[The articles below were posted between February 24, 2003 and March 24, 2003 appear in the April 2003 hardcopy edition of Update.]

Server Applications

Exchange 2003 Boosts Performance, Eases Administration

Numerous incremental improvements and hooks to new Windows Server 2003 features should appeal to large organizations and hosted Exchange providers

64-bit SQL Server Improves Application Performance

The 64-bit version of SQL Server 2000 will enable companies to consolidate servers and scale up memory-intensive applications

Server Licensing Backs Consolidation

Server application licensing rules will soon change to reduce costs for Microsoft customers who want to use partitioning technology to consolidate servers or gain spare capacity

Operating Systems

Rights Management Comes to the Enterprise

A forthcoming component for Windows Server 2003 called Rights Management Services, in conjunction with support from applications such as Office 2003, will give organizations more control over confidential information

Web Edition Joins Windows Server 2003 Family

A new Web Edition provides a lower-cost platform for Windows-based Web servers, but licensing and technical restrictions could limit its deployment

Windows Server 2003 Pricing

Pricing for Windows Server 2003 is similar to that of Windows 2000, but recent changes to operating system and server application license rules could affect the costs of upgrades

Connectix VM Technology Acquired

The virtualization software acquired should boost Windows Server 2003 adoption by allowing customers to run existing NT 4 applications without modification and by making server consolidation easier

iSCSI to Simplify Windows Storage

Upcoming support for iSCSI should help make storage area networks (SANs) cheaper and more prevalent in Windows systems

Developers Conference to Define Windows Future

A Professional Developer's Conference in October 2003 will provide developers with the first detailed technical information about Windows Longhorn and SQL Server Yukon

Beta SDK for Peer-to-Peer Released

Microsoft hopes that a new SDK and associated Windows XP update, which help developers build peer-to-peer applications, will spur the creation of new applications and increase demand for Windows XP

Development Tools & Programs

Reliable Messages for Web Services

A new specification aims to make Web services more useful by ensuring that messages are reliably transmitted and received, although a competing specification from Sun and Oracle complicate matters

Desktop Applications

Office System, Office Beta 2 Launched

The Office System is Microsoft's new brand for most of its desktop productivity applications, and it was launched in connection with the second beta of Office 11

Instant Messaging Split to Continue

Development for business instant messaging will be concentrated on Windows Messenger and Greenwich; MSN Messenger is for consumers and Exchange IM is being phased out

NetGen Team Targets Youth

Part of the Digital Media business unit releases its first product for the 13-to-24 age group, an instant messaging client with peer-to-peer audio sharing

Appliances & Emerging Networks

Xbox Live Debuts in Europe

Starter kits for the Xbox Live online gaming service have gone on sale in eight European countries

Sales & Support

New Prices, Deals Boost Asian Prospects

Moving to improve prospects in Asia, Microsoft reduced prices in Taiwan, announced significant investments in China, and signed an agreement with a large Chinese mobile operator

Employee Purchase Program Expanded

Certain volume licensing customers can offer substantial discounts on Microsoft software to employees for their personal use

Corporate News

Ayala to Lead New Sales Force

Worldwide sales chief steps down to focus on small and mid-size businesses; digital media leader takes over Windows client business; and other changes from the Mar. 2003 OrgChart

Bill Gates Reviews Focus Product Development

Microsoft relies on product reviews with Chief Software Architect Bill Gates to coordinate the activities of its highly decentralized product groups

Microsoft and Industry Conferences

Table of major Microsoft-sponsored conferences scheduled through Nov. 30, 2003, and a selection of major industry conferences at which Microsoft and its partners are typically present

Corel Stake Sold

Microsoft will sell its 25% stake in Canadian software company Corel, signaling a change in the relationship between the two companies