Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
Encyclopedia
The Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) is the highest award given by Microsoft
to those it considers "the best and brightest from technology communities around the world" who "actively share their ... technical expertise with the community and with Microsoft". An MVP is awarded for contributions over the previous year.
The MVP program grew out of the software developer
community, as the initial MVPs were some of the most active on the online peer support communities such as Usenet
and CompuServe
. It has since grown to include other types of products, and other avenues of contribution. Steve Ballmer
spoke to a group of Microsoft MVP's about XP and Vista.
A posting from Tamar Granor on the Universal Thread web site gives this account of the origin of the MVP program.
and Steve Ballmer
, Microsoft announced three days later that the cancellation had been rescinded.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
to those it considers "the best and brightest from technology communities around the world" who "actively share their ... technical expertise with the community and with Microsoft". An MVP is awarded for contributions over the previous year.
The MVP program grew out of the software developer
Software developer
A software developer is a person concerned with facets of the software development process. Their work includes researching, designing, developing, and testing software. A software developer may take part in design, computer programming, or software project management...
community, as the initial MVPs were some of the most active on the online peer support communities such as Usenet
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
and CompuServe
CompuServe
CompuServe was the first major commercial online service in the United States. It dominated the field during the 1980s and remained a major player through the mid-1990s, when it was sidelined by the rise of services such as AOL with monthly subscriptions rather than hourly rates...
. It has since grown to include other types of products, and other avenues of contribution. Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer
Steven Anthony "Steve" Ballmer is an American business magnate. He is the chief executive officer of Microsoft, having held that post since January 2000. , his personal wealth is estimated at US$13.9 billion, ranking number 19 on the Forbes 400.-Early life:Ballmer was born in Detroit, Michigan to...
spoke to a group of Microsoft MVP's about XP and Vista.
A posting from Tamar Granor on the Universal Thread web site gives this account of the origin of the MVP program.
Cancellation and reinstatement
On October 22, 1999, a Microsoft executive sent out a message announcing the cancellation of the MVP program. This may have been in response to a recent suit against AOL by its newsgroup leaders, who felt that they deserved to be paid for the time they put in online. After an outpouring of online support, including many emails sent directly to Bill GatesBill Gates
William Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen...
and Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer
Steven Anthony "Steve" Ballmer is an American business magnate. He is the chief executive officer of Microsoft, having held that post since January 2000. , his personal wealth is estimated at US$13.9 billion, ranking number 19 on the Forbes 400.-Early life:Ballmer was born in Detroit, Michigan to...
, Microsoft announced three days later that the cancellation had been rescinded.