technology to deliver technology, services and programs that provide anytime, anywhere learning for all. For more information: http://www.microsoft.com/education.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors : For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

REDMOND, Wash. — June 19, 2013 — Microsoft Corp. today announced patent licensing agreements with automotive technology companies Audiovox, Continental, Harman and LG Automotive for the use of its Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) file system.

The advanced capabilities of Microsoft’s exFAT technology allow automotive technology companies to meet increasing consumer demand for connected cars that let drivers and passengers transport media between all their favorite devices — even their automobiles. exFAT is the modern file system of choice due to its ability to facilitate large files for audiovisual media and enable seamless data portability between electronic devices. According to a report from Accenture, the in-vehicle infotainment and telematics global market is predicted to exceed $80 billion by 2014. exFAT supports the high-capacity SDXC memory card standard, which is increasingly used for music, pictures, videos and maps for navigation systems and USB-based storage devices.

“The exchange of intellectual property makes it possible for companies to bring great ideas to market quickly, and keep pace with customer demand,” said David Kaefer, general manager of intellectual property licensing, Microsoft. “We believe collaborative licensing brings the best value to consumers.”

Tuxera, the leading interoperable file systems provider, works with the automotive industry to implement and support exFAT technology across a range of in-vehicle products that require highly-reliable file system solutions. The company understands the importance of increased in-vehicle entertainment in today’s automotive market.

“Connectivity is a critical component of in-car infotainment, and exFAT technology is the glue that makes it possible,” said Viet-Anh Le, Tuxera’s automotive business manager. “Licensing exFAT ensures consumers will experience the best possible interoperability with next-generation infotainment solutions.”

Microsoft previously announced a similar exFAT licensing agreement with BMW, as well as with companies in a variety of other industries including Aspen Avionics, Panasonic Corp., Research In Motion, SANYO Electric Company Ltd., Sony Corp. and Canon Inc.

Microsoft’s commitment to intellectual property collaboration

Microsoft offers flexible intellectual property (IP) licensing programs that give companies access to many of the foundational technologies in its products, allowing those companies to build devices, applications and services that work seamlessly with one another.

Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 1,100 licensing agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners and competitors to access its IP portfolio. More information about Microsoft’s IP licensing program is available at http://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing, and information related to Microsoft’s exFAT licensing program is available at http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/en/us/intellectualproperty/iplicensing/programs/exfatfilesystem.aspx.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.