Microsoft launches Microsoft Money Plus

Building on the company’s 17-year history of delivering award-winning financial management solutions, Microsoft Corp. today launches Microsoft Money Plus, the latest release of the popular Money product line. Money Plus debuts innovative new tools that enable consumers to effortlessly manage all their finances. With customizable “Insights,” Microsoft Money Plus delivers important financial information right to the desktop, without the need to open the Money program. Consumers can personalize Insights to alert them when they are close to preset spending limits or when bills are coming due and can also quickly and easily check accounts to see balances and cash flow.

“Everyone is busy these days, and sometimes you just need to know your account balance or check out whether you have enough extra cash to splurge on dinner, an amazing outfit or the latest ‘must have’ golf gadget,” said Chris Jolley, group manager of the Financial Products Group at Microsoft. “Microsoft Money Plus is designed to provide quick information right when you need it with comprehensive tools, services and commentary to help make financial decisions with confidence. Microsoft Money Plus takes out the guesswork, so you’re able to spend less time worrying about money and more time enjoying it.”

With the comprehensive set of tools and tight online integration with MSN Money, Money Plus customers can get a complete view of their finances, understand what bills have been paid and which are due, access stock information, and tap into the extensive list of financial experts on MSN Money for tips and guidance.

The powerful new and improved features of Money Plus include the following:
- Insights put financial information right at consumers’ fingertips, so the information they need most is never far away.
- Bills Insights alert people when bills are due or overdue.
- Spending Insights keep people on top of the spending that they care about most, by category:
-Consumers can read articles from the experts on MSN Money to help improve finances in a particular area.
-Consumers can share ideas and hear others’ ideas on spending message boards.
-Cash Flow Insights provide a fast and convenient view of spending and deposits, as well as account balances.

With Microsoft Money Plus, consumers can now do the following:
-Attach a link to an important file such as a check image or scanned receipt right in the Money account register
- Get the top 10 daily updates from MSN Money StockScouter
- See Morningstar ratings in the popular MSN Money ETF center
- Rate favorite stocks, and challenge Wall Street gurus as CAPS tracks their stock picks on MSN Money
- Track U.S. markets, Treasury markets, currencies, commodities and world markets with the MSN Money Market Dashboard
- Keep account information up to date with enhanced background banking

Users of Money Plus Premium and Money Plus Home & Business receive a valuable set of financial services included with their Money Plus product valued up to $450 (U.S.) for Premium users and up to $900 (U.S.) for Home & Business users. Through these services, consumers can access valuable information from 10 companies to help manage important financial concerns. These services help prevent identity theft, prepare taxes, teach kids about handling money, track investment income and much more.

The automated tools in Money Plus are designed to take the guesswork out of managing finances. The Money Plus product line arms consumers with valuable quick and easy solutions that allow them to see beyond their account balances to understand where all the money is going, and ultimately make the most of it.

Pricing and Availability

Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe is available at an estimated price of $49.99 (U.S.) plus a $20 mail-in rebate. Microsoft Money Plus Premium is available at an estimated price of $79.99 (U.S.) plus a $30 mail-in rebate. Microsoft Money Plus Home & Business is available at an estimated price of $89.99 (U.S.) plus a $30 mail-in rebate. Money Essentials is available for download online for $19.99. Money Plus is available today at http://www.microsoft.com/money and will soon be available at retailers.