News release

Compaq and Microsoft Join Forces to Help UK Finance Industry Exploit Mobile Internet

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) and Microsoft have today announced a joint initiative to develop a mobile solutions framework for the financial services industry. The Finance Mobility Platform (FMP) will enable financial services organizations to take advantage of the latest mobile technologies and negotiate the evolving mobile business landscape. The initiative was launched at the first annual Retail Finance Europe Conference & Expo, aimed at bankers and financial services practitioners at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel.

The FMP aims to address the challenges posed by the emergence of the mobile Internet. It will create a comprehensive roadmap and development methodology to minimize the risk for financial services organizations wanting to build and test their own mobile solutions. These include applications for accessing banking and related services from wireless networked devices such as PDAs, laptop computers and mobile phones.

The FMP will provide support for the financial services industry through four distinct components:

• An architectural framework which will deliver an end-to-end framework for software vendors and financial services organizations to develop mobile solutions
• A methodology drawn up by industry experts and informed by current best practice
• An industry forum to provide a channel for communication between the suppliers and users of mobile technology
• A solutions lab where third-party application developers will demonstrate working solutions to educate financial services organizations and help them exploit the mobile Internet

Mike Smith, practice principal for Mobile Finance, Compaq UK, said, "The FMP delivers an architectural framework that will insulate business decision makers from the huge technical complexity of mobile Internet.

"In particular, it will radically simplify issues such as appropriate security and open standards connectivity. To achieve this, Compaq and Microsoft will work closely with leading industry partners."

David Slight, financial services industry manager, Microsoft, said, "As the networks increase in capability, we can expect the user experience of the mobile Internet to improve dramatically, fuelling the demand for new services. Financial services organizations need to be preparing now. With the Finance Mobility Platform we will provide a framework within which these organizations can move forward confidently to gain the benefits of the mobile Internet sooner rather than later."

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software—any time, any place and on any device.

About Compaq

Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is a leading global provider of technology and solutions. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures, and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, and communications products, commercial desktop and portable products, and consumer PCs that are sold in more than 200 countries. Information on Compaq and its products and services is available at http://www.compaq.com.