[The articles below were posted between August 25, 2003 and September 22, 2003 appear in the October 2003 hardcopy edition of Update.]

Server Applications

Exchange 5.5 Support Extended

Microsoft has waived fees for the first year of extended support for Exchange 5.5, giving customers an extra year of free non-security-related hotfixes, should they require them

RMS Pricing Announced

Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) will require Client Access Licenses and compatible applications, such as Office 2003

FRx Forecaster Improves Budgeting Process

Updates to FRx Forecaster more accurately model employee pay information and improve the product's ability to link to data in Great Plains, Solomon, and other general ledger products

HR, Business Metrics for Portal

A pair of new tools for the Microsoft Business Portal help portal users view and enter data in Great Plains and Solomon

Operating Systems

Windows Service Pack Roadmap Shows Gaps

A new roadmap provides some guidance for future Windows service pack releases, but shows that corporate customers cannot build their maintenance plans around service packs alone

Identity Management Strategy Updated

Improvements to Microsoft's Active Directory and Metadirectory Server and a new implementation of Active Directory for applications lay the foundation for improved identity management

VBA and RPC Vulnerabilities Require New Patches

Critical vulnerabilities in Microsoft's Visual Basic for Applications and Remote Procedure Call software could create serious problems if exploited by malicious code

Development Tools & Programs

Visual Studio 'Whidbey' Details Emerge

The next release of Visual Studio, code-named Whidbey, will include improvements to Visual Basic designed to entice holdouts to move to the .NET Framework, and support for SQL Server 'Yukon'

Desktop Applications

OneNote Joins Office System

OneNote attempts to combine the flexibility of analog note-taking with some search, retrieval, and organizational capabilities offered by a freeform database

Imaging Suite Hints at Future Services

A new Digital Imaging Suite hints at future services that could be part of MSN, or applications that could be added to the Windows client

Access in Transition

Access 2003 delivers improved XML processing and some useful new development features, but Microsoft hopes to move Access developers to more strategic alternatives

Updated Publisher in Office 2003

Publisher 2003, part of several Office 2003 bundles, simplifies desktop publishing and basic Web site creation, but ongoing site maintenance could be an issue

FrontPage 2003 Targets Data-Driven Web Sites

FrontPage 2003 helps site developers build data-driven Web sites based on Windows SharePoint Services and has improved page design and content features, but new data-driven features are not platform-independent

Visio 2003 Redraws Roadmap

Visio 2003, the latest version of Microsoft's desktop product for business and technical diagrams includes new templates for business process design and additional features for developers embedding Visio in applications

Works Suite Faces New Competitors

Microsoft has updated Works Suite, which remains one of its most popular consumer products, but the suite faces new competition

Commercial & Consumer Services

MSN Client Splitting into Two Versions

Forthcoming improvements to the MSN client are meant to appeal to MSN's broadband partners and their customers, while a lower-priced version could draw in 'bring-your-own-access' customers

Messenger Update Required

Microsoft is modifying the protocols used by the .NET Messenger service: users must upgrade old Microsoft IM clients, and third-party clients will be blocked beginning Oct. 15

Pay-Per-Song Services Launched

Pay-per-song music downloads in the Windows Media Format are now available from Microsoft partners BuyMusic.com and OD2

Appliances & Emerging Networks

Possible Boosts for Smartphones

Microsoft's Smartphone appears to be increasing revenues for early adopter Orange, and the platform has gained support from Motorola. However, Samsung, an early partner, has not yet delivered a phone

Smartphone 2003 SDK and Platform Details Available

A new Windows Mobile SDK allows developers to build conventional and .NET Compact Framework applications for the upcoming Smartphone 2003 devices; it also sheds light on the feature set of the new devices

Xbox Facing Crucial Holiday Season

A wireless adapter, discount bundle, and improvements to Xbox Live could spur Xbox sales in this critical holiday season; ATI will supply graphics chips for the next version of Xbox

New Hardware Features Tilt Wheel

New mice and keyboards from Microsoft Hardware will feature a scroll wheel that tilts from side to side, allowing users to scroll horizontally without moving the mouse

Sales & Support

Select Agreement Consolidation Available

Customers with older Select License agreements can reduce license administration and ensure uninterrupted upgrade rights by consolidating those agreements into a new Select 6 agreement

OEM Applications Eligible for Software Assurance

Office 2003 purchased through OEMs will now be eligible for Software Assurance, which confers upgrade rights and other advantages

Corporate News

Eolas Verdict Impact, Be Suit Settled

Microsoft might have to change support for browser plug-ins to avoid patent infringement, forcing changes on Web developers; antitrust litigant Be settles; Burst.com wins request for wider e-mail search

Q4'03 Profit and Loss Numbers; Dividend Doubled

The Client and Information Worker businesses slowed at the end of FY'03; Microsoft changed how it defers revenue from OEM and retail sales; dividend payments will double in FY'04