[The articles below were posted between July 28, 2003 and August 19, 2003 appear in the September 2003 hardcopy edition of Update.]

Server Applications

Small Business Manager Updates Features

The latest version of Small Business Manager improves order and inventory management, asset management, and reporting features

Operating Systems

Deployment Improvements Yield Secure Servers Faster

Windows Server 2003 includes useful services for automating deployment, but customers will have to learn and support two different services

Development Tools & Programs

Office 2003: XML Support Paves Way for Smart Client

By supporting custom XML schema, Office 2003 makes it easier to build smart-client solutions, although organizations may need to develop and deploy XML schema and update server systems

Desktop Applications

Outlook Leads Office Suite Improvements

The Office 2003 suite delivers major improvements for e-mail but focuses primarily on collaboration and access to corporate data; the next major release could be three years away

Money Seeks Broader Appeal

An incremental upgrade continues a trend toward relying on partners for online services and introduces slight changes to packaging and pricing

Exchange Connector for Mac Released

A free download enables users of Entourage--Microsoft's e-mail and calendaring program for Macintosh OS X--to access corporate e-mail systems running Exchange

Commercial & Consumer Services

MSN Broadband Marketplace

A new MSN Web site refers visitors to broadband ISP partners, earning MSN a referral fee and promoting its 'bring-your-own-access' model for MSN 8

Appliances & Emerging Networks

Time-Warner Tries TV Software

The effects of the AOL-Microsoft antitrust settlement are beginning to percolate through both companies, as Time-Warner Cable agrees to try out Microsoft TV technology

Sales & Support

Step-Up Licenses Offer Product Upgrades for SA Customers

New 'step-up' licenses restore flexibility that Microsoft lost when it canceled 'product upgrades'--upgrades that take customers from, for example, the Standard to the Professional Edition of a product

Retail Centers Push PC 'Scenarios'

A new joint marketing venture between Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard will focus on 'scenarios' and 'experiences' in an effort to get consumers to buy more PCs

MSCRM Leads Expansion of Small Business Channel

Microsoft's customer relationship management application is the first of the company's Business Solutions products that will be made available through standard volume channels

Corporate News

EU Warns, Patent Disputes Heat Up, and Other Legal News

The EU issues a final warning; protocol licensing terms changed for a second time; Eolas wins a jury verdict in a patent infringement lawsuit; and a patent lawsuit with Immersion is settled

Seven Businesses Plan for FY'04

Greater fiscal autonomy for each of Microsoft's seven businesses and a new tone of caution and fiscal responsibility suggest that the company is shedding its image of fast-moving start-up

Gates, Ballmer Bet on Longhorn

New investments in software will continue to pay off for customers and investors, according to Microsoft's leaders, but many of their hopes rest on Longhorn, a still-remote release of Windows

Steady Course for Cash, Investments

Executives remain cagey about plans for a dividend increase or stock buyback, citing legal risks that necessitate keeping cash on hand