News Release

Contact:
Barbara Rudolph
Rudolph & Company
781-229-1811
bjr@rudolphandcompany.com

WESTFORD MASS., March 22, 2006 - Ekaru, LLC, the strategic hands-on provider of technology services for small business, today announced that Microsoft had certified the company as a Small Business Specialist and verified its membership in the Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community, a competency-like designation as part of the Microsoft® Partner Program.

To achieve Small Business Specialist status, Ekaru demonstrated its expertise in a wide range of Microsoft technologies to plan, build, and manage small business solutions. In addition to other benefits, the Small Business Specialist designation enables Ekaru to receive hands on training in hundreds of Microsoft applications and early access to new Microsoft solutions.

“Small business customers want to focus on growing their businesses, not managing their technology,” said Ann Westerehim, president of Ekaru. “They want to work with a trusted technology partner who not only has in-depth knowledge of their systems, but who also can fix current problems, inform on new solutions, design growth strategies, and keep their business running smoothly as it evolves. Our new Small Business Specialist status makes it easier for small business customers to identify us as an expert in addressing any technology issue that faces them.”

Along with its new designation of Small Business Specialist, Ekaru also will be listed as a member of Microsoft‘s newly announced Small Business Specialist Community, a group focused on identifying the small business partners who can deliver Microsoft’s innovative solutions and services to the small-business segment. The Small Business Specialist Community was developed in response to the need for easier and quicker connections between partners and customers. Small Business Specialist Community members are listed within a partner locator tool in the Microsoft Small Business Center site.

“Small businesses are looking for partner companies that understand their unique business needs,” said Douglas Leland, General Manager for Small Business for the Worldwide Small and Midsize Solutions & Partner Group at Microsoft. “With resources like the Small Business Specialist Community and the partner locator tool on the Microsoft Small Business Center Web site, it is much easier for small businesses in the New England region to identify local partners that are best able to address their specific needs. We are confident that the Small Business Specialist Community is beneficial in helping Ekaru reach its full potential by creating more visibility, opportunity, and demand in the local small-business segment.”

About Ekaru, LLC
Headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts, Ekaru, LLC, provides strategic, hands-on technology services for small business and mid-sized businesses. It has enabled a growing list of clients to transform their IT systems from reliable utilities into strategic business assets that can drive revenue growth. The company has the technical knowledge to keep business systems running smoothly and the business technology perspective to advise on IT growth planning as a business expands. Acting as an outsourced IT department, Ekaru’s staff of engineers and consultants can develop, maintain or trouble shoot network solutions, high speed internet access , security & back-up, data protection & recovery, web & email hosting, web site development and strategy & planning. Ekaru a certified member of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), was established in 2001. For more information, visit the web site at www.ekaru.com or call 1-866 GO EKARU (463-5278).

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. For more information visit the web site at www.microsft.com.

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