[The articles below were posted between May 27, 2002 and June 17, 2002 and appear in the July 2002 hardcopy edition of Update.]

Server Applications

Retail Point-of-Sale Software Company Acquired

The acquisition of Sales Management Systems will help Great Plains serve retailers and eventually link them with their distributors and manufacturers

New Notification Services to Enhance SQL Server 2000

Organizations can boost customer loyalty or improve productivity by creating notification services with the same technology that MSN uses to deliver alerts to its users

SharePoint Goes .NET

New versions of SharePoint Portal Server and SharePoint Team Server coming next year will take advantage of .NET and Web Part technologies on the upcoming Windows .NET Server

BizTalk Add-on For Data Publication

The free BizTalk Server toolkit makes it easier for companies using Microsoft's application integration product to publish application data, such as product catalogs, to other applications

SQL Server Accelerator for Business Intelligence Available

The new free download gives developers or consultants a tool for rapid development of business intelligence applications

Operating Systems

Rewritten IIS Anchors Windows .NET Server

A redesigned Web server (IIS 6.0) will play a central role in Microsoft's plans to move customers to Windows .NET Server and hold off competition from open source alternatives

Desktop Applications

Mac Office, Messenger Updated

Updates to Office and MSN Messenger underscore Microsoft's commitment to the Macintosh platform, although both versions lag behind their Windows counterparts in terms of features

Appliances & Emerging Networks

Network Vital to Xbox Success

An online gaming network for Xbox is designed to sell more games, boost the Xbox installed base, and create cross-selling opportunities

Verizon Deal Shows Mobile Strategy

A recent agreement with Verizon Wireless is a win for Microsoft's current wireless data services, but is also part of a long-term campaign to design more profitable services

Commercial & Consumer Services

Hotmail Adds New Charges

Charging Hotmail users for POP mail retrieval suggests a strategy for monetizing MSN users: maintain a basic level of free service, then charge for additional features

RealNames Deal Ends

A plan to support 'keyword' technology no longer fits in with Microsoft's plans for MSN Search

Sales & Support

Open License Credit Available

Small business customers can now finance volume software purchases that include upgrade rights

Corporate News

Program Managers Drive Product Design

To work effectively with product development groups, partners and customers need to understand the differences between Program Managers and Product Managers

SEC Probe Ends

To end a three-year investigation, Microsoft agreed not to use certain accounting practices that may have allowed it to smooth its quarterly earnings between fiscal years 1995 and 1998

Ballmer Urges Responsibility, Excellence

To help employees deal with public perceptions, CEO Steve Ballmer has sent a memo telling all employees to think beyond software and maintain 'strong personal values'