Operating Systems & Server Applications

"Tahoe" Document Management Server in Beta

A detailed look at the upcoming product's document management, search, and retrieval functions

Microsoft Launches .NET Management Services Initiative

A new web-based admin console, enhancements to OS plumbing, and a new event consolidation & monitoring product promise to make .NET systems more manageable

Metadirectory Services Tackle Identity Management

For companies with multiple directories, Microsoft Metadirectory Services can provide centralized management of the identity data stored in the directories

Exchange 2000 Replaces MCIS for ISPs

Microsoft Commercial Internet Services (MCIS) is being phased out in favor of Exchange 2000 Enterprise Server, Internet Information Server, and Commerce Server 2000

In Brief: Whistler Beta

With Beta 1, MS is looking for customer feedback on new features as well as feedback on the upgrade experience

In Brief: Windows 2000 Pro Popular at Home

The fact that Windows 2000's use on the Web shows no weekend decline seems to indicate high home usage

In Brief: Updated IPv6 Preview Ships to Developers

The Preview provides developers with early access to the IPv6 networking code to be included in Whistler

Network & Internet Platforms

E-Business Acceleration Initiative Announced

The initiative, a combination of software and service offerings, is an attempt to drive .NET Enterprise Server sales by capitalizing on the young but quickly growing B2B market

Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1 Slaps Bugs

Microsoft has quietly replaced the IE 5.5 download with IE 5.5 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Development Tools & Programs

In Brief: .NET Visual Studio and Framework Beta 1

The programming environment and run time virtual machine & libraries are at the core of Microsoft's .NET initiative

In Brief: MSXML 3.0 Available For Download

Microsoft's XML 3.0 engine, which provides XML services for program components and scripting apps, consolidates eight different versions of MSXML 2.x

In Brief: Significant Changes in MDAC 2.6 SDK

The absence of Jet Engine DLLs in the SDK fuels speculation that the Jet Engine may soon be eliminated in favor of the Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE)

In Brief: SAPI SDK 5.0 Released with Broad Support

New SDK incorporates Extended Markup Language (XML)-to-speech parsing and simplified programming

Appliances & Embedded Systems

CE Add-On Heralds New Devices

New add-on components provide Windows CE-based embedded systems with improved networking, XML, and multimedia support

SQL Server For Windows CE Is Released

A compact SQL Server 2000 Windows CE Edition allows enterprises to move relational database functionality to handheld mobile devices

Embedded Partner Programs Updated

A variety of separate programs and sources of information for Windows Embedded developers, partners, and customers have been consolidated and revised

Car.NET Announced

The automobile initiative combines the .NET infrastructure & tools with WinCE for Automotive, a new Mobile Information Server, and MS and third-party-supplied telematic services

In Brief: Reader Content SDK

The SDK is for tool vendors and content publishers creating tools for outputting content in Microsoft's Reader file format

Commercial & Consumer Services

Latest MSN Launch Integrates Brand, Targets AOL

A new strategy for MSN consolidates Microsoft-branded online services under a single umbrella and makes it more difficult for users to wander outside them

New bCentral Services Detailed

New financial and catalog publishing services underscore bCentral's evolving roles as an application service provider for small businesses and as a showcase for .NET

WebTV Update

Details about upcoming UltimateTV service revealed; several networks plan to create enhanced TV programming; false advertising claim setted with the FTC

MSN Offers New Enriched Ads

Microsoft is trying to make MSN more appealing to advertisers by offering new types of interactivity and animation in ads

In Brief: Warner Chooses Windows Media

One of the five largest record companies will use Windows Media Format for commercial downloads

Sales & Support

ASP Initiatives Target New Niches, PC Management

The application services provider industry is in flux, and MS is exploring many of the market’s new business models to determine if they could become good sales channels

Per-Use Licensing Tested

Microsoft's first experiment with per-use licensing--charging people each time they use a product--is underway at some Internet cafes in Europe and North America

In Brief: Premier Support for Dot Coms

Internet companies can now purchase a special version of Microsoft's top support package, Premier Support

In Brief: ClickRewards Benefit Resellers

Microsoft is offering resellers free travel and gadgets for selling Windows 2000 server products and Client Access Licenses

Corporate News

Continued Hacking Impacts Microsoft

Recent attacks against Microsoft's internal corporate network and public Web servers have hurt the company's reputation and productivty

Microsoft Courting Governments

Stung by political and legal setbacks that were missed by its technology-oriented radar, Microsoft has tackled government relations with money and personnel