Microsoft Silverlight will be used to power live, gavel-to-gavel Web video coverage.Democrats may not know who their presidential candidate will be yet, but
they at least have settled on Microsoft as the official software and HD Web
content provider for the Democratic National Convention Aug. 25-28 in Denver.
As part of the deal, Microsoft software will be used to
support delegate tracking, voting and the management of credentials. During the
nomination process, Microsoft technology will support a voting system providing
up-to-the-minute delegate vote totals electronically to the Office of the
Secretary of the Democratic National Committee.
In addition, the software giant's Silverlight platform will bring live,
gavel-to-gavel video coverage of the convention to the convention's Web site.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"From voting to nominate the next president of the United
States to adopting a national platform,
there is a significant amount of important party business that goes on at each
and every convention," Leah D. Daughtry, CEO
of the DNCC (Democratic National Convention Committee), said in a joint
statement with Microsoft.
Click here to read about Microsoft's Silverlight deal with NBC for summer coverage of the Olympics.
According to Microsoft, Silverlight multimedia applications will provide an
all-access pass for the convention's online audience, offering an opportunity
for viewers to individually tailor their viewing experiences. In addition
to custom development, Microsoft will provide convention officials with
software including business productivity, e-mail, content services and
real-time collaboration applications.
"Technology is playing an increasingly critical role in the electoral
process and contributing to the convention allows Microsoft to help ensure that
the Democratic Party [and] its delegates as well as voters watching in their
homes and on the Internet are able to take full advantage of the
benefits," said Brad Smith, Microsoft's senior vice president and general
counsel.
Microsoft also said it will contribute to the DNCC's "greening"
efforts by tracking the company's carbon footprint for convention-related
energy consumption, including all trips, deliveries, shipping transport of
goods, and staff air and ground travel.
The DNCC claims the 2008 convention will be the most environmentally sustainable
event of its kind because sustainable planning principles will be applied to
every decision leading up to the four-day event.
Microsoft archrival Google has already struck a
similar deal with the Republicans to be the "Official Innovation
Provider" at the GOP's Sept. 1-4 convention in Minneapolis.
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