Microsoft Brings Four-Wheel Drive to Your Desktop: New Mice Work on Virtually Any Surface

From optical to Microsoft BlueTrack Technology, Microsoft leads mouse innovations.

Dubai ¾ May 25, 2009 ¾ Consumers are taking their notebook and netbook PCs everywhere these days and can now work or play wherever they go with three new Microsoft BlueTrack Technology products: the Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 featuring Microsoft’s first nano transceiver, the full-sized ambidextrous Wireless Mouse 5000, and the sleek mouse and keyboard combo Wireless Desktop 3000. With these new products consumers can work with confidence on more surfaces than ever— from a granite kitchen countertop to the living room carpet.1 Microsoft Hardware continues to deliver technology innovations that meet consumer needs — from optical technology one decade ago to BlueTrack Technology today.

“Microsoft Hardware has always been at the forefront of innovation — from the creation of optical technology 10 years ago to the launch of the world’s first Bluetooth desktop in 2002, and now with BlueTrack Technology,” said Armagan Demir, Head of Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division Middle East. “We firmly believe BlueTrack Technology gives you the ability to work virtually anywhere your PC does and will be the tracking technology of the future. We are excited to extend it down our product line.”

Award-Winning BlueTrack Technology
Tech savvy consumers want the latest and greatest technology available, and that is exactly what Microsoft’s proprietary BlueTrack Technology delivers. Unveiled last fall, the technology works on more surfaces than both optical and laser mice,2 including smooth and shiny surfaces such as granite and marble. In addition, the technology enables reliable mouse tracking even on difficult surfaces such as carpet. The success of BlueTrack Technology has already been noted around the industry.

Go Anywhere
The first new mouse to join the award-winning BlueTrack Technology family is perfect for using on the go. Featuring a sleek, ambidextrous design with chrome accents, the Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 introduces Microsoft’s first nano transceiver. Sticking out only 0.8 centimeters from the USB port, the transceiver can easily remain plugged into the computer or be stored conveniently right in the mouse. The other new mouse launched today, the Wireless Mouse 5000, is also ambidextrous, providing full-sized comfort in either hand with a snap-in transceiver that lets consumers take it on the road.

Keyboards Go Blue
The first desktop to feature BlueTrack Technology — the Wireless Desktop 3000 — will turn heads with its stylish design. Paired with the Wireless Mouse 5000, the keyboard’s compact footprint, reliable 2.4 GHz wireless technology, and plug-and-play minitransceiver make it a great notebook PC companion. The keyboard also features quiet touch keys, a thin-profile design and a soft-touch palm rest.

Availability
The Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000, Wireless Mouse 5000, and Wireless Desktop 3000 will be available in July for the estimated retail prices of AED 199, AED 159, and AED 249, respectively.3 All products will be backed by a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty from Microsoft. More detailed information about BlueTrack is available at www.microsoft.com/hardware.

Aswaaq Opts For Microsoft Dynamics Enterprise Resource Planning Software to Enhance Customer Experience and Improve Productivity

Dubai, UAE, March 3rd, 2009 – Microsoft Gulf today announced that Aswaaq has implemented Dynamics Navision Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software to maximize internal efficiencies. Since its inception, Aswaaq has been committed to providing a world class retail experience. The implementation of a robust technology platform will allow the retailer to automate business processes and adopt state-of-the-art technologies within its stores leading to enhanced customer experience and improved productivity across the organization. In addition, Dynamics Navision delivers value-added technical advancements and out-of-the-box integration with other Microsoft technologies, thereby improving total cost of ownership for Aswaaq.

“Aswaaq was looking for a comprehensive IT infrastructure that could manage all aspects of our automated processes” said Jassim Sajwani, Director of IT and Administration, Aswaaq. “Microsoft Dynamics NAV offers a comprehensive, cost-effective and standardized solution that fulfils all our business needs. The ease of setup and tight integration with the Microsoft products we already use allowed us to get up and running quickly and smoothly. We are already seeing increased productivity, reduced costs and timely decision-making. By using Dynamics NAV, we have enhanced the shopping experience for our customers.”

As businesses in the Gulf continue to face the increasing pressure of limiting risk factors, Microsoft Dynamics Navision has proven to be a powerful solution for Aswaaq that can be tailored to its business needs at an affordable price. It also adapts to Aswaaq’s expansion plans and supports more functionality in a pay-as-you-grow model.

Tamer Elhamy, Business Solutions Manager, Microsoft Gulf said, “Aswaaq was looking for a solution that would help streamline operations and find ways to use their internal resources more efficiently. Microsoft Dynamics Navision is a scalable and user-friendly solution that helps small and mid-market retailers deliver exceptional customer service and lower inventory costs as well as improve margins and increase revenues. It has enabled Aswaaq to develop efficient practices to expand and build competitive advantages. By delivering flexibility, adaptability and increased productivity, Navision is set to transform the way businesses compete in today’s global marketplace.”

Dynamics Navision provides robust capabilities to quickly deploy new services. It also enables Aswaaq to have a single, integrated location where employees can efficiently collaborate, find organizational resources and leverage business insight to make better-informed decisions. Some of the other Microsoft technologies adopted by Aswaaq include Microsoft SQL Server, Windows Server and Microsoft Office.