MICROSOFT AND MCI TEAM UP TO ENSURE EVERY U.S. SCHOOL HAS A PRESENCE ON THE
WEB

New Microsoft CD-ROM Gives Schools Free License to Essential Software and
Tools -- Including a Special Release of Windows NT -- to Explore and
Publish on the Internet

Participating Schools Are Eligible for Technology Grants Totaling $100,000

ORLANDO, FLA. (FEB. 15, 1996) - In an important step toward putting all
U.S. schools on the Internet, Microsoft Corporation and MCI Communications
Corporation today announced a program at the Florida Educational
Technology Conference to enable every K-12 school to establish a presence
on the World Wide Web. In addition, Microsoft launched a powerful set of
products and tools, available at no charge, to help K-12 schools explore
and publish on the Internet.

Through the Microsoft/MCI Schools on the Web initiative, schools can put
information on the Internet or register existing web pages as part of the
Global Schoolhouse (GSH), a popular education resource area on the
Internet developed by the Global SchoolNet Foundation and sponsored by
Microsoft. MCI will provide 10 megabytes of space on the GSH web site to
every school that wants to put up information about its activities and
programs but doesn't have a server or a local Internet Service Provider.

Schools with existing web pages can broaden their Internet presence by
listing their sites in the GSH Schools on the Web registry. Through the
registry, Internet users will be able to look up information on schools
across the country. And every school that creates new web pages or
registers existing pages through the GSH web site is eligible for
technology grants totaling $100,000 for software, hardware, training or
support for their classrooms or schools.

Schools also can create a web presence and expand their use of the Internet
with Microsoft's new Internet Jump Start CD for Educators. This robust CD
includes Microsoft" products and tools to help schools set up their own
web server, explore the Internet, and build a new or enhance an existing
web site.

"Students and teachers have told us that it's very important that they have
access to the Internet, and yet only a small number of schools do today.
Many schools don't have the resources or the infrastructure right now to
allow them to have a presence on the web," said Jon Lazarus, vice
president of education strategic relations. "We've designed a simple,
no-cost solution that immediately will boost schools' abilities to
participate in the educational community on the Internet."

"Kids are genuinely attracted to the Internet and are helping their schools
design very creative, interesting web pages that support learning goals,
create important links to the community, and build school spirit," said
John Jacquay, vice president of state government and universities for MCI.
"Through our successful campusMCI program and corporatewide education
initiatives, MCI realizes the importance of getting students, teachers and
communities connected."

On January 29, Microsoft and MCI announced a broad alliance to jointly
develop and offer a variety of Internet, information and networking
services to consumers, businesses and the education community. The Schools
on the Web initiative supports this alliance by combining MCI's and
Microsoft's respective Internet strengths and delivering them to students
who will lead the future growth and development of the Internet.

INTERNET JUMP START CD FOR EDUCATORS MAKES INTERNET ACCESSIBLE

To enable teachers and students to explore and publish on the Internet,
Microsoft has assembled a set of fundamental products and tools on a CD
available free of charge to schools, including two of its most powerful
server products - Windows NT Server and the new Microsoft Internet
Information Server. Microsoft will begin offering the Internet Jump Start
CD-ROM for Educators to schools this week at the Florida Educational
Technology Conference in Orlando.

Products and tools on the free CD include:

 the new easy-to-use Microsoft Internet Information Server, Microsoft's
 web server publishing solution that installs in minutes

 aspecial release of Microsoft's powerful Windows NT Server that
 supports unlimited connections to the school from the Internet
 through the Internet Information Server, as well as file and print
 services for two concurrent users

 Microsoft Word Internet Assistant, an add-on Internet publishing
 tool to Microsoft Word, for both the Windows" operating system
 and Macintosh", that schools can use to create new web pages
 and make changes to existing sites

 Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser

 ForeFront's WebWhacker, innovative off-line browsing technology
 for Windows and Macintosh that enables educators to capture groups
 of pages from the World Wide Web for later use on a classroom
 computer that does not have Internet access

 Microsoft's K-12 web site with resources for educators, including
 the complete content of Microsoft's Teacher's Activity Guides
 for all of its multimedia educational titles, including Encarta"
 Multimedia Encyclopedia, Scholastic's The Magic School Bus"
 series and Encarta" World Atlas

 Global Schoolhouse web site, where educators can access exemplary
 teaching strategies, classroom-tested lesson plans and more, contributed
 by teachers and schools across the country

With these products and tools, any school with an Internet connection and
the necessary hardware can quickly and easily set up its own school web
server. Teachers and students immediately can begin to find and use the
rich educational content and resources on the Internet and participate in
the global learning environment.

Educators are enthusiastic about the potential of the Internet to expand
and enhance learning. In a survey of major educational organizations, the
Center for Telecommunications Management at the University of Southern
California found that educators believe that connection to the Internet
will increase student motivation, provide greater opportunities for
independent investigation and research, and increase access to information
and experts for educators. Most also believe that access to the Internet
can equalize educational opportunities for students and reduce economic or
geographical barriers to learning.

SCHOOL PARTICIPATION MADE EASY, REWARDING

To build a new web site or to register an existing site in the
Microsoft/MCI Schools on the Web program, educators connect to the Global
Schoolhouse web site at http://www.gsh.org and follow the easy
step-by-step instructions. Participating schools will receive information
on how to add pages or make changes to their new sites. To request the
Microsoft Internet Jump Start CD, educators can call the Microsoft Sales
Information Center at 800-426-9400 to receive a sign-up form. CDs are
limited to one per school while quantities last.

Schools and classrooms that set up or register web pages with GSH through
May 17, 1996, also can enter a contest for technology grants ranging from
$5,000 to $20,000. Entries will be evaluated on design, educational
content, and effectiveness in involving parents and the community. The
contest kicks off February 26 when complete guidelines will be available
on the GSH web site or from the "Focus on K-12" area of the Microsoft
World Wide Web home page, http://www.microsoft.com/k-12.

The Microsoft/MCI Schools on the Web program and the Microsoft Internet
Jump Start CD for Educators are additional elements in Microsoft's
continuing initiative to help create a global "Connected Learning
Community" in which all students and educators have access to technology
and the tools and skills to use information effectively today and for a
lifetime. Microsoft is committed to providing educators and students with
the high-quality software and services needed to help them make the best
use of technology.

MCI supports a spectrum of education technology initiatives, including the
suite of campusMCI services geared toward college and university campuses
and their communities. Along with California's Telis Foundation, MCI is a
key sponsor of NetDay '96, a statewide program that will connect 12,000
K-12 schools to the Internet on March 9.

MCI, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is one of the world's largest and
fastest-growing diversified communications companies. With annual revenues
of more than $15 billion, MCI offers consumers and businesses a broad
portfolio of services including long distance, wireless, local access,
paging, Internet software and access, information services, outsourcing,
business software, advanced global telecommunications services, and music
distribution and merchandising.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
 
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