Server Applications

Great Plains Updates E-Commerce, Hosted Offerings

In an effort to promote its e-commerce servers (including SQL Server), Microsoft is incorporating partner products built on these servers into the Great Plains product line

Operating Systems

.NET Framework Forces Decisions

As the heart of Microsoft’s .NET vision, the .NET Framework is Microsoft’s blueprint for future application development

Windows XP Released to OEMs

OEMs are expected to start preinstalling the new OSs on PCs immediately, resellers must wait until October to sell Windows XP shrink-wrapped full product or upgrades

Second Windows XP Embedded Beta Released

The public beta gives system builders an embedded OS built on Windows XP Professional that is far more componentized and configurable than its NT4-based predecessor

Three Tools Boost Windows Security

Two new security tools check the status of a system; a third helps administrators tighten the default IIS security settings

Development Tools & Programs

Kit Opens Speech to Visual Basic

New Automation interfaces allow VB, VB for Applications, and Windows scripting languages to incorporate speech recognition and synthesis capabilities

Commercial & Consumer Services

A Closer Look at Passport

Passport's strategic importance, how it works, what it takes for a 3rd party to incorporate it into their Web site, and what information MS collects and how they plan to use it

New Ad Partner Program Launched

Microsoft adopts tactics of other big-name sites to bolster sales of online advertising on MSN

Hotmail Fee-Based Service

For US$12.95 per year, Hotmail users can expand their maximum storage space to 10MB (first 2MB is free)

Sales & Support

Online License Compliance Tool Developed

The new online tool determines whether software purchased through the Open License program is eligible for Microsoft’s new Software Assurance (SA) program

Credit Line for Systems Builders

The pilot program allows small companies in the US that build computers to apply for loans to purchase Microsoft software, computer hardware, and related non-Microsoft items

Corporate News

Microsoft Treads Narrow Line on Privacy

Microsoft's vision for the future Internet "eXPerience" has hit a snag: concerns that access to personal data from anywhere, at any time, on any device could threaten personal privacy

Legal Update: No Breakup Sought; EC Turns Up Heat

DoJ won't seek a breakup, pursue a claim that MS illegally tied IE to Windows, nor seek an injunction against Windows XP; the EC expands its separate antitrust investigation