Certiport to Launch New Microsoft Business Certification Program

Next generation of credentials for Microsoft Office 2007 and Windows Vista to enhance and validate in-demand professional skills valued in business

SALT LAKE CITY – January 24, 2007

Certiport today announced it has been selected as the launch partner by Microsoft® Learning to develop and deliver a new global certification program for business professionals worldwide that focuses on validating business-critical skills. The new Microsoft business certification program for the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Windows® Vista operating systems will feature Web-based pretests, application-specific certification exams and a series of professional certifications that demonstrate expertise in accomplishing essential job tasks across multiple applications.

"I am delighted that we are extending our long-standing and solid relationship with Certiport to bring these new credentials to our customers," said Lutz Ziob, general manager of Microsoft Learning. "Mastery of the core business information tools and business processes is fast becoming a key differentiator, and now businesses have a clear yardstick to assess desktop proficiency for their non-IT staff."

"As innovative businesses around the world are already learning, the new frontier in fostering competitiveness lies in developing the skills of information workers," said David Saedi, president and CEO of Certiport. "This new array of business certifications will propel organizations to greater success as information workers become better equipped to achieve optimum business results."

Part of the new generation of Microsoft certifications, the business certifications will give users the opportunity to certify their skills on new Microsoft technologies and receive a credential logo that identifies them as experts. Compared to the Microsoft Office Specialist program, the customer base and business application of the new Microsoft business certification program will be much broader.

Resulting from its industry expertise grown from an eight-year relationship with Microsoft and its customers, Certiport has developed and beta tested the new certification exams for the new 2007 Microsoft Office System and Vista operating systems and will distribute the first exams in English by the end of February. This will be followed thereafter by the release of exams in Japanese. Other non-English versions will be developed and released before the end of the year. With more than 12,000 testing centers worldwide, Certiport is positioned to provide Microsoft users with complete access to training and test-taking for the new Microsoft business certification program.

Certiport will also continue its role as the worldwide provider of the Microsoft Office Specialist program through a multi-year agreement with Microsoft. Certiport, the developer and sole administrator of the Microsoft Office Specialist program since 1997, will manage the official credential for Microsoft Office 2000, XP and 2003 through 2010. Since the inception, the program has been extended to 21 languages in 128 countries worldwide. Thousands of businesses, academic institutions (secondary and post-secondary) and government agencies deliver training that leads to Microsoft Office Specialist certification.

About Certiport

Certiport prepares individuals and communities with current and relevant digital skills and credentials for the competitive global workforce. These solutions include Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³®) and the Microsoft® Office Specialist certification programs delivered by more than 12,000 Certiport Centers worldwide. For more information, visit www.certiport.com.

"Certiport" and "IC³" are registered trademarks of Certiport, Inc. in the United States and other countries. "Microsoft" is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Press Contact:

John Pilmer
801-369-7535
mediarelations@certiport.com