April 2006

Albany Software awarded Microsoft Gold Certified Partner status

April 2006: Albany Software today announces that it has become a Microsoft^® Gold Certified Partner. The certification confirms Albany's commitment to developing software products based on leading-edge Microsoft technologies, in order to help its customers streamline business administration, increase efficiency and reduce cost.

Microsoft Gold Certified Partner status is the highest level of Microsoft's partner program, and it is only given to companies that consistently provide the highest quality products developed for the Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft SQL Server database environments.

Albany Software reached the status of Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for its competencies in Microsoft Business Solutions and ISV/Software Solutions. In order to achieve the accreditation, Albany had to demonstrate superior levels of successful customer implementations, capabilities and certification, which included employing Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs); these are individuals who have passed certification exams designed to validate their mastery using Microsoft tools and technologies.

Adrian Stafford-Jones, Managing Director of Albany Software, comments, "We are delighted to achieve Microsoft Gold Certified Partner status. This is a win-win scenario - from a commercial perspective we can leverage our close ties with Microsoft in order to steal a march over the competition in terms of software sales, whilst from an end user perspective our customers can take confidence in the fact that our software solutions are Microsoft-compliant."

Stafford-Jones continues, "Albany is known in the industry for our market leading Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and e-document distribution software applications, whilst Microsoft technology is now the de facto standard within UK businesses. This accolade validates our ability to successfully develop an innovative and reliable suite of e-transactions software which meets Microsoft's standards, as well as the demands of the marketplace."

Through engagement with Microsoft, Albany Software now has in-depth access to a variety of exclusive resources and early product information. Resources include priority access to a support team of Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers, non-disclosure evaluation of new products and technologies, as well as planning tools and events to keep up to speed on the latest Microsoft product developments and future direction.

Commenting on Albany Software's accreditation, Natasha Ayres, Group Director, Small and Mid-market Solutions and Partners at Microsoft Corp, explains, "Albany Software has reached the status of Microsoft Gold Certified Partner by demonstrating increased levels of certification, and by providing completed customer reference projects that were independently verified by Microsoft."

She adds, "Microsoft will continue to invest in certification and enhanced resources and support for Microsoft Gold Certified Partners as part of our ongoing commitment to provide customers with choice and best of breed product solutions via Gold Certified Partner companies such as Albany Software."

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