Microsoft Launches Online Student Avatar Playgrounds at TheUltimateSteal.com

Starting today, as part of Microsoft Corp.’s promotion the Ultimate Steal, university students from around the world will be able to create and customize their own digital alter egos, or avatars, in the Ultimate College All-Nighter and the Ultimate College Idol “playgrounds” at TheUltimateSteal.com/Sweepstakes.

“These competitions not only are designed to be fun; they offer students a way to engage technology at a very personal level,” said Alan Yates, general manager of Worldwide Public Sector Education at Microsoft. “We are committed to helping students access the products they need to be successful while in school and on into their post-graduate career, while giving them an opportunity to experience cutting-edge technology in a fun and exciting way.”

With the help of Voki technology, Oddcast Inc.’s next-generation speaking avatar platform for online communities, social networks and media properties, students are able to create their characters on TheUltimateSteal.com/Sweepstakes, use their voice to create a speaking avatar story and then share their stories or songs in the online “playgrounds” on the site, publish them to other social networking sites such as Facebook, or e-mail them to their friends.

“We have seen that college students have a tremendous affinity for avatar-based content and applications, and Voki avatar technology enables Microsoft to engage them in a way that is meaningful and relevant,” said Adi Sideman, CEO of Oddcast.

Through Jan. 31, 2008, students can participate in two online avatar playgrounds:

•	The Ultimate College Idol competition gets students to take center stage, exhibiting their best — and possibly worst — talent. More important, students have a chance to flaunt their school spirit and use that as their inspiration.
•	In the Ultimate College All-Nighter competition, students can use their avatar to tell the world about their favorite all-nighter — whether they skipped sleep to cram, stayed out partying until dawn, or rode an adrenaline rush through a nonstop gaming session.