Canon joins Microsoft Windows Rally program, to launch office products supporting state-of-the-art connectivity with Windows Vista

TOKYO, February 21, 2007 Canon Inc. today announced it has entered into a licensing agreement with Microsoft Corporation for the Microsoft Windows Rally program. Taking advantage of the Windows Rally technologies, Canon will launch office products realizing advanced connectivity with Windows Vista.

The Windows Rally program is a technology licensing program provided by Microsoft to hardware manufacturers and software developers. The license comprises a range of technologies to provide improved security, usability, and rich experiences between network-connected devices and PCs. Devices that incorporate Windows Rally technologies give users more secure and more stable network communications with PCs running Windows Vista, while also enabling more detailed and convenient management and status confirmation.

Canon, to support the management and status confirmation of network-connected devices, jointly established specifications with Microsoft for the development of DPWS (Devices Profile for Web Services), a new protocol for improved convenience when carrying out such procedures.

With the introduction of Windows Vista, featuring a range of new technologies, Canon plans to launch DPWS-compatible office products aimed at achieving higher levels of connectivity between network-connected devices.

For additional information about the Windows Rally program:

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