Microsoft's Open Door roadshow is to take off around the Middle East region once again with partners Acer and Commerce One sharing the latest information on today's technologies and tomorrow's directions with customers, partners and software developers.
The roadshow, which kicked off in Karachi, Pakistan on September 4th 2000, will continue to visit Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Jordan, Cyprus and Malta.
"OpenDoor has been growing tremendously over the past period. Microsoft and its many partners in the initiative have been aggressively taking our technology to our customers' doorstep to show our commitment to this market. Over the past two years, OpenDoor has built a great resource for our customers across the region, and this year, it will break the attendance records we achieved last round," said Derek Kerr, community relations manager at Microsoft GEM.
"Our on-going strategy for OpenDoor is to continue providing tens of thousands of people around the Middle East access to the very latest information on what's happening in the IT industry. Our strategic alliance with industry leaders like Acer and Commerce One will allow us to give maximum benefit to our attendees."
Being the longest running and largest seminar program ever seen in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean region, the OpenDoor roadshow has helped thousands of businesses around the region build cutting edge IT solutions and make more well-informed IT investments and decisions.
"OpenDoor 2000 will add to our track record. We've been refining and adapting the seminars to market trends and development with each roadshow using the critical feedback we receive from our attendants. The seminars are targeted specifically to IT Professionals, Resellers and Developers of Microsoft software," continued Kerr. "We will focus on Microsoft Exchange 2000, SQL 2000, Windows 2000 tools and E-commerce."
The second day of the 2 day seminar will bring developers up to date on the latest on Biztalk, Commerce Server and more on Windows DNA 2000 application which form the foundation of the Microsoft E-commerce platform.
"Acer is proud to be partnering Microsoft and Commerce One on this roadshow. As an industry source, we feel obliged to make the most of such opportunities and showcase our latest technologies in the rapidly developing IT industry. At these Open Door seminars, we will be displaying our latest Acer Altos server solutions, next-generation Veriton corporate PCs and the award-winning comprehensive range of TravelMate notebook technologies." said Sandeep Harpalani, Senior Manager, Networking and Enterprise Solutions, Acer Computer (M.E.) Ltd.
"The Open Door series of seminars is not only a perfect platform that allows us to communicate directly with a quality gathering of senior IT professionals, it also allows us the opportunity to get their invaluable input and feedback as well as introducing them to the latest trends in the industry. Partnering with Microsoft and Commerce One creates a forum for us to bring our industry leading solutions to market quicker."
Day one of OpenDoor 2000, which is broken up into 5 sessions will focus on Exchange 2000, SQL 2000, Outlook Web Access, Windows 2000 resource utilities, building a reliable .com and maintaining Office 2000, while day two will drill down into practices and architectural guidance for Windows DNA 2000 applications, building e-commerce solutions with Commerce Server 2000 and developing end-to-end B-to-B applications with BizTalk Server 2000.
"We're delighted to be working with Microsoft at OpenDoor again, as we were delighted with the response generated during the last Open Door series, and we're looking forward to sharing ideas, information and solutions with business technology users across the region," said Nadder Montassir, Country Manager UAE and Oman of Commerce One.
"Commerce One is sharing a new focus on e-commerce, and we'll be bringing some radical new ideas to play for people who are addressing the whole area of online business potential."
Visit Open Door 2000 at a town near you:
Dubai 2nd-3rd October at the Emirates Towers Hotel
Qatar 8th-9th October at the Doha Sheraton
Bahrain 15th-16th October at the Bahrain Conference center, Holiday Inn
Kuwait 17th-18th October at the Kuwait Crowne Plaza
Lebanon 6th -7th November at the Beirut Le Meridien Comodore
Oman 13th-13th November at the Oman Sheraton
Jordan 21st-22nd November at the Amman Grand Hyyat
Cyprus 27th-28th at the Forum hotel
Malta 29th-30th November at the crowne Plaza
Interested attendees can call the OpenDoor hotline:(00 9714) 3975738
or can register online at www.microsoft.com/middleeast
About Microsoft Corporation:
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.
Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Windows 2000 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Microsoft opened its Dubai-based Middle East headquarters office in 1991, since when subsidiaries have opened in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Microsoft GEM is responsible for the company's business in Pakistan, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Cyprus and Malta. In 1999, Microsoft opened offices in Lebanon, Kuwait and Pakistan earlier this year.
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
