Microsoft announced today that it has teamed-up with Irish start-up Zignals, in announcing the launch of a beta online service that is claimed will transform investing for the active trader.

Zignals will provide retail investors with state-of-the-art decision-support tools and access to a financially savvy online network that shares its own independently rated investment strategies. The beta launch of Zignals will focus on personalized services for the investor -- easy-to-use alerts that can be tested, tailored and delivered directly to any e-mail address, personal digital assistant (PDA) or mobile device; intuitive charting; and technical analysis -- all developed using the very latest Microsoft technologies, such as Silverlight.

Zignals was created through the collaboration of the Microsoft IP Ventures team, Enterprise Ireland, successful entrepreneurs Pat Brazel and Scott Tattersall, Manresa Partners, and angel investors.

Microsoft has taken a 15% stake in the software company, which has so far raised €2.5m in private equity finance from investors including Manresa Partners, Enterprise Ireland and a number of private investors.

"The complete absence of personalized service and access to powerful yet usable decision-support tools is often cited by smaller investors as a key constraint on improving the performance of their investment decisions," said Pat Brazel, CEO of Zignals. "This is where we plan to change the status quo. Zignals responds to this need by democratizing trading for the online investor. Microsoft has provided us with the resources and the technology to develop personalized communication services and optimize trading strategies using the yet-to-be-launched Microsoft Solver Foundation technology. The highly intuitive services we are building will open up a whole new world for retail investors who want to maximize the effectiveness of their investment efforts without spending every waking hour peering at screens."

"IP Ventures continues to have success in bringing together entrepreneurs, venture capital and governments to launch new companies, like Zignals, offering exciting technologies, around the world," said Dan’l Lewin, corporate vice president of Strategic and Emerging Business Development at Microsoft. "Microsoft offers entrepreneurs cutting-edge technology and an experienced team to work with to help them bring a new product or service to market. This close collaboration helps ensure long-term success for the new company and its future consumers."

Enterprise Ireland made the original introduction of Brazel to IP Ventures, which resulted in the establishment of Zignals.

"We are delighted to be supporting the establishment of Zignals in Ireland,"said Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland. "We are greatly encouraged by the strong partnership with Microsoft that will bring an exciting innovation to the market while creating new enterprise in Ireland."

Microsoft launched the IP Ventures program in May 2005 to expedite the commercialization of new innovations developed through the company’s significant research and development investment. The program is available globally and is frequently updated with new technology offerings.