marketing expense also contributed to improved operating results in this period compared to the previous year. This improvement has been partially offset by increased salary and benefit costs from increased hiring and increased investment in research and development. The Mobile and Embedded Devices operating loss for fiscal year 2004 decreased compared to fiscal year 2003 primarily due to growth in revenue and lower marketing expenses, partially offset by $58 million of stock-based compensation expense from the employee stock option transfer program in the second quarter of fiscal year 2004. 

Mobile and Embedded Devices is committed to continuing product innovation to meet the growing needs of our customers and partners. We will continue to invest in research and development and sales and marketing to develop and market evolving software solutions. In fiscal year 2006 we expect to bring added functionality to the Windows Mobile 5.0 platform through the Windows Mobile 5.0 Messaging and Security Feature Pack and the Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2. This solution enables business users to easily stay connected to their Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile information and helps businesses to better protect device data. We expect sales for Mobile and Embedded Devices to continue to grow in fiscal year 2006. The growth is anticipated to be driven by an overall increase in customer demand for connectivity, and an increase in the number of new devices being offered by OEMs and mobile operators incorporating Windows Mobile software and Windows Embedded operating 



systems. Growth is also anticipated due to a strong focus on increasing segment share in the connected device space by working with our partners to bring to market a strong portfolio of Smartphone and mobile computing devices. In addition, we are focused on bringing to market applications and services on the Windows Mobile platform that fulfill our customers desire for personalized communication devices. Effective July 1, 2005, functions related to MapPoint in Mobile and Embedded Devices have been moved to MSN. This reorganization will result in a corresponding change to the Mobile and Embedded Devices and MSN reported results. 

 

Home and Entertainment 

 

Home and Entertainment includes the Microsoft Xbox video game console system, PC games, the Home Products Division (HPD), and TV platform products for the interactive television industry. The success of video game consoles is determined by console functionality, the portfolio of video game content for the console, and the market share of the console. Revenue and unit volumes have grown quickly since we entered the market in 2002 and we have established ourselves as one of the market leaders. We believe our competitive position and revenue is bolstered by our increasing software game attach rates, which provides higher margins to offset the declining prices on consoles sold. Xbox consoles have negative gross margins. 

Home and Entertainment revenue increased in fiscal year 2005 primarily due to significant new product launches, which resulted in a $416 million or 23% increase in Xbox revenue. In the second quarter of fiscal year