For Release 3 p.m. CST
March 28, 1994

Microsoft Ships Microsoft Access Version 2.0 for Windows
Industry's Best-selling Database Offers Users a Single Solution


NEW ORLEANS - March 28, 1994 - Microsoft Corporation today announced the
Microsoft Access database management system version 2.0 for Windows.  Microsoft
Access 2.0 is the first desktop database to bridge the gap between end-user and
developer needs, providing a single solution for all levels of users in an
organization.  More than 300 new and updated features in Microsoft Access 2.0
offer unprecedented ease of use for both end users and developers in managing
and presenting data; a fine degree of control for application development;
tight integration with other Microsoft Office business productivity
applications; and enhanced connectivity to back-end data sources.  These
improvements make Microsoft Access 2.0 the only desktop database to
successfully meet the broad range of needs in today's database market.


Microsoft Access 2.0:  A Single Desktop Solution for Database Users

"Our research has consistently shown that customers are looking for a single
database product that is easy to use while still providing the tools to create
custom database applications," said Roger Heinen, senior vice president of the
developer division at Microsoft.  "Customers want a desktop database that
scales to meet a wide range of needs, just as spreadsheets and other business
productivity applications do.  Microsoft Access 2.0 meets that challenge by
integrating closely with Microsoft Office and delivering power for the
developer."


The new features in Microsoft Access version 2.0 reflect the results of
feedback from more than 1 million Microsoft Access users as well as extensive
customer research on both simple and complex database needs.  Customers cite
the rich feature set and the connectivity features in Microsoft Access that
enable it to be used in standalone, workgroup, departmental and client-server
applications as reasons that Microsoft Access is their desktop database of
choice.


Greatly Expanded Ease of Use for Both End Users and Developers

Because database users of all experience levels want to focus on their tasks
instead of processes, a wide array of accessible features in Microsoft Access
2.0 offers increased productivity to every type of user.  Enhanced consistency
with Microsoft Office plus the new wizards and Cue Cards enable end users to
complete tasks easily right away.  The Table Wizard, for example, creates a
variety of tables, helping new users over the initial hurdle of creating a
database.  Developers will also use the same technology to create applications
in record time.  Some of the new productivity features include the following:

-There are more than 30 new wizards, including the revolutionary Table Wizard.
 Answer a few simple questions, click the "Finish" button and your table is
 complete.  Even complex queries are easy with Query Wizards, which make
 finding data as easy as point and click.

-The Command Button Wizard creates more than 40 common types of buttons for
 users and writes all of the necessary code.  Tell it what kind of button you
 want, and the rest is automatic.  Now you can create buttons to automate
 forms, find records, and more, all without learning a single line of code.
 Developers can use that code as a head start and modify it as necessary.

-Graphical Relationship Design allows you to graphically sketch your database
 design by merely dragging and dropping.

-The Expression Builder does the programming work for you.  Just point and
 click to create complex query syntax by choosing from a list of commonly used
 elements.


Increased Developer Control and Extensibility

Database developers demand great flexibility in building custom applications
as well as a high degree of control over how their applications respond to
user interaction.  Increasingly, developers also want to incorporate other
objects and applications to extend their database solutions.  


Microsoft Access version 2.0 provides developers the flexibility, control and
extensibility they asked for with the following features:

-An enhanced event model gives you precise control over events and properties
 to help you build first-class, bulletproof applications.

-The full-featured development environment includes an integrated debugger,
 the built-in Database Documentor, and the Add-in Manager for complete
 extensibility.

-The powerful engine of Microsoft Access is unrivaled on the desktop.  Now, it
 includes unlimited levels of cascading updates and deletes, providing data
 integrity and saving you hundreds of lines of code.

-Rushmore query technology increases query performance by 250 percent or more.
 Query a database of 100,000 records, and 1,052 records are returned in 2.85
 seconds.

-Access Basic, the event-driven programming language in Microsoft Access,
 provides programmatic access to all the objects in the database.

-Improved client-server capabilities and connectivity to back-end data sources
 allow you to easily connect your Microsoft Access-based application to other
 data sources or take advantage of server-based systems.

Developers are also able to extend Microsoft Access and create powerful
solutions by incorporating OLE 2.0 objects and OLE Custom Controls into a
Microsoft Access-based application.  Using the OLE 2.0 features of Microsoft
Access, developers can easily integrate other applications, such as those in
Microsoft Office, in their solutions.  New OLE Custom Controls mean even
greater flexibility in developing solutions; Microsoft Access is the first
application to support these new controls.

"My business depends on delivering finished applications that meet my clients'
wants and needs in the shortest possible time," said Susan Perschke, Spectrum
Data Design.  "I was able to complete a complex point-of-sale application in a
multiuser environment in two months using Microsoft Access.  With any other
product, this application would have taken at least five months.  I'm excited
about achieving even greater productivity with the development tools under the
hood in Microsoft Access 2.0."


Microsoft Access 2.0 Is a Key Addition to Microsoft Office
 
Microsoft Access 2.0 is the newest application rounding out the popular Office
suite, Microsoft Office Professional version 4.3.  In addition to the new
Microsoft Access, Office Professional includes Microsoft Word 6.0, Microsoft
Excel 5.0, the PowerPoint presentation graphics program version 4.0, and a
workstation license for Microsoft Mail.  Microsoft Access goes beyond simple
consistency with Office and defines a new level of ease of use when sharing
data with other people and other applications by using OfficeLinks tools. 
OfficeLinks, a set of tools that makes integration easy, enables Office users
to import and export data from Microsoft Access to Word, Microsoft Excel, and
Microsoft Mail through quick toolbar commands.  Microsoft Access is an
excellent addition for the millions of Office customers who need a database as
a primary place to manage, report and query data as well as share it with other
Microsoft Office applications.

"We looked at the most common scenarios Office users had for using a database
and applied our IntelliSense technology and created OfficeLinks tools to make
those tasks extremely simple.  Mail merge between Microsoft Access and Word,
for instance, is now done with a click of the toolbar button," said Chris
Peters, vice president of the Office business unit at Microsoft.  "With
Microsoft Access 2.0 as part of Office, the benefits of using a database are
now available to more users than ever before."  


Pricing and Availability

Microsoft Access 2.0 is scheduled to be available in early April 1994. 
Microsoft will offer a 90-day special upgrade suggested retail price (SRP) of
$99 for all users of Microsoft Access version 1.0 or 1.1 in the United States.
The U.S. SRP of Microsoft Access is $495, and users of qualifying database
products can trade up to Microsoft Access for $129.

Microsoft Office 4.3, Professional Edition, available on diskette or CD-ROM,
has an SRP of $899.  Users of any Microsoft Office family application can
upgrade for an SRP of $359, and users of other qualifying programs can upgrade
to Microsoft Office version 4.3, Professional Edition for an SRP of $399. 
Users of Microsoft Office, Standard Edition, can add Microsoft Access to their
Office suite for $99.

Unparalleled Product Support Services

Microsoft is the only major software vendor that continues to provide
unlimited, no-charge support through a toll line for its desktop applications.
The Microsoft Support Network offers some of the most comprehensive technical
support options in the industry and was recently awarded the 1993 ITAA Quality
Award from the Information Technology Association of America.

All users of Microsoft desktop applications, including Microsoft Access, have
access to unlimited, no-charge support by a toll line from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(PST) Monday through Friday, on a dedicated Microsoft Office support line. 
 
Microsoft customers have unlimited access to electronic support and product
information at no charge or for a nominal price, including Microsoft FastTips,
Microsoft Download Service, CompuServe, Internet, Microsoft TechNet, the
Microsoft Developers Network and Microsoft Plus.

Customers can also choose additional, fee-based support options, including
Priority Support, which provides 24-hour, seven-day-a-week support.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software
for personal computers.  The company offers a wide range of products and
services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of
making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full
power of personal computing every day.

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Microsoft, Microsoft Access and PowerPoint are registered trademarks and
Windows, Rushmore and IntelliSense are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe, Inc.

Prices listed are U.S. suggested retail prices.  Reseller prices may vary.

For More Information, Press Only:

Sandra Pace or Karla Wachter, Waggener Edstrom, (503) 245-0905
