Microsoft Gathers Over 1,500 Technology Enthusiasts at the 2005 MVP Global Summit

This week Microsoft Corp. (www.microsoft.com) hosts the 2005 MVP Global Summit, which will be attended by the most globally and technologically diverse group of awardees in the 12-year history of the program.

Throughout the event, more than 1,500 Microsoft® Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) will have the opportunity to network with peers from more than 70 countries and more than 1,000 Microsoft employees across product, field and services teams.

Today, as part of the celebration, MVPs are taking a break from technical and platform sessions being held across Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters for a day of executive discussions on the company’s road map and next wave of innovation.

“The MVP Global Summit is a unique opportunity for Microsoft to embrace and celebrate this inspirational community,” Ballmer said. “As part of our ongoing commitment to this group of incredible individuals, the summit enables Microsoft to show our appreciation to the MVPs for their passion for technology and helping others.”

Scheduled activities during the four-day MVP Global Summit include over 350 sessions in which MVPs can network with peers and Microsoft product groups through interactive technical presentations and demonstrations as well as question-and-answer sessions with key Microsoft executives from across the company.

At the MVP Summit Expo, MVPs will connect with additional groups from Microsoft Services, MSDN®, Microsoft Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) Group and the larger technical publishing community.

Microsoft started the MVP Awards in the early 1990s as a way to recognize the most credible and accessible members of technical communities who share a common passion for technology and helping others.