[November 15, 2009]

Major oil and gas enterprises improve business performance with Windows 7

Nov 15, 2009 (Al-Bawaba via COMTEX) -- Following the official launch of Windows 7 around theglobe, Microsoft Corp. announced that two Norwegian customers from the oil and gasindustry have successfully piloted the new Windows 7 platform. DeepOcean, a subseaservices and construction support firm, and Statoil, one of the world's largestoffshore oil companies, have deployed or are piloting the Windows 7 operatingsystem, improving employee productivity and increasing overall business performance.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO) These developments come as further proof of Microsoft's continuing commitment to theoil and gas industry and its efforts to better meet the needs of oil and gasenterprises globally. For example, on Feb. 10, 2009, Albrecht "Ali" Ferling, Ph.D.,managing director of Microsoft's Worldwide Oil and Gas Industries, announced thatthe leadership for his organization is now located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.From Dubai, Microsoft will be centrally located for ready access to its customers inthe prevailing and emerging energy centers of the world. Future demand growth willcome largely from countries such as China, India and those in the Middle East.Dubai, located midway between Central Europe and the Far East, is ideal for businesstravel to all oil capitals, from Houston to Beijing. And with the power ultimatelyshifting from consumer to producer in the global energy equation, the Middle East isan important location for Microsoft and its partners in the global oil and gasindustry.

Ferling said, "Our industry is facing unprecedented challenges, and doing more withless is a priority for many of our customers. The role of IT as a key enabler todrive business efficiency is more important than ever, and Windows 7 and WindowsServer 2008 R2 bring a powerful combination of cost savings, greater productivityand improved capacity for innovation to our oil and gas customers." New Windows Desktop and Servers Boost Oil and Gas Employee Productivity Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 have been developed with today's economy inmind where long-term business success needs to be built on two things: innovationand productivity. Their main features allow employees easy access to informationanywhere at any time while organizations can reduce risk through improved securityand drive cost savings through virtualization and streamlined managementcapabilities.

In 2000, for example, DeepOcean was among the first in its industry to implement theWindows platform for its onshore operations and offshore data processing, movingfrom a UNIX-based platform with flat files because the UNIX technology was out ofdate and the company wanted to develop new applications on the Windows platform.DeepOcean is now migrating from a UNIX-based platform to Windows 7 and WindowsServer 2008 R2 because of its need to support its sales force and engineers whotravel between onshore and offshore locations. These mobile employees rely onportable computers that make up more than 25 percent of the company's computerfleet.

When DeepOcean migrated to the Windows platform, it implemented the Windows NT 4.0operating system on its 50 client computers and the Windows NT Server 4.0 operatingsystem on its 10 servers, which it is gradually upgrading from Windows Server 2003to Windows Server 2008 R2. DeepOcean uses Microsoft Forefront Client Security tohelp protect its client and server environment from Internet-based threats.

In an effort to enhance security for its portable computers and to addresschallenges with its virtual private network solution, the company also decided tomigrate to the Windows 7 operating system. As a result of the upgrade, DeepOcean hassimplified IT management, enhanced IT security and improved employee productivity.

"Windows 7 has enabled our mobile work force to connect to the corporate network andaccess all the resources they need faster and more easily," said Per Arne Stromo, ITmanager at DeepOcean. "At the same time, Microsoft technology offers us a highlysecure and reliable tool to help protect our confidential data and intellectualproperty even when on the road." Statoil also wanted to improve employee productivity by making sure that workers inits increasingly global operations could fully collaborate with their colleagues. Toaddress remote access issues that could hinder employee productivity andcollaboration, the oil company intends to implement the Windows 7 and the WindowsServer 2008 R2 operating systems, which together offer features such as BranchCacheto improve data access at branch offices and DirectAccess to simplify remoteconnectivity. As a result of the upgrade, Statoil will deliver seamless access tothe corporate network for traveling employees, improve information access at branchoffices and enhance IT security.

"Using Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, we'll be able to better support ourstrategy as a global company and more easily share information no matter where ouremployees and consultants reside," said Petter Wersland, leading advisor for ITInfrastructure, Statoil.

Building upon this core IT infrastructure, Microsoft, together with its partners, iscontinuing to tackle the creation of technology solutions for some of the industry'stop priorities -- better collaboration, unified communications and role-basedproductivity -- to fundamentally change the way people work by introducing novelworkflows and knowledge management capabilities that maximize scarce labor talentand bring business-critical information to workers wherever they are.(C) 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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