[The articles below were posted between August 26, 2002 and September 23, 2002 and appear in the October 2002 hardcopy edition of Update.]

Server Applications

Interim Exchange, Outlook Upgrades Coming in 2003

With the move to a new storage technology at least three years away, Microsoft will offer an interim Exchange upgrade together with an upgrade to Outlook next year (2003)

SQL Server Notification Services Released

SQL Server Notification Services, an add-on that enables applications to notify users of events that interest them, is now available for download

Great Plains-Siebel Package Cancelled

Low sales spell the end of the line for Great Plains Siebel Front Office, a co-branded version of Siebel's customer relationship management software for mid-size businesses

Operating Systems

SD3 Forms Basis for Security Push

Facing pressure from customers to improve the security of its products, Microsoft is using a new strategy to address each product's security by design, default, and deployment

Patch Licenses Pose Hard Choices

Confusing terms in Supplemental EULAs imply that customers must choose between accepting restrictions they may not understand or living with security bugs

Development Tools & Programs

GXA Defines Framework for Web Services

Global XML Web Services Architecture defines Microsoft's vision of how to address some well-known limitations that prevent Web services from being more widely used for app integration

COM+, MSMQ Boost Windows as Application Server

Enhanced COM+ and MSMQ services in Windows .NET Server promise better app scalability and availability, but their new Web services features are limited by immature standards

Visual Studio Roadmap

The next three updates of Visual Studio are timed to coincide with the releases of Windows .NET Server, SQL Server, and the planned 'Longhorn' version of Windows

Desktop Applications

Office XP SP2 Released

The second service pack (SP2) for Office XP will be required by future fixes to Office XP, and it can only be applied to systems already running SP1

Commercial & Consumer Services

Hosted Services Becoming Lower Priority

Seeing how difficult and expensive it is to create and operate hosted services, Microsoft is refocusing on its core business: selling software

Passport Changes Include End of Express Purchase

MSN Wallet will replace Passport Express Purchase, but only MSN merchant partners will be able to implement it on their sites

MSN for Mac OS X Planned

Mac OS X users will be able to get MSN Internet Access and new MSN client software in early 2003; the move supports Microsoft's partnerships with broadband ISPs

Sales & Support

Information Worker Focus of New Client Plans

Office appears to be hitting a sales plateau, but Microsoft can't let it languish; new tactics and products aim to build a bigger and smarter desktop

OEM Deals Boost Competitors

Computer manufacturers are trying alternatives to bundling Microsoft products with their systems

Flessner Group for Enterprise Sales

The Enterprise Sales Strategy Group has moved to the .NET Enterprise Servers division, giving more control over sales strategy to a leader of Microsoft's server business

Corporate News

The Importance of Unearned Revenue

As Microsoft reveals new details about how it counts unearned revenue, partners and investors should pay attention lest they make important decisions based on incomplete or inaccurate information