LAS VEGAS, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Windows Mobile-based phones are providing consumers with a feature-rich user interface when they access the Bank of America's Mobile Banking service, making it the most popular smartphone operating system used by its customers, Microsoft Corp. reported today at the BAI Retail Delivery Conference & Expo.

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Bank of America -- the leader in online banking -- rolled out its Mobile Banking service to consumers nationwide in May. The service enables more than 20 million online banking customers to bank directly from their cell phone or smartphone with built-in security features.

"Windows Mobile empowers customers to be productive away from their desk or home, whether they are sending e-mail, managing their calendars or surfing the Web," said Greg Haislip, industry solutions director for the U.S. Financial Services Group at Microsoft. "With Bank of America Mobile Banking, customers have one more option to connect to important information while on the go."

Customers looking for the nearest Bank of America ATM or banking center through the new service are served with Microsoft MapPoint technology. Designed for everyday business use, MapPoint makes it easy to visualize business information on maps. Customers can seamlessly use MapPoint from their phone to find the most convenient Bank of America location around town.

"Mobile Banking provides consumers with the convenience, security and control of banking anywhere, anytime," said Lance Drummond, e-Commerce/ATM executive for Bank of America. "Consumers can check their balances while shopping, pay bills during their commute and find the nearest ATM for cash -- even when they are on the go."

About Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 57 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 5,700 retail banking offices, more than 17,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 23 million active users. Bank of America is the No. 1 overall Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in the United States and the No. 1 SBA lender to minority-owned small businesses. The company serves clients in 175 countries and has relationships with 99 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. More information about mobile banking is available at http://www.bankofamerica.com/anywhere.

About Microsoft in Financial Services

Microsoft's Financial Services Group provides software that helps financial firms transform the customer, employee and operations experience so they can maximize opportunities for increased market share and profitability. Microsoft software helps empower people and IT staff within financial firms -- and across key focus areas such as advisor platforms, channel renewal, insurance value chain, enterprise risk management and compliance, and payments. Through a combination of Microsoft- and partner-provided solutions, customers enable their employees to turn data into insight, transform ideas into action and turn change into opportunity.

More information about Microsoft's Financial Services Group can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/financialservices.

About Microsoft

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

CONTACT: Matt Pennacchio of Ruder Finn, +1-212-715-1613,
pennacchiom@ruderfinn.com, for Microsoft; or Ted Ladd of Microsoft,
+1-646-225-4722, tedladd@microsoft.com

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