MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES INTERNET TOOLS, LICENSING FOR MICROSOFT SQL SERVER

Tight Integration With Microsoft Internet Information Server and New
Internet Licensing Provide Foundation for Scalable Business Applications
on the Internet

REDMOND, WASH. - FEB. 12, 1996 - Microsoft Corp. today announced Internet
tools and licensing for Microsoft SQL Server that will enable customers to
deliver a new class of business applications on the Internet.

In combination with the Microsoft Internet Information Server, also
announced today, Microsoft SQL Server and the Microsoft BackOffice family
of products make it easier for organizations of all sizes to build
interactive, client-server business applications on the World Wide Web.

"Customers are rapidly gaining business benefits by linking their
client-server infrastructure with the Internet," said Gary Voth, group
product manager of the business systems division at Microsoft. "Microsoft
BackOffice provides the richest foundation for a new generation of
Internet-enabled applications, and Microsoft SQL Server is the engine that
makes this possible."

NEW TOOLS PROVIDE EASY, HIGH PERFORMANCE INTERNET INTEGRATION

Microsoft SQL Server offers a secure, easy-to-use interface to the World
Wide Web via the Internet Database Connector built into the Microsoft
Internet Information Server. The Internet Database Connector provides
customers with high-performance integration with Microsoft SQL Server,
allowing them to collect and track customer profiles, access history, and
create personalized World Wide Web pages based on their individual
preferences.

Enhancements to the forthcoming Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5, now
undergoing beta testing, will provide the ability to easily and
automatically generate Web pages formatted in hypertext markup language
(HTML) from Microsoft SQL Server-based information anywhere in an
organization. Using wizard technology, Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 will make
it easier than ever for customers to create interactive, database-driven
Web sites with automated information content. With Microsoft SQL
Server-compatible middleware solutions such as Microsoft TransAccess or
Information Builders Inc.'s EDA/Open Database Gateway, customers can
integrate data across the enterprise onto the Internet.

MICROSOFT SQL SERVER INTERNET CONNECTOR LICENSE PROVIDES LOW-COST UNLIMITED
ACCESS FROM THE INTERNET

The Microsoft SQL Server Internet Connector license provides a simple,
flexible and cost-effective way for customers to license their databases
for use on the Internet or corporate intranets. Answering a question that
vexes the industry - How do you count clients when access is via the Web?
- the Microsoft SQL Server Internet Connector offers a single flat-fee
license allowing unlimited Web-based access to Microsoft SQL Server from
the Internet or within a corporatewide intranet.

The Microsoft SQL Server Internet Connector license is an open solution
providing access to Microsoft SQL Server from the Microsoft Internet
Information Server or from third-party Web servers. The Microsoft SQL
Server Internet Connector license will support customers using either
Microsoft SQL Server version 6.0 or the forthcoming Microsoft SQL Server
version 6.5.

CUSTOMERS GAIN IMMEDIATE BENEFITS USING MICROSOFT SQL SERVER AND INTERNET
INFORMATION SERVER

"With Microsoft SQL Server, we have a powerful content-management engine
that allows us to provide a richer, more dynamic Web site for our
customers," said Patrick Connolly, president of Ethos Corp., a Mill
Valley, Calif., Internet and database software development company.

Ethos' flagship product, InvestorsEdge, is an interactive service provider
delivering up-to-the-minute financial news and research information to
more than 300,000 online investors weekly. The InvestorsEdge Web site
(http://www.investorsedge.com) is among the most active financial services
on the Internet, offering stock quotes, corporate summaries, financial
news and headline feeds.

"Microsoft SQL Server lets us handle millions of Internet transactions
daily while protecting customers' need for reliability and privacy," added
Connolly. "We've switched to Microsoft Internet Information Server because
of its tight integration with Microsoft SQL Server."

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The Microsoft SQL Server Internet Connector license is scheduled to be
available in the first quarter of 1996 for approximately $2, 995. That
license allows unlimited Web access to a single Microsoft SQL Server.
Users need one license for each Microsoft SQL Server they wish to connect
to a Web server.

The Microsoft Internet Database Connector is included at no additional
charge as part of the Microsoft Internet Information Server. More
information on the Microsoft SQL Server Internet Connector and the
Microsoft Internet Information Server is available on the Microsoft
BackOffice Web page, http://www.microsoft.com/backoffice.

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.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on
Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft home page at
http://www.microsoft.com/corpinfo. To receive Microsoft press releases by
fax, please call (800) 859-5915 in the United States or (201) 333-0314
internationally.
 
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