News from Kenworth: Microsoft Mobile
Experience Tour
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jeff Parietti, (425) 828-5196 jparietti@paccar.com
Microsoft Mobile Experience Tour Uses Kenworth T2000 To Deliver Mobile
Computing Message
KIRKLAND, Wash., May 29, 2001 - Kenworth Truck Company is helping Microsoft
Corp. bring the Microsoft Mobile Experience Tour to 11 major cities around
the country.
The Microsoft tour offers an in-depth look at mobile computing. The tour's
centerpiece is a 45-foot rolling Mobile Theater, chock-full of the latest
server, wireless and device technologies.
According to Microsoft, the Kenworth T2000 was chosen as its tour
transporter because it helps provides the tour with a premium image.
"It was essential that the truck selected to transport the Microsoft Mobile
Experience Tour convey a very high-tech, premium image," said Derek Brown,
product manager for the mobile devices division at Microsoft Corp. "When we
saw the Kenworth T2000, we were certainly impressed by its sleek,
aerodynamic and high-tech look. It made the final decision easy."
The tour kicked off in early May at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond,
Wash. Since then, the black T2000 transporter has carried the tour to San
Jose, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and Dallas. Coming up on the
two-month tour agenda are Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston and New
York. The T2000 transporter and Microsoft exhibit also have been making
weekend visits to Comp-USA retail stores in the tour cities following the
weekday seminar stops.
The truck and trailer are being tracked all along the way by Aether System's
MobileMAX2, the first mobile communications device to combine land-based and
satellite technology in one rugged shell, which automatically delivers
vehicle information to a central location.
Todd Modderman drives the T2000 on the Microsoft Mobile Experience Tour.
Modderman works for Motion Picture and Events, a division of United Rentals.
"I really like the T2000," said Modderman, who is driving a Kenworth for the
first time. "It definitely gives us the maneuverability we need to get in
and out of the tour stops. We're not going into loading docks; we're going
into parking lots. We pull a 52-foot trailer and have a 238-inch wheelbase,
plus I've got the fifth wheel slid all the way back. So maneuverability is
key."
Modderman said the black T2000 leased from PacLease uses a 475 hp Cat engine
3406E and 10-speed Fuller transmission. "We run heavy weight - about 77,000
pounds - but the T2000 has a good ride and the fuel economy is pretty good,"
said Modderman, who has driven trucks for nearly 14 years. "The single bunk
is also good and comfortable."
The T2000 sports aluminum tool boxes behind the cab and has stainless steel
rear fenders. "I keep it all polished up," said Modderman, who said he
usually spends one day to set up the exhibit, and three days to detail the
truck at each tour stop. "It works good and looks good."
He said that the truck generates a lot of attention for the tour. "Some
people just want to look at the T2000. I let them look inside. A lot of
people never have been around a truck before and they think it's neat to see
the T2000 up close."
Modderman is especially looking forward to the New York stop at PC Expo in
the Javits Center in late June. "The T2000 and Microsoft trailer exhibit
will be the first thing people see when they walk in the convention center,"
he said. "And I expect that we'll be the only tractor-trailer at the show."
The Microsoft Mobile Experience Tour offers several seminars. The Enterprise
Executive Wireless Deployment Workshop for senior executives focuses on
wireless deployment and solutions issues. The executive briefing on
Enterprise Wireless and Mobility offers an introduction to Microsoft mobile
software powering servers, PCs, devices and services. The Mobile
Professional session focuses on business and productivity with
demonstrations on cell phones, Pocket PC, the code-named "Stinger" Smart
Phone, and Microsoft Outlook mobile access.
More information on the Microsoft Mobile Experience Tour is available at
www.microsoft.com/mobile/tour.
Kenworth Truck Company, a division of PACCAR Inc, is a leading manufacturer
of heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth's Internet home page is at
www.kenworth.com.
#
Note: Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of
their
respective owners.
Note: Photo ID for msoftToddlr.jpg -- tour driver Todd Modderman. If you
would like high-res versions of these attached low-res images, please reply
to this email.