Microsoft Offers Free Xbox Live Gold Weekend Through Verizon
Sponsorship Xbox 360 Owners Invited to Jump Into 72 Hours of Free
Action-Packed Xbox Live

Multiplayer Online Gaming Courtesy of Verizon

REDMOND, Wash., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp.
(Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced the first Free Xbox Live(R) Gold
Weekend, presented courtesy of Verizon (NYSE: VZ). From March 31
through April 2, Xbox 360(TM) gamers are invited to connect to Xbox
Live and enjoy an action-packed weekend of multiplayer gaming in a
community of 2 million players, free of charge.

The Verizon-sponsored Free Xbox Live Gold Weekend will feature 72
hours of nonstop events, constituting the largest programming effort
of online Xbox(R) multiplayer games ever. Events will include the
following:

-- A 72-hour multiplayer schedule of the most exciting games on Xbox 360

-- Xbox Live Arcade leaderboard tournaments

-- Xbox Live Play and Win contests

-- Xbox Live veterans hosting new gamers on Xbox Live

In addition, the exclusive Verizon One Million Microsoft Points
giveaway offers gamers the chance to win points to purchase the latest
Xbox Live Marketplace digital downloadable content, including Xbox
Live Arcade titles and the hottest game and entertainment content,
while supplies last.

"This blend of technology -- Xbox 360 and a Verizon broadband
connection -- gives gamers the best possible online experience," said
Jerri DeVard, senior vice president of national marketing and brand
management for Verizon. "We think that providing gamers with exposure
to this amazing service combination will change the way they view
their Xbox 360 and gaming in general. Verizon is proud to deliver the
first-ever Free Xbox Live Gold Weekend."

Xbox Live momentum has accelerated since Xbox 360 was launched, with
more than half of all Xbox 360 owners connecting with the online games
and entertainment service, which boasts a worldwide community of more
than 2 million members.

Verizon provides high-speed broadband connections to more than 5.1
million American households, providing digital subscriber line (DSL)
access at various speeds and even faster access services using the
company's all-fiber-optic FiOS Internet service, available at
downstream speeds up to 5 megabits per second (Mbps), 15 Mbps and 30
Mbps.

"The Verizon sponsorship is a gaming platform first, demonstrating
that online gaming through Xbox Live is a proven form of mainstream
entertainment," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the
Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "We commend Verizon
for providing Xbox 360 gamers with the opportunity to play exciting
new games with or against anyone, anywhere, for free."

Additional details about the Verizon-sponsored Free Xbox Live Gold
Weekend events can be found online at
http://www.xbox.com/livegoldweekend .

About Xbox Live

Xbox Live is the first and only unified online entertainment network
seamlessly integrated throughout the entire console experience, making
it easy for people to find the friends, games and entertainment they
want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360 system. Xbox Live
connects more than 2 million members across more than 24 countries to
enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, free and premium playable game
demos, music videos, and movie trailers, as well as new game levels,
characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More
information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live .

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc., a Dow 30 company, is a leader in
delivering broadband and other communication innovations to wireline
and wireless customers. Verizon operates America's most reliable
wireless network, serving 51.3 million customers nationwide; one of
the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks; and one of the
nation's premier wireline networks, serving home, business and
wholesale customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse
workforce of approximately 250,000 and generates annual consolidated
operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information,
visit www.verizon.com.

About Microsoft

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

The information contained in this press release, other than historical
information, consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange
Act. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such
statements. Although Verizon believes that the expectations reflected
in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no
assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct.
Important factors beyond Verizon's control, including general economic
conditions, consumer spending levels, competition from toy companies,
motion picture studios and other licensing companies, the uncertainty
of public response to the Verizon's properties and other factors could
cause actual results to differ materially from the Verizon's
expectations.

NOTE: Microsoft, Xbox Live, Xbox 360 and Xbox are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States
and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners. SOURCE Microsoft Corp.