Free! 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

Free! 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'

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

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 and 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



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