REDMOND, Wash. — May 12, 2010 — Today business customers can dive into the next generation of productivity: Microsoft Office 2010 and Microsoft SharePoint 2010. Those who want a demonstration of what the new software can do have a unique venue via today’s virtual kickoff.

To help celebrate the availability of the new products, Microsoft is throwing its largest ever simultaneous worldwide launch. In addition to on-site activities at dozens of the company’s subsidiaries, the launch will be accessible live and on-demand through a new virtual launch platform built on SharePoint 2010. The company expects more than half a million people worldwide to participate via the launch website, says Carol Matthews, a senior digital marketing manager for Microsoft’s Information Worker Product Group.

“It is an extremely important milestone for these products, and today’s launch will help amplify the moment and get as many people as possible participating and talking about them,” says Matthews, who headed the cross-group team that built the virtual event and its content. “Without SharePoint 2010, we couldn’t have afforded to do this launch at this scale.”

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