Microsoft Corp., holding its first so-called say-on-pay vote, said shareholders voted to indicate support for the company's compensation policies.

The measure got about 98 percent of the vote, based on a preliminary count, General Counsel Brad Smith said at the company's annual shareholder meeting in Bellevue, Wash.

Microsoft's board agreed this year to give shareholders a nonbinding say on pay once every three years and this was the first such vote. Shareholders also approved a board proposal that would let investors representing 25 percent of shares call a special meeting.

Windows 7, released last month, is selling twice as quickly as any previous operating system, Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said at the meeting, without providing specific numbers.

Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, fell 33 cents to $29.78 Thursday on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The stock has climbed 53 percent this year.

-- Bloomberg News