DataLan Corporation a key part of Microsoft’s “People Ready” Launch

NEW YORK — March 16, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer today outlined his company’s vision for how people, armed with the right software, are the key to driving business success. Called “People-Ready,” this vision for business is the backdrop for a series of innovative solutions in new and existing categories that Microsoft will bring to market over the next year. Addressing more than 500 business customers, Ballmer showcased new business solutions and explained how they are enabled by the integration across the company’s forthcoming versions of the Windows Vista™ operating system, the 2007 Microsoft® Office system, Windows Mobile® software and the next version of Microsoft Exchange Server, as well as infrastructure offerings such as Windows Server™ 2003 and SQL Server™ 2005.

More than 640,000 Microsoft enterprise and middle market partners around the world are being mobilized to help customers assess their status and next steps for becoming a People-Ready Business and determine which solutions are best and most relevant to their needs. Ten of these were chosen to be a part of the launch based on their ability to provide solutions in one of four areas crucial to businesses today: Develop Relationships, Drive Innovations, Improve Operations, or Build Connections. DataLan Corporation was one of these.

“DataLan Corporation was chosen because of their ability to help organizations to Drive Innovation - to develop new concepts and add value to existing products and services“said John Lauer, Microsoft vice president, Worldwide Solutions & Partner Group. Robert Shelton, author of “Making Innovation Work” and a featured speaker at the event singled out DataLan as “an organization that understands Innovation and has a unique take on the relationship between strategy, process, and leadership and the role of technology.”

About DataLan
DataLan Corporation (www.datalan.com) headquartered in White Plains, NY, delivers solutions enabling organizations to innovate and compete in a global economy, the technology to support those solutions, and the capabilities to make innovation happen - working with our clients to define processes, assemble systems to support those processes, motivate people and groups, and provide leadership with visibility and the power to measure and manage.

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. Microsoft, Windows Vista, Windows Mobile, Windows Server, SharePoint, Excel, Microsoft Dynamics and Outlook are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.