Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today kicked off the Microsoft(R) Visual Studio(R) 2005/Amazon Web Services Developer Contest at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2005 (PDC05). From now
through Dec. 31, 2005, developers will compete for prizes by using Visual Studio 2005 to build innovative and entrepreneurial applications that use
product data and technology from the AWS platform. The grand-prize winner will have his or her Amazon.com Wish List fulfilled with a value up to $5,000 (U.S.). A complete list of contest rules, eligibility restrictions, entry instructions and prizes is available on the AWS Web site at http://www.amazon.com/aws.

"We are excited to see what developers build using the valuable technology and data we provide through AWS and the powerful tools available in Visual Studio 2005," said Steve Rabuchin, director of Developer Relations at Amazon Web Services. "Every developer who enters an application into the contest is a winner in terms of experience because each new application is also potentially the start of a new business."

AWS provides software developers with direct access to Amazon's ever-growing technology platform and product data for building Web sites and Web applications. Today applications built using the AWS Software Developers Kit range from enhanced Associates sites that advertise products from the Amazon.com Web site to integrated solutions for retailers selling merchandise through Amazon.com. Developers make money by earning referral fees from their Associates sites that link to products available on Amazon.com or by charging
users for the applications they build.

"The Visual Studio development community has repeatedly amazed us with the great Web applications they create," said Scott Guthrie, product unit manager for Web Platform and Tools at Microsoft. "Using AWS and Visual Studio 2005
together, Web developers have a great opportunity to create unique Web applications that take advantage of the power of Amazon data and technology.

With developers having this much power at their fingertips, we can't wait to see what they come up with."

Visual Studio 2005 provides a comprehensive tool set for rapidly building and integrating ASP.NET Web applications and Web services. It offers a full
WYSIWYG ASP.NET design experience, along with IntelliSense(R) statement completion, integrated help, data design, administration and debugging. With the powerful tools contained in Visual Studio 2005, Web developers can access AWS via SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and build Amazon technology and data into new or existing applications that can run on Windows(R) Powered
personal computers, personal digital assistants, tablet computers and mobile phones.

Complete details on the contest are available on the AWS site at http://www.amazon.com/aws . The contest is underway and ends Dec. 31, 2005.
Winners will be announced in early 2006. Contest applications will be judged on creativity, quality and extent of AWS services integration, commercial
appeal, and usability. Eight winners will be selected and receive the following prizes:

-- First Place: $5,000 Amazon.com Wish List fulfillment
-- Second Place: Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition with MSDN(R) subscription
-- Third Place: $500 Amazon.com gift certificate
-- Honorable Mention (five winners): Xbox 360(TM) console

NOTE: Microsoft, Visual Studio, IntelliSense, Windows, MSDN and Xbox 360 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.