Press Kit Handcrafted By: Russell Warren E‐mail: warrert@auburn.edu Phone: 678‐873‐0226
Microsoft Corp. 1 Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052 Table of Contents 1……………………………….……………………………………..…….Fact Sheet 2…………………………….………………………………………..….…Biography 3………………………………………….………………………………...Local Press Release 4…………………………………………………………….………………National Press Release 5………………………………..………………………………….……...Audio News Release 6……………………………………………………..…………………….Public Service Announcement 7……………………………………………………………………………Pitch Letter 8…………………………………………………………………………..Editorial 9……………………………………………………………………………Photographs of Product and Examples of Use
Microsoft Surface Fact Sheet •
In 2001, The Microsoft Surface was in the concept stages of production. The idea of the machine is credited to Stevie Bathiche of Microsoft Hardware and Andy Wilson of Microsoft Research. These early stages of design proceeded into 2003.
•
In late 2003, the idea of the Surface was pitched to Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft. The project was approved and eventually became the company’s primary focus.
•
In 2004, the group that headed the project expanded and was eventually named the Surface Computing Group. The group, in 2004, was hard at work in developing the product and eventually produced more than 85 prototypes for employee use.
•
In early 2005, the actual software the Surface was built upon had been solidified which gave the team the green light to concentrate on the cosmetic aspects of the machine. The design was finalized as a sleek, 3‐foot‐tall table with a 30‐inch monitor embedded in the surface and includes four cushioned seats.
•
The machine works on a system labeled the “Tag” system, programming the machine to recognize objects individually and distinguish multiple points of contact on the surface. It works off of five independently moving cameras that detect motion and touch.
•
The Surface is equipped with many applications ranging from picture editing to music sharing.
•
The machine is also able to recognize credit card information by simply placing the card on the table, magnet side down, enabling a user to pay a bill or make a purchase online without going through the hassle of typing in all the pertinent information.
•
The machine is resistant to spills, sticky fingers and any other minor abuse it may incur which comes in handy as a metaphorical safety net for a $15,000 investment.
•
The machine is unavailable for private purchase at the moment, but is available for business purchase.
•
Microsoft has encouraged purchasers to create their own applications and submit them to be evaluated and later be approved for mass use. ‐###‐
Page 1 of 2
Microsoft Corp. 1 Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052
William Henry “Bill” Gates III, co‐founder of Microsoft, was born October 28, 1955, in
Seattle, Wash., to William H. Gates Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates. At the age of thirteen, Gates enrolled in Lakeside School, a prominent preparatory school. At this age, he wrote his first computer program which was a variation of Tic‐Tac‐Toe.
In high school, Gates scored a 1590 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and was
accepted to Harvard University in 1973 where he completed 2 years of college. Paul Allen, a childhood friend, coaxed Gates into dropping out of school in 1975 to pursue the development of Microsoft.
In November of 1975, Gates and Allen opened an office in Albuquerque, N.M., and
scored their first deal with a small company by the name of Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS) which launched Microsoft’s success. Five years had passed and Microsoft had built a reputable foundation that attracted computer conglomerate IBM to conduct business with the young company. With the PC‐DOS software created, Microsoft signed an agreement with IBM for $50,000 that allowed them unlimited copying rights of the
Page 2 of 2 program, but insisted they keep the copyrights of the program to deter anyone from duplicating the program.
In 1981, Gates and Allen relocated Microsoft headquarters to Redmond, Wash. At that
time, Gates was named President and Chairman of the Board of the company. On November 20, 1985, Microsoft launched the first Microsoft Windows program which has since then become the most widely used desktop program around the world.
Gates is an active philanthropist, developing his own charity to educate children on
technology and has also opened a hands‐on Technology School of the Future. Gates receives an annual dividends check from various outside investments and in 2006, Gates’ outside investments scored him a total dividends check of $996,667. He donates each check to charity. As far as annual profit, Microsoft accrued over $50 billion in 2007 and has yet to receive an annual report for 2008. ‐###‐
Page 1 of 2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information:
December 8, 2008
Russell Warren
Director of Consumer Relations
Phone: (678) 873‐0226
Email: warrert@auburn.edu
MICROSOFT BRINGS FLAVOR TO CHICAGO Microsoft Unveils the Microsoft Surface at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago CHICAGO, Ill. – The Microsoft Corporation has announced an agreement with the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago to incorporate the Microsoft Surface into the hotel’s daily operation. The trial period is intended for guests of the hotel to experience a new, innovative way to plan and organize their trips as needed in a stress‐free fashion.
The Microsoft Surface has numerous applications embedded in its system, but only
featured applications will be available during the beta. These applications include Sheraton City Tips, Sounds of Sheraton and Sheraton Snapshots. Sheraton City tips allows guests to plan their trips by listing popular destinations throughout the city and supplying contact information as well as an option to download directions directly to their mobile devices. Sounds of Sheraton is a hotel sponsored jukebox application that allows guests to compile a custom playlists useable
Page 2 of 2 on portable mp3 players. An expiration date is applied to the songs up until the guests check out. Finally, the Sheraton Snapshots application is a feature the Surface provides that gives guests the opportunity to share photos with one another.
“Surface takes a common activity, such as looking up information about a local city, and
transforms it into an intuitive and social way for hotel guests to plan their visit. We believe this is just the beginning of how Surface will completely change the hotel guest experience. We’re excited to be working with Sheraton in its efforts to feature innovation and redefine the guest experience in its hotel properties,” said General Manager of Surface, Pete Thompson. The objective of the Microsoft Surface, as well as Microsoft, is to eliminate the hassle of technical difficulty by providing an entertaining, interactive good that everyone can use and enjoy. The Microsoft Surface is an innovative product that enhances every day social experiences by giving users an easy, hands‐on approach to networking, planning and file sharing. ‐###‐
Page 1 of 2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information:
December 8, 2008
Russell Warren
Director of Consumer Relations
Phone: (678) 873‐0226
Email: warrert@auburn.edu
MICROSOFT COLLABORATES WITH SHERATON HOTELS Microsoft Strikes a Deal with Sheraton Hotels to Allow Guests to Test the Microsoft Surface REDMOND, Wash. – The Microsoft Corporation has announced today that it will be entering a partnership with Sheraton Hotels in efforts to promote its newest product, the Microsoft Surface. The product will be featured across the United States in cities such as Chicago, New York, Seattle and Boston.
The objective Microsoft has in mind regarding this trial period is to acquaint the public
with what the surface has to offer and inform them of its capability. The reason the company picked this environment is because it encompasses the diversity the Surface needs to reach its full potential.
Page 2 of 2 Guests will experience multiple applications to aid them in their travels. These applications include Sheraton City Tips, Sounds of Sheraton and Sheraton Snapshots. Sheraton City Tips allows guests to plan their daily activities by searching through a database of each respective city’s attractions and provide them with directions as well as contact information. The Sounds of Sheraton gives guests the opportunity to create a customized playlist of songs from Sheraton’s MP3 library to enhance their stay at the resort. Finally, the surface will provide guests with the Sheraton Snapshots application which allows them to share and edit photos taken throughout their trip with friends, family members and other guests. “We are proud to partner with Microsoft to offer the groundbreaking Microsoft Surface product, which will enable our guests to stay informed, connected and entertained while traveling,” says Sheraton Senior Vice President, Hoyt H. Harper II. The objective of the Microsoft Surface, as well as Microsoft, is to eliminate the hassle of technical difficulty by providing an entertaining, interactive good that everyone can use and enjoy. The Microsoft Surface is an innovative product that enhances every day social experiences by giving users an easy, hands‐on approach to networking, planning and file sharing. ‐###‐
Microsoft Corp. 1 Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052
CLIENT: Microsoft TIME: 30 seconds TITLE: Microsoft Surface Debuts at Sheraton Hotels DATE: December 8, 2008 TODAY, MICROSOFT UNVEILS THE MICROSOFT SURFACE AT PARTICIPATING SHERATON
HOTELS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THIS BETA IS DESIGNED AS A FEEDBACK SYSTEM FOR THE
COMPANY FROM EVERYDAY USERS. IT WILL INCLUDE BASIC APPLICATIONS TO ASSIST GUESTS
IN PLANNING THEIR TRIPS. THE MICROSOFT SURFACE IS AN INNOVATIVE PRODUCT THAT
INHANCES EVERY DAY SOCIAL EXPERIENCES BY GIVING USERS AN EASY, HANDS‐ON APPROACH
TO NETWORKING, PLANNING AND FILE SHARING.
‐###‐
Page 1 of 2
Microsoft Corp. 1 Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052
CLIENT: Microsoft TITLE: Microsoft Surface Debuts at Sheraton Hotels
TIME: 60 seconds DATE: December 8, 2008
ON DECEMBER EIGTH, TWO THOUSAND EIGHT, MICROSOFT WILL BE OFFICIALLY CONDUCTING
A BETA TEST OF THE MICROSOFT SURFACE AT PARTICIPATING SHERATON HOTELS ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES. THE PURPOSE OF THE BETA IS TO GATHER FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC AND
RE‐WORK THE SYSTEM TO FIT THE NEEDS OF CONSUMERS. THE MICROSOFT SURFACE IS AN
INNOVATIVE PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS USERS TO UTILIZE EVERY DAY
TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES SUCH AS M P THREE PLAYERS AND DIGITAL CAMERAS TO THEIR
FULLEST EXTENT IN A FASHIONABLE AND EASY MANNER.
Page 2 of 2
WORKING ON A MOTION AND PRESSURE SENSITIVE SYSTEM, THE MICROSOFT SURFACE
STANDS ABOVE THE COMPETITION AS THE NEWEST AND MOST CHIC PIECE OF CONSUMER
TECHONOLOGY TO DATE. TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE SURFACE, VISIT THE WEBSITE
AT WWW.MICROSOFTSURFACE.COM AND FOR GENERAL INQUIRIES REGARDING THE SURFACE,
EMAIL SBIZDESK@MICROSOFT.COM.
‐###‐
Microsoft Corp. 1 Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052
Mike Snider Home Technology Reporter USA Today 7950 Jones Branch Drive McLean, VA 22108 December 8, 2008 Dear Mr. Snider, On January 14, 2009, Microsoft will hold a press conference at its Redmond headquarters to announce that The Microsoft Surface will officially be available for private purchase. Food and drinks will be provided as well as tutorials to help guide you through your experience. The Microsoft Surface is an innovative piece of technology that incorporates everyday technical applications into one convenient piece of machinery. The use of this product will revolutionize social networking, the planning of daily activities and intensify home entertainment to satisfy the technology‐savvy side of consumers at the wave of a hand. With the event being mentioned, we here at Microsoft would like to personally invite you to participate in the festivities and encourage you to stay for an extended 3‐day trial period to allow you enough time to immerse and familiarize yourself with the machine and its multiple, yet useful, applications. We also encourage you to bring a camera and create a video documentary of your experience with the Surface. I will contact you later this week to confirm your reservation to the event and supply you with any other additional information you require regarding hotel locations, car rentals, etc. Sincerely, Russell Warren, Director of Consumer Affairs Microsoft Corp.
Page 1 of 2
CALL TO ACTION Microsoft strives to always be environmentally sound Since Microsoft poses a strong presence in the world, it is usually considered a scapegoat for environmental difficulties. On the contrary, Microsoft has participated in numerous environmentally conscious programs and has created and adhered to many sustainability agendas. Microsoft has been an active member of the Carbon Disclosure Project for 5 years and plans to stay with the organization for many more years. Labeled with a highly renowned reputation, Microsoft has stepped up to a leadership role among other computer engineering companies and has set a great example on how each company should approach environmental issues. In their Climate Change Policy Statement, they say they directly fund basic research in finding renewable and sustainable low‐carbon energy sources. Along with donating time and money into outside resources in helping cut down on environmental pollution, they have also taken steps internally to ensure they are doing everything they can to lower emissions. By developing Windows Vista, Microsoft has been able to cut computer energy usage considerably through a more efficient power management infrastructure. In collaboration with Google, Intel and other leading American‐based companies, Microsoft has adopted the Climate Savers Computing Initiative which is an understood commitment to purchase energy‐efficient products to power their machines. To add to this, they have also supported the Digital Pipeline (DP) program, a program that provides low‐cost licenses of Microsoft software to prolong the life of a computer and keep it from being trashed as long as possible. With Microsoft serving as an imitatable role model in the world, it is understood that similar companies, as well as individuals, should participate in the preservation of our environment in
Page 2 of 2 every way they possibly can so we can provide a prosperous and beautiful future for generations ahead. It’s your turn to follow suit. Do what is necessary. Microsoft has been efficient and trustworthy over the years in regard to environmental preservation. For more information on Microsoft’s goals for the future of environmental efficiency, please contact Russell Warren. Russell Warren Email: warrert@auburn.edu Phone: 678‐873‐0226
The Microsoft Surface is an innovative piece of technology that allows its users to fulfill their electronic needs all in one place. In this picture, the user is turning the machine on.
This picture captures one of the many important features of the Microsoft Surface. The product allows users to directly download directions to their mobile devices to their favorite destinations including restaurants, vacation spots and everything in between.
This picture captures another useful feature of the Microsoft Surface. The ability to order your meal from your table without being rushed is now possible. The table is also weight and object sensitive and knows when to alert waiters/waitresses that a refill is needed.