[The articles below were posted between Nov. 26, 2001 and Dec. 17, 2002 and appear in the January 2002 hardcopy edition of Update. One or more are available below for free to non-subscribers.]

Server Applications

Exchange 2000 Service Pack 2 Now Available

New service packs for Exchange 2000 Server and Exchange 2000 Conferencing Server go beyond performance and security enhancements and contain numerous new features

Current Service Packs for Servers

An overview of recent service packs released for seven Microsoft server-based applications

Operating Systems

Free! ASP.NET Improves Development of Web Applications

ASP.NET dramatically improves Active Server Pages, giving developers a .NET Framework-based environment for the delivery of Web applications and XML services

Microsoft Retires NT4 Server

All support for Windows NT 4.0 Server—including premier product support, online support, and hotfixes—is scheduled to be phased out by 2005

Appliances & Emerging Networks

Xbox Launched

The US$300 gaming console went on sale in North America on Nov. 15; Microsoft expects to sell over 4.5 million units by mid 2002 and hopes to break even in 2003 or 2004

Charter, MSTV Sign Deal

The fourth largest U.S. cable TV provider agrees to use Microsoft TV (MSTV) software to offer enhanced TV services to 1 million customers over the next seven years

Sales and Support

Integrated Solutions Push Server Software Sales

Integrated solutions combine Microsoft server applications with detailed architectural guidelines, custom code, and consulting and support from Microsoft and its partners

Corporate News

Legal Update: States Press On; Neukom to Retire

The dissenting states want Microsoft to disclose source code for IE, port Office, distribute a JVM, and be overseen by a court-appointed "Special Master" with broad powers

Reorganization Consolidates Consumer Web Services

MSN portal combined with .NET subscription service efforts into a single Personal Services Group under David Cole; Bob Muglia assumes new role, reporting to Jim Allchin

Free! Effects of the Antitrust Settlement

The antitrust consent decree will affect OEMs, ISVs, and other partners and will have a significant effect on day-to-day business at Microsoft

Investment Update

US$51 million invested in Groove Networks; stake in Wireless Knowledge joint venture sold to Qualcomm; venture launched with IBM and Pfizer aimed at office-based physicians