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NEC, Intel and Microsoft Form Strategic RelationshipIntegrated products drive next-generation digital signage devices.

TOKYO Nov. 10, 2010 NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701), Intel Corporation (Intel; NASDAQ:

INTC) and Microsoft Corp. (Microsoft; NASDAQ: MSFT) today announced that the companies willenter into a strategic relationship to provide an integrated digital signage offering for the global

market, including Japan. The proposed collaboration will result in an optimized digital signage

platform that addresses the retail and digital signage markets need for a more streamlined, high

performance and highly reliable solution that supports digital content, interactivity, intelligence and

life cycle management.

In January 2010,Intel and Microsoft announceda strategic relationship to develop and promote a

validated platform for intelligent digital signage applications. NEC will integrate solutions and services

including content management and media distribution with the digital signage platform based on

Windows Embedded Standard 7 and theIntel Core i5/i7 processors. The companies have discussed

collaboration in the areas of hardware, software, system integration and services.

NECs joining this alliance will further promote the concept of intelligent digital signage and embody

next-generation digital signage products. This includes a strategic cloud computing collaboration,

which is intended to eventually increase alignment between NEC, Intel and Microsoft.

Interactive and intuitive digital signage that leverages cloud-based services presents a tremendous

opportunity for retailers to greatly enhance the customer experience, said Greg Buzek, president of

IHL Group. By taking advantage of innovations being developed by technology leaders, OEMs can

produce more streamlined and reliable digital signage solutions that will drive in-store sales through

targeted, personal and effective customer connections.

The main emphasis of this proposed collaboration is as follows:

Collaboration of new control devices and displays based on Intel Architecture

NEC will enrich its product portfolio by adding a newly developed controller module and displayspecialized for digital signage based on theOpen Pluggable Specification (OPS), Intels initiative to

standardize the design and development of digital signs.

These products support the development of low-cost, high-quality and highly reliable digital signage

solutions.

Collaboration to develop software applications based on running Windows Embedded

Standard 7 with Windows 7 technologies

The collaboration utilizes Microsofts latest Windows 7 technology innovations throughWindows

Embedded Standard 7. These include Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows Touch and

Windows Flip 3D navigation for multigesture touch interfaces and context-aware applications. Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager for streamlined connectivity; and smart power-

management APIs.Audience Measurement Solutions

NEC will enhance its audience measurement solutions by increasing accuracy of its state of the art

age and gender recognition technology.

The use of business intelligence maintained in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 database software

provides more flexibility to create visual analysis of collected data.

Intel Core i5/i7 processors and Windows 7 technology within Windows Embedded Standard 7 enable

NEC to develop the controller capable of managing digital signage software and audience

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measurement software in a single board.

Upgrades to NECs operation management functions New remote management functions by Intel vPro technology such as power management and

software upgrading of displays and controllers. New efficient system to provide online controller management, operating system (OS) updating,

software updating, asset management and others by operating the management software.This alliance is about innovating and collaborating in the growing global digital signage market to

drive additional benefits to our joint customers, said Masaru Takaishi, General Manager of Carrier

and Media Service Solutions Division at NEC. NEC will empower the products and services to provide

innovative digital signage solutions by leveraging our solution, expertise, experience in deployment,

product technologies and power to cultivate the global market with Intel and Microsoft.

The proposed strategic partnership between Microsoft, NEC and Intel is another step forward for the

digital signage industry by helping to ease the path for OEMs to quickly bring innovative products to

market, said Barb Edson, senior director of marketing for the Windows Embedded Business at

Microsoft. With cloud computing services and the optimized digital signage platform built on

Windows Embedded Standard 7, the future of digital signage is here today to empower retailers.

This alliance is a fundamental component to easing the fragmented digital signage industry as it

exists now, said Jose Avalos, Director of Retail and Digital Signage at Intel. By developing digital

signage devices in accordance with Intels Open Pluggable Specification, companies such as NEC will

be able to make digital signage experiences everywhere more intelligent, interactive and connected.

The new products and solutions under this alliance will be exhibited at iExpo 2010, NECs private

show on Nov. 11, 2010, in Tokyo. A prototype demonstration design of this integrated digital signage

platform, running Windows Embedded Standard 7 and the Open Pluggable Specification, will be

showcased at the National Retail Federation (NRF) Annual Convention and Expo Jan. 912, 2011, in

New York.