MSN and Logitech Team Up to Deliver Integrated Video and Audio Service for MSN Messenger Customers

Expanded Relationship Signals Deeper Focus on Instantly Connecting People Through MSN Messenger in a Richer, More Meaningful Way

REDMOND, WA, and HANNOVER, Germany— March 9, 2005 — MSN and Logitech today announced at CeBIT 2005 an extension of their global relationship, through which MSN will launch a high-quality, integrated video and audio service powered by Logitech that enables customers to see and talk to friends and family over the Internet. The new service will be available when it is released this spring to MSN® Messenger 7.0 customers.

For the past two years, Logitech and MSN have worked together to bring video capabilities to customers through the Webcam feature of MSN Messenger. Each month more than 30 million of the MSN Messenger service´s 155 million unique customers use the current feature, and MSN and Logitech have facilitated more than 3 billion webcam sessions since it was introduced. Building upon their relationship, the companies are combining their expertise to deliver a higher-quality, more advanced service that will seamlessly enable synchronized audio and video conversations that customers can enjoy with one easy click.

“A core piece of the MSN mission is to bring our customers closer to the people who matter most to them,” said Blake Irving, corporate vice president for MSN Communications Services and Member Platform Group at Microsoft Corp. “Our upcoming integrated audio and video instant messaging service delivers on this mission in a tangible way for our customers. We´re pleased to be working more closely with Logitech to introduce this new service that enables our customers to see and talk with family across the country or friends around the world.”

“The new capabilities we´re delivering with MSN will remove barriers that in the past have prevented widespread consumer use of video and audio communications,” said Junien Labrousse, senior vice president of the Video Business Unit at Logitech. “With just a PC, a broadband connection, a headset and a webcam, MSN Messenger subscribers will soon enjoy high-quality, fully synchronized video and audio over the Internet using tools they´re already familiar with.”

Enhanced video and audio features from Logitech and MSN will be available this spring for MSN Messenger consumers in the United States, Germany and additional markets globally. The current Webcam for MSN Messenger feature is offered worldwide and is localized in 14 languages.

About Logitech
Founded in 1981, Logitech designs, manufactures and markets personal peripherals that enable people to effectively work, play and communicate in the digital world. Logitech International is a Swiss public company traded on the Swiss Stock Exchange (LOGN) and in the U.S. on the Nasdaq National Market System (LOGI). The company has manufacturing facilities in Asia and offices in major cities in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

About MSN
MSN attracts more than 380 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 40 markets and 20 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. The most useful and innovative online service today, MSN brings consumers everything they need from the Web to make the most of their time online. MSN is located on the Web at www.msn.com. MSN worldwide sites are located at www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.


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Karen Hoskins

Press Contact

Logitech Inc.

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