FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TAMPA (SEPTEMBER 30, 2008) – TeamZoneSports (www.teamzonesports.com), a free, private social network specializing in online team management, communication, coordination and information sharing today announced that Microsoft has published two case studies highlighting TeamZoneSports’ use of several Microsoft technologies.

One case study shows how integrating Microsoft technologies helps ensure efficient and highly reliable communications for TeamZoneSports members. Using a software-plus-services approach based on Microsoft technologies such as Microsoft Silverlight and Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 allowed TeamZoneSports to provide its members with a highly reliable platform for media sharing and communications. Silverlight, a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering the next-generation of rich interactive applications for the Web, enables members an easy way to upload and share pictures and videos as well as view online sports training videos. A software-plus-services approach allows TeamZoneSports members to share information in several ways, providing teams with a single destination to perform all team related online activities. Readers can view the case study by going to: http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=4000002457.

The second case study focuses on TeamZoneSports’ use of Microsoft Virtual Earth. Knowing the importance of punctuality in team sports, TeamZoneSports looked to Microsoft Virtual Earth mapping technology to enable members to retrieve accurate and up-to-date directions as well as other geographical information directly from the TeamZoneSports site. When initially setting up a team, users input their postal code, which TeamZoneSports links to Virtual Earth telling the program the location of the team. The site using Virtual Earth provides detailed driving directions and a map print-out for convenience. Apart from other mapping technologies, Virtual Earth provides a bird’s-eye view or a 45-degree angle shot of a designated location allowing visibility for the user. Readers can view the case study by going to: http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=4000002456.

“TeamZoneSports’ use of Microsoft Virtual Earth mapping platform provides clear geographical information for an immersive customer experience on the online social network,” said Chris Sampson, director of Virtual Earth Sales and Operations. “The seamless integration of Virtual Earth into the Web site allows members to easily navigate to games and practices with rich maps and driving directions.”

“Use of Microsoft technologies has enabled us to quickly deliver and continuously innovate a valuable, free service to our members,” said Craig Blackburn, TeamZoneSports’ Chief Operations Officer.“Joining with Microsoft has given us a distinct competitive and sustainable advantage as we contemplate a move into this lucrative market.”


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