Microsoft EMEA announces dedicated European dot com group

Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) has announced the formation of a regional dot com group to help both established and startup dot com companies to create successful Internet businesses. More than 100 experienced professionals will be hired to staff the group, in addition to Microsoft EMEA employees already working in the dot com marketplace. This team will be supported by an initial $125 million investment from Microsoft EMEA. Headed by Walter Seemayer, business solutions group director for Microsoft EMEA, the group will initially target companies across Europe, as well as in Israel and South Africa.

"The South African electronic commerce market is set to grow dramatically from R856 million last year to over R8.8 billion by 2004. Coupled with this explosion of the Internet economy, we are receiving a dramatic increase in requests for advice and support from both existing and new customers," said Mark Hill, managing director, Microsoft Southern Africa. "The local implementation of this initiative will involve a significant new division of the company which will build on the success Microsoft has had to date helping companies Internet enable their business. A key part of our strategy will be to foster partnerships with technology solution partners, such as Andersen Consulting, Cap Gemini, KPMG and PriceWaterhouse, as well as with incubators, venture capitalists and government agencies."

The new group will focus on three areas:

Pure dot com initiatives

The objective for start-up dot coms is to become viable e-businesses as quickly as possible. Microsoft will work with partners to offer customers business and technology consultancy, and establish a dedicated web-based programme to bring customers and partners together. The web site will offer a full range of partner-driven services, from finding venture capital to information on architecting servers to handle high traffic loads. "Microsoft is in a unique position with our offering," said Walter Seemayer. "Our Windows architecture provides dot coms a platform that enables them to develop and deploy their Web sites quickly while our network of partners provide solutions and skilled services when and where you need them. Customers will also be able to link up with our Hotmail and MSN services to drive traffic to their sites."

Business to Business Marketplaces

The group will focus on helping major companies in the region set up online marketplaces, linking suppliers and customers to improve business processes and drive efficiency. "We will work with partners and customers to evangelise the benefits and deliver innovative, reliable and scalable technology solutions," added Seemayer.

Dot Competency Centres

Microsoft EMEA will also create dot Competency Centres with infrastructure partners to enable businesses to build their site and test it in real-life scenarios before going live. The first of these is already established in France with Compaq and Cisco. "A lot of businesses will be looking for answers to questions that can make or break a dot com business like: `Will my site survive the Christmas shopping storm?` We will be able provide that kind of testing, as well as help customers to develop and expand their sites," Seemayer added. Microsoft`s Internet platform, based on Windows 2000 and Windows DNA, is designed to help companies do business in Internet time. Windows 2000 has integrated Web, communications, security and application services to enable companies to bring e-solutions to market faster. Windows 2000 is also the first operating system with integrated, high-performance XML support for easy data exchange between disparate businesses and enterprise systems.