SAN FRANCISCO, February 14 /PRNewswire/ --

- SugarCRM, the first commercial open source application vendor to adopt the Microsoft Community License, introduces new Windows-based distribution.

Today at the Open Source Business Conference, Microsoft Corp (Nasdaq: MSFT) and SugarCRM Inc announced their intent to enhance interoperability between their respective Microsoft(R) Windows Server(TM) and SugarCRM products. The companies announced that they plan to begin working together on a technical collaboration project to help their mutual customers take further advantage of the increased reliability and simplified administration available on the Windows(R) platform. SugarCRM also announced that it will be releasing a new Sugar Suite distribution under the Microsoft Community License with the Sugar Suite 4.5 version. This licence is part of the Microsoft Shared Source Initiative, a programme through which Microsoft shares source code with customers, partners and governments worldwide.

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"With nearly 35 per cent of SugarCRM's customer base currently running on Microsoft Windows Server, this intent to collaborate exemplifies the breadth of partners and developers finding economic success on the Microsoft Windows Server platform," said Bill Hilf, director of Technical Platform Strategy at Microsoft. "SugarCRM is a leading commercial open source vendor. We are pleased to be working with it on this joint collaboration effort designed to provide customers using SugarCRM on Microsoft Windows Server with the best possible experience within their environment."

Although the two companies will continue to compete in certain areas, they intend to work together to improve interoperability and provide increased benefit to their joint customers. Initially, the key areas for technical collaboration and architectural guidance are expected to focus on improved SugarCRM support for Internet Information Services (IIS) as well as optimisation for Active Directory(R) and Microsoft SQL Server(TM), including SQL Express, SQL Server Workgroup and SQL Server Enterprise. In addition, SugarCRM plans to use the Windows Installer XML (WiX) tool set to build its forthcoming product installation as a Microsoft Software Installer (MSI) package for Windows Server 2003.

"We are excited about our collaboration with Microsoft, as it will allow our customers to capitalise on their existing Windows infrastructure by helping to speed deployment times and lowering overall costs," said John Roberts, chairman and chief executive officer of SugarCRM. "In addition to this technical collaboration, the simplified language contained within the Microsoft Community License also provides a straightforward licensing option that meets the needs of our mutual customers."

"We recently deployed SugarCRM's Sugar Professional edition on the Windows platform," said Valerie Kozikowski, partner at BDO Seidman LLP, a leading national professional services firm. "Increased interoperability between Microsoft and SugarCRM allows us to take advantage of the reliability, ease of use and simplified administration available on the Windows platform."

"Superior Industries has been running our business on Microsoft and Sugar Professional for some time," said David Schmidgall, MIS manager for Superior Industries, a manufacturer of conveying systems and components. "We expect this collaboration to improve our back-end database integration and streamline system administration."

About the Microsoft Shared Source Initiative

Through the Shared Source Initiative, Microsoft is sharing source code with customers, partners and governments worldwide. The Microsoft Shared Source Initiative is a framework for making Microsoft source code more broadly available through clear, simple licences. The Shared Source Licenses enable companies such as SugarCRM to build compelling solutions and service offerings while decreasing costs and speeding time to market.

More information on Microsoft's Shared Source Licenses can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/resources/sharedsource/licensingbasics/sharedso... icenses.mspx.

About SugarCRM

SugarCRM provides powerful commercial open source CRM application for companies of all sizes worldwide, improving efficiency and effectiveness when acquiring, supporting and managing customers.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.

About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)

Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft employs more than 12,000 people in over 55 subsidiaries, delivering products and services in more than 139 countries and territories.

This material is for informational purposes only. Microsoft Corp disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to use of the material for other purposes. Microsoft Corp shall not, at any time, be liable for any special, direct, indirect or consequential damages, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other action arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of the material. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting any kind of warranty.

NOTE: Microsoft, Windows Server, Windows and Active Directory are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Web site: http://www.microsoft.com

Tony Keller of S&S PR, +1-719-634-8279, or tony@sspr.com, for SugarCRM; or Ted Roduner, +1-425-638-7000, or tedr@waggeneredstrom.com, or Rapid Response Team, +1-503-443-7070, or rrt@waggeneredstrom.com, both of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, for Microsoft; or Microsoft EMEA Response Centre, +44-870-243-0515, or emearesponse@waggeneredstrom.com; Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org, PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com; NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft in EMEA, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/emea or the EMEA Press Centre at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre . Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at the time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact the Microsoft EMEA Press Office at +44-870-243-0515 or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/contactus . If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft Corp, please visit the Microsoft web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages.