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| Logo, Catalog Lure Vendors |
| Oct. 15, 2001 |
Microsoft has launched a new "Designed for Windows" Logo Program that eliminates the requirement that software vendors send their software to an independent agency for testing; instead, they self-certify their software using a testing framework and utilities downloaded from Microsoft. Vendors that obtain the logo will also get free placement in an online catalog linked from the Windows XP Start button. The new measures are designed to create momentum for the Windows XP platform by eliminating the difficult requirements and costly testing required under the "Certified for Windows 2000" program, and by providing ISVs with strong incentives to write applications that run reliably and fully exploit the features of XP. Microsoft particularly wants developers to take advantage of features such as Remote Desktop and Fast User Switching, a family-oriented feature that gives each individual his or her own desktop on a shared home PC and will "move the user experience forward," according to Tom Opdycke, general product manager for PC experience at Microsoft. Windows Logo Programs Microsoft operating systems (OSs) are usually accompanied by a logo program that permits vendors to market their hardware or software as "designed for" the operating system if it meets Microsoft-specified compatibility and testing criteria. Until Windows 2000 was released, the company published specifications for both hardware and software that could earn products the "Designed for Windows [version]" logo. These programs were available for all versions of Windows (except Windows ME, which did not have a logo program for software). With Windows 2000, Microsoft continued the "Designed for Windows 2000" program for computer systems and devices, but created a more stringent "Certified for Windows 2000" specification for software. Aimed primarily at assuring enterprise customers that applications were ready for enterprise use, the certification program was the most rigorous Microsoft has ever designed, and required that applications be tested by an independent testing organization, a requirement that could add tens of thousands of dollars to the certification process. Though Windows 2000 certification helps ensure high-quality and compatible software, it has cost Microsoft dearly in terms of perceived OS support: nearly two years after certification testing became available, only 155 software packages have been officially "Certified for Windows 2000 Professional," for example. In contrast, more than 800 applications had obtained the "Designed for Windows 95" logo 15 months after Windows 95 was launched. In retrospect, Microsoft sources say, the "Certified for Windows 2000" program left little room for software that ran without fault on the OS but did not fully exploit all its features. Thousands of applications were technically compatible with Windows 2000, but high testing costs and requirements that made little sense for many applications-Active Directory integration for games or making a graphics program accessible to blind users, for example-limited certification to a small group of mostly enterprise-oriented applications. XP Logo Levels Windows XP is both a consumer and professional desktop system, and the new logo program simultaneously raises the standard for consumer software while lowering the barrier for professional software, eliminating requirements that Microsoft says were too stringent for many business applications. The new program replaces a stick-a high threshold that applications had to meet before they could get the logo-with a carrot: the more they exploit the new features of Windows XP, the more visibility applications will get on a Web site called the Windows Catalog. (See the sidebar "Windows Catalog Promotes XP-Optimized Products".) A link to the Catalog will appear in the Windows XP Start menu, making it visible to tens of millions of Windows XP users. Three levels of software compliance are available. Basic compatibility ensures that the program offers basic functionality and stability on Windows XP, and that any kernel-mode drivers and other special drivers have passed additional tests to ensure XP compatibility. Programs that meet these requirements will not be qualified to use the logo, but may be listed in the Windows Catalog. The "Designed for Windows XP" logo is given to software that meets the basic requirements, installs and uninstalls correctly, and manages settings and user data, such as default file locations, in a way that is consistent with Windows XP defaults. These products will gain more prominent placement in the Windows Catalog. "Designed for Windows XP-Optimized" means that the software meets additional criteria that are important for specific purposes, such as playing games, using Passport (Microsoft's single sign-on technology), or providing accessibility for the disabled; these items will be the most prominent in the Windows Catalog. All vendors submitting applications for the Windows Catalog must digitally sign part of their software to verify that the application came from their company (a code-signing ID is available from VeriSign for less than US$500). They must send a copy of the application, with a statement that it meets the logo requirements, to the Windows Hardware Quality Lab which, in spite of its name, processes applications for both software and hardware. (For more detailed certification requirements, see the sidebar "Criteria for Windows XP Certification".) Developers already familiar with Windows 2000 Professional certification should have little difficulty meeting the new logo requirements. Applications certified for Windows 2000 have already completed most of the requirements for "Optimized" certification on Windows XP. For example, making software more accessible for the disabled is required for Windows 2000 certification, but is only optional for the "Designed for Windows XP-Optimized" level. Windows 9x developers, who have faced less stringent logo requirements in the past and have less experience designing software for multi-user machines, will find Windows XP certification more challenging with its stricter installation requirements, protected system files, and tighter security model. Hardware Certification Microsoft's hardware compatibility testing covers both PCs and peripheral devices, such as CD-ROM drives, but because devices vary so much in their design and function, only the logo requirements for PCs will be described here. PCs can gain a Windows XP logo at two levels of compliance. Basic Systems have 128MB of RAM, conform to the ACPI 1.0b power management specification, and have no ISA bus. All devices in the computer must be Plug and Play, and device drivers for factory-installed devices must be digitally signed. Optimized Consumer Systems add features such as the following:
Unlike software certification, all hardware must be submitted to the Windows Hardware Quality Lab for compliance testing before it will be approved for the Windows XP logo or inclusion in the Windows Catalog. Lowering the Bar? The stricter Windows 2000 certification process was designed to assure corporate customers in particular that the software they were buying had passed rigorous tests conducted by an independent agency, and many consultants recommended to their clients that they buy Windows 2000-certified software whenever possible. The new logo requirements and the self-certification process tip the balance toward software vendors, but Microsoft says it is not sacrificing quality to get a large quantity of software products branded with the Windows XP logo. The company says the new logo requirements better reflect the mix of consumer and enterprise software that will run on Windows XP, rather than any reduction in standards. Letting vendors self-certify their software also suggests relaxed standards, but Microsoft says all software must be tested by vendors using a comprehensive testing framework developed in concert with VeriTest, which also does testing for Windows 2000 certification. The company will retest some applications itself to audit vendor compliance with the program. Vendors that find testing too difficult or time-consuming can hire VeriTest to do it for between US$1,250 and US$3,000. A secondary goal of the testing program is to create a "developer roadmap," says Opdycke. "We want it to be more than a set of hurdles. Someone who really wants to do the right things now has a quick checklist of things that will make their product superior." The combination of a less-stringent logo qualification program and placement in the Windows Catalog will entice many vendors to the new logo program. Microsoft is not saying how many vendors it expects to sign up for the Windows Catalog, but a preview shown to Directions on Microsoft two weeks before the Windows XP launch suggests that the Catalog will have several hundred vendors by the time the OS is publicly available. The Catalog will be particularly valuable for small software vendors, says Mike Wickstrand, business development manager for PC experience. "It really levels the playing field and allows a small vendor to get the same visibility that companies with larger marketing budgets get." Still undetermined is the future of certification for server applications. Because the "Certified for Windows 2000" program included both server and desktop applications, and Windows XP is only a desktop OS, Microsoft says it may put in place a separate certification program for server applications built for the Windows .NET Server OS, scheduled for release in 2002. Resources The "Designed for Windows" XP Logo Program and Windows Catalog are described at www.windowslogo.com. Specifications for software, hardware, and device compatibility, as well as related testing frameworks, can be downloaded from www.microsoft.com/winlogo/downloads/software.asp. Information about VeriSign code-signing IDs is at www.verisign.com/products/winlogo. |
