One of the largest challenges confronting people in nearly every business environment is information overload. To varying degrees, many people feel besieged by the sheer volume of e-mail, voice mail, faxes, and other documents that they encounter on a daily basis. Fortunately, Microsoft is engineering a remedy for information fatigue.

Microsoft is showcasing its solution for information overload at its Center for Information Works, a state-of-the-future demonstration center, in which software and hardware work together to create greater technological efficiency. In Microsoft’s vision of the future, no matter where you are or how you are communicating—via cell phone, laptop, or handheld—Microsoft’s next-generation software converts all of your e-mail, voice mail, and other information into the type of document most appropriate for the device you are using.

If you have the advantage of touring the Center for Information Works at Microsoft’s Redmond, WA, campus, you’ll encounter plenty of Sony equipment, such as our world-renowned plasma and LCD displays and wireless, networkable projectors. As Sony senior national manager Tom Mykietyn notes, “Microsoft is showing very prototypical and visionary software, and we’re showing how products we are offering today can play a role in that vision, even five years out.” For a view of Sony’s business-to-business future, read the interview with Pat Whittingham, the new president of Sony’s Business Solutions and Systems Company, in the Questions & Answers column. A 27-year veteran of Sony,

Well-trained employees are one of the hallmarks of a successful company. Not surprisingly, employee training is paramount at Pfizer. For an inside view of Pfizer’s 110,000-square-foot training facility in Rye Brook, NY, see the link on the home page.. Pfizer’s facility is outfitted with Sony equipment, including Digital Betacam® cameras, display monitors and editing recorders, wall-mounted cameras, microphones and switchers. Not only do we supply Pfizer with the state-of-art digital gear, but our SupportNET service team also maintains and repairs the equipment.

Last year, Sony executives approached sports teams and leagues across America and posed a simple question: How can we serve you better? We kept coming across one answer: people wanted a single point of contact at Sony. In response, we recently launched the Sports Marketing Group, which acts as a single centralized point of contact within Sony to quickly address the needs of sports applications. On page 34, you can read how the Sports Marketing Group has assisted the football programs at University of Michigan and the Appalachian State University make the transition from analog to digital equipment and formats.

Another innovative development at Sony is our PictureStation digital photofinishing system, which is an affordable, fast and easy-to-use printing solution for digital camera owners. Discover why franchisees and independent stores alike are snatching up the PictureStation photofinishing system.

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