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Mio Technology Partners With Microsoft Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 to Deliver Connected Experiences in Portable Navigation

"Our adoption of Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 is a significant step in our ongoing mission to create superior customer experiences on PND to consumer devices," said Samuel Wang, president of Mio Technology. "Having a category-specific platform like Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 dramatically simplifies the process of building a connected GPS navigation device, helping us achieve our goal of delivering an outstanding customer experience to drivers and other consumers."

For Mio Technology, using NavReady 2009 delivers multiple business and technical benefits:

-- Improved time to market and reduced risk. Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 provides a common development environment with familiar Windows Embedded tools such as Platform Builder, lowering development costs and reducing time to market. The platform also delivers production-quality code tailored for the PND, so building a fully integrated Windows Embedded NavReady2009 solution is fast, easy and low-risk.

-- Seamless connectivity. Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 utilizes broader Microsoft content and services assets, enabling Mio Technology PNDs to easily connect and enable online services such as Internet-based Microsoft Live Search on devices to find up-to-date points of interest similar to those provided by Live Search Maps (http://maps.live.com), Bluetooth-capable mobile phones, Windows-based PCs and the Internet.

-- Richer customer experiences. Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 helps enable MSN Direct technologies that make it easy for users to subscribe and access real-time traffic conditions, fuel prices, weather data, local points of interest and more.

"We are delighted to announce that Mio will bring the first portable navigation devices to market built on Windows Embedded NavReady 2009," said Kevin Dallas, general manager of the Windows Embedded Business at Microsoft. "With Microsoft's platform, Mio Technology is well-positioned to drive growth in the personal navigation industry."

Mio Technology's next-generation PNDs built on Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 are scheduled to ship in 2009.

Mio Technology and Microsoft at Canalys 2008 inBudapest

Those attending the Canalys Navigation Forum 2008, being held inBudapest, Hungary, Sept. 8-10, will gain insight into the future of smart, connected service-oriented PNDs and learn how companies such as Mio Technology are using Windows Embedded solutions to adapt to market changes, evolve their businesses and achieve competitive advantage. At Canalys, Mio Technology will be presenting with Windows Embedded Senior Director Ilya Bukshteyn about its implementation of Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 for PNDs, on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m. CEST, in the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal.

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.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.