Free! Windows Roadmap Leads to Longhorn in 2005: Windows XP will be Microsoft's main client OS until Longhorn ships in late 2005, but many key features of Longhorn are still being decided
Windows Server 2003 Drives New Storage Server: Exploiting Windows Server 2003 storage features in Windows Storage Server 2003 will allow OEMs to get products to market faster
Windows Error Reporting Tracks Down Bugs: Windows Error Reporting provides a closed-loop system for users to report errors, Microsoft and third-party developers to fix them, and Microsoft to distribute the fix
Secure PC Effort Continues: The Next-Generation Secure Computing Base (NGSCB, formerly Palladium) requires significant support from hardware manufacturers and will probably not be released concurrently with Longhorn
Embedded Kits for Evaluations: Microsoft hopes to increase the use of its embedded OSs by making it easier for developers and OEMs to provide free evaluations to their customers

Corporate News

Free! Ballmer Memo Outlines Challenges: In a memo that appeared to be for external as well as internal consumption, CEO Steve Ballmer expresses concerns about changing IT priorities, customer satisfaction, and near-term financial performance
The Microsoft Business Planning Cycle: Microsoft follows an annual planning cycle that motivates and informs employees, reviews early results of sales campaigns, and puts people & programs in place for the following year
Settlements, Spam, and SCO: West Virginia and North Carolina settle with Microsoft on antitrust; the EU extends its investigation; more spammers are sued; and Microsoft licenses Unix patents from SCO
Truce Reached with AOL: A US$750 million settlement with AOL removes Microsoft's most formidable antitrust foe, but competition is likely to continue in areas such as digital media and instant messaging
Microsoft and Industry Conferences: Major Microsoft-sponsored conferences scheduled through Mar. 30, 2004, and a selection of major industry conferences at which Microsoft and its partners are typically present
Gates Makes Case to CEOs: At Microsoft's seventh annual CEO Summit, Bill Gates defended the idea that IT investments can still pay off, and concentrated on real-time communications and improved reliability
Telewest Stake Sold: Losses on an investment in Telewest, a U.K. cable company, raise questions about Microsoft's remaining exposure from its broadband buying spree in the late 1990s

Server Applications

SQL Server Roadmap Update: A recently announced delay in the next version of SQL Server, code-named Yukon, could affect dependent products and dismay customers whose Software Assurance contracts run out before the product ships
Solomon Improves Project Management: Solomon 5.5 improves features for project-oriented businesses while adding capabilities to the lower-priced Solomon Standard
Portal for Business Solutions Apps: The Microsoft Business Portal offers a configurable, Web-based front end to Great Plains and Solomon applications, but it is based on Web Parts technology that will soon be replaced

Desktop Applications

Office Retail Prices Cut: Microsoft has reduced retail prices on Office XP, but volume prices remain unchanged
FrontPage, Project, Visio Updates: FrontPage, Project, and Visio will all get updated with the release of Office 2003, but only FrontPage is getting a major makeover
Services, Promotion for Office Partners: Microsoft will help partners promote Office solutions and services as it tries to build partner and customer momentum for Office 2003

Commercial & Consumer Services

MSN Narrowing Focus: MSN continues to eliminate free services and deemphasize its ISP business, instead concentrating on creating fee-based services catering to broadband users
SPOT Data Service, Pricing: MSN Direct, a one-way wireless data service for Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) watches, may be too expensive for all but the early-adopter crowd

Appliances & Emerging Networks

New TV Platform Launched: Microsoft TV Foundation Edition offers a more extensive and interactive interface for program guides and channel menus, giving TV operators new merchandising and advertising opportunities while helping subscribers find relevant programming and information
Wireless ID Tags Gain Microsoft Support: Participation in a radio-frequency identification (RFID) organization will help Microsoft develop software and standards for managing physical products

Sales and Support

Software Assurance Improved: Microsoft has rolled out a long list of enhancements, primarily involving software support and training, for customers who purchase upgrade rights through Software Assurance
Anti-Linux Incentive Funds Revealed: An internal memo outlining the use of special funds to persuade schools and governments to select Windows over Linux has caused a stir in the European Community



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