Microsoft powers local search for Hutch users in Mumbai

Mumbai, August 09, 2007: Hutch, one of India's leading telecom service providers and Microsoft Corp. today announced the launch of Local Search service for Hutch GPRS users in Mumbai using Live Search. With the Local Search and Click-to-Call services, Live Search on Hutch mobiles becomes the first comprehensive mobile search service ever to be launched in India. The other cities where this service is available are Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. Speaking on the launch, local spokesperson, Hutch, said, "At Hutch we are focused on delivering innovative offerings that enhance and add value to the lives of our subscribers, and this service is a perfect example of our efforts, where technology meets customer convenience." Whether its movies, hospitals, schools, colleges, restaurants, pubs, concerts, plays, malls, showrooms or book stores - Hutch users and visitors to Mumbai can now search for everything they need to know about the city on their Hutch phones. The Click-to-Call service also allows users to make a call by just clicking on the numbers thrown up by their search results. Commenting on this initiative, Jaspreet Bindra, Country Manager, Microsoft Online Services Group, said, "Local Search capability is part of our commitment to helping consumers find local and relevant information everyday when they're on the go. This is just one of the many services that MSN India & Windows Live will be bringing to users along with Hutch. We will soon be offering local search capability to other cities."

About Vodafone Essar Limited

Vodafone Essar in India is part of Vodafone and owes its origins to 1994 when its predecessor Hutchison Telecom acquired the cellular license for Mumbai. It now has operations in 16 circles accounting for 86% of India's mobile customer base, with over 31 million customers*. Vodafone Essar, under the Hutch brand, has over the years been named the 'Most Respected Telecom Company', the 'Best Mobile Service in the country', and the 'Most Creative and Most Effective Advertiser of the Year'. Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications company. Vodafone now has operations in 26 countries across 5 continents and 36 partner networks with about 225 million proportionate customers worldwide. Vodafone has tied up with Essar as its principal joint venture partner for the Indian operation. The Essar Group is one of India's largest corporate houses with interests spanning the manufacturing and service sectors like Steel, Oil & Gas, Power, Telecom & BPO, Shipping & Logistics and Engineering & Constructions. The Group has an asset base of over Rs.200 billion (US$ 4.9 billion) and employs over 4000 people. www.hutch.in

*Figures from Cellular Operators Association of India, June 30, 2007.

About MSN and Windows Live MSN attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering compelling programmed content experiences to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. Windows Live, a new set of personal Internet services and software, is designed to bring together in one place all the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across their PC, devices and the Web. MSN and Windows Live will be offered alongside each other as complementary services. Some Windows Live services entered an early beta phase on Nov. 1, 2005; these and future beta updates can be found at http://ideas.live.com. Windows Live is available at http://www.live.com. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com. MSN worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software-any time, any place and on any device. Microsoft has been in India since 1990 and employs over 4000 people across its offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune.