Bowne Global Solutions Executes Microsoft's Single Largest Software Package Localization Ever; Undertaking Gives Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Global Reach and Scale.

Business & High-Tech Editors

Microsoft Tech-Ed 2002

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2002

Bowne Global Solutions, the world leader in globalization services and technology, a division of Bowne & Co., Inc. (NYSE: BNE), today announced that it has completed one of the world's largest localization efforts for Microsoft Visual Studio .NET.

In just under 16 months, Bowne Global Solutions (BGS) devised and implemented the language and cultural translation of Microsoft's development environment to build and deploy XML Web.

BGS' localization of this tool is integral to Microsoft's .NET initiative, allowing developers in all regions of the world to create state-of-the-art applications and XML Web services.

"With our global reach and scores of talented engineers, Bowne Global Solutions is uniquely qualified to implement all the localization for Microsoft's Visual Studio .NET worldwide. In the past, projects of this magnitude have been divided among separate European and Asian localization companies," said Carl Glaeser, Bowne Global Solutions CEO. "Our dedicated and disciplined work for the last 16 months will give businesses, commerce and individuals around the globe the opportunity to take advantage of Microsoft Visual Studio .NET immediately."

Microsoft's Single Largest Software Package Localization

Bowne Global Solutions localized Microsoft Visual Studio .NET into eight non-English languages, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese and Korean. In one of the largest localization projects in history, Bowne Global Solutions localized close to 1 million words of software user interface and 14 million words of documentation, both online and printed.

"We decided to use BGS because it has put in place a worldwide structure capable of handling a project of this size and complexity and of delivering the technical quality our customers around the world require," said Fabrice Fonck, Director for Developer International at Microsoft Corp. Using a hub-and-spoke model in Europe and East Asia, we were able to streamline training, communication and support throughout the 16-month project. We were extremely pleased with the quality and timeliness of all BGS deliverables."

About Bowne Global Solutions

Bowne Global Solutions is the leading provider of comprehensive globalization solutions and technology -- enabling its clients to reach their customers in any part of the world. Through a suite of integrated globalization services, BGS enables its clients to grow global market share by marketing and distributing locally relevant, culturally connected products and services. BGS helps its customers realize time-to-market and customer service benefits through customized, integrated services including: globalization process consulting, terminology management, content authoring and multi-language translation, technical writing, technology localization and testing, as well as complete globalization process outsourcing.

BGS provides globalization services to leaders in such industries as software, telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, medical devices, utilities, and entertainment. BGS, with 1600 employees in 21 countries, has its global headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Bowne Global Solutions is a subsidiary of Bowne & Co., Inc. (NYSE:BNE), the world's largest financial printer and also a provider of outsourcing services, legal software and digital print-on-demand solutions.

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Note to the Editor:

Globalization: The process by which a company breaks free of their home markets to capitalize upon business opportunities wherever their customers may be. Truly global companies consider the need for multi-lingualilty at all stages of product development, from conception to production and support. Some use the term "globalization" interchangeably with "internationalization." Internationalization refers to the act of preparing products for foreign markets, while globalization refers to a company's attitude towards embracing a global view of their market.

Localization: The process in which the various elements of a product are transformed for use in a specific locale or target market. True localization considers language, culture, custom (business and interpersonal), and the characteristics of the specific target market. The result is a product for which the user believes was developed specifically for them and not noticeably adapted from another language version.

Simplified Chinese: Chinese ideographs used typically in Mainland China and Singapore. It is simplified as approximately 2000 characters have been altered by deleting or changing strokes.

Traditional Chinese: Chinese ideographs used typically in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and most Chinese speaking regions except mainland China and Singapore.