TECH.ED SOUTH EAST ASIA COMES BACK TO TOWN

ICT Industry to benefit from Tech.Ed 2008; with access to over 14 technical tracks,
100 breakout sessions and newly introduced rebate programs

Kuala Lumpur, July 8, 2008 – Be a Part of the Experience - this is the theme for Tech.Ed South East Asia 2008. After consecutive successful years of technology education, Microsoft’s premier and largest annual conference promises to feature more than 14 technical tracks and 100 breakout sessions when it opens its doors to participants from August 11 - 14, 2008 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Billed as the premier gathering for developers and IT professionals worldwide, providing each group with technical education, community and product evaluation resources, this is the year’s best opportunity to meet the largest number of people within the technology industry, all in a single venue. Thousands of IT professionals and developers, architects, technical decision makers and all the roles in between will be mixing it with Microsoft's product team members and industry gurus, making Tech.Ed a melting pot of ideas, opinions and opportunities.

Tech.Ed SEA 2008: Accessible and Affordable
As part of a new development especially for attendees this year, Tech.Ed SEA 2008 has secured endorsement from MATRADE (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation) and the Human Resources Development Council (HRDC). This translates into benefits for attendees across the board, where participating Tech.Ed exhibitors will be eligible to apply for a refund from MATRADE. Of course, terms and conditions apply. On the same note, employers registered with the HRDC will also qualify for the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) training grant, which will certainly help employers cap operational costs while allowing their employees an opportunity to further develop their knowledge and skills.

Additionally, there is also a 'Friend Bring Friend' promotion where participants can earn a rebate of RM300 off their conference fees when they introduce a minimum of three friends to register and attend Tech.Ed SEA 2008.

"This year, Microsoft is making Tech.Ed more accessible to participants; with increased number of tracks for more in-depth exposure into featured technologies and current issues as well as various promotional programs that curb affordability issues, if any. The stamp of approval and support from both MATRADE and HRDC officially establishes Tech.Ed as a recognized and annually anticipated conference in the IT industry," said Tyson Dowd, Senior Director of Malaysia Software Economy, Microsoft Malaysia.

In line with this year's theme, participants will get the opportunity to evaluate products both from Microsoft and from 250 of its most important industry partners. This will accord developers and IT professionals the chance to meet their individual challenges head-on by talking directly with Microsoft’s local and international representatives, partners and vendors about the latest tools and technologies, current releases and future plans to adopt, migrate and deploy. In short, participants become part of the learning, the community, and the career growth potential.

The content for audiences will focus on near-term products that are available for Community Technology Previews and release-to-market prior to the next Tech·Ed. Some of the tracks Tech.Ed SEA 2008 will be offering include:
Architecture
Database platform
Developer tools and languages
Office & Sharepoint
Management
Security
SOA and Business Processes
SOA and Web Infrastructure
Windows and Frameworks
Web and User Experience
Windows Client
Windows Mobile and Embedded
Windows Server Infrastructure
Unified Communications

"In addition to the tracks above, Tech.Ed is also addressing issues in IT employment with regards to certification. According to ZDNet recent Asia's IT Employment Trends 2007/2008, certification is a key ingredient to higher salaries within the IT sphere. To provide relevance to our participants, additional onsite programs will be established to advise attendees on types and advantages of IT certification," Dowd added.

"All these programs are designed specifically for the individual and industry in mind, and further enhances the value proposition of Tech.Ed SEA 2008. I'm confident participation in Tech.Ed SEA 2008 will increase over the previous year's because of the rich content built into it and hope that IT professionals will capitalize on this opportunity for knowledge expansion," concluded Dowd.

2007 Attendees Speak Out for Tech.Ed
Industry anticipation for Tech.Ed is already picking up in momentum, with more than 1,500 attendees registered for the conference and returning delegates from 2007 speaking out regarding Tech.Ed’s benefits to the industry.

"Tech.Ed SEA 2007 was so informative and I have the chance to try out tips and tricks in the Hands-on Labs," said Lau Weng Tat of GHL Systems Berhad, who attended last year's event.

Yus Azeeme bin Yeop Abdullah of Pentasoft Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. agrees: "I got the latest technology and hands-on experience from Tech.Ed. By sharing the knowledge, I managed to find out other business opportunities."

Lim Hui Kuin of CIMB concluded, "Attending Tech.Ed 2007 was the best thing that happened to me last year. It was so filled with events. I couldn't help but learn a lot more about Microsoft and its products."

As a brief recap, last year's event featured more than 3000 attendees from 33 countries, with more than 73 sponsors and exhibitors participating. There were 109 speakers, more than half of which were local experts, in addition to the 158 hands-on labs and 38 instructor-led labs.

To register or learn more about Tech.Ed SEA 2008, please log on to http://www.microsoft.com/malaysia/techedsea2008.