[The articles below were posted between July 26, 2004 and August 23, 2004 and appear in the September hardcopy edition of Update.]

Server Platforms

Live Communications Server 2005 to Link with AOL, Yahoo, MSN

Live Communications Server 2005 will support optional connectors that enable customers to link their corporate instant messaging system with public services offered by AOL, Yahoo, and MSN

Integrating Enterprise Applications with SharePoint

SharePoint Portal Server 2003 and other components of the Windows Server System can significantly reduce the amount of custom coding required to expose corporate applications and data via Web portals

SQL Server 2005 Beta 2 Available

The second beta release of SQL Server 2005 gives developers their best look yet at Microsoft's forthcoming database platform

BizTalk SWIFT Accelerator Available

Support for the SWIFT financial message standard will make BizTalk Server 2004 more useful in banking, securities trading, and corporate cash management

Windows and Mobile

Microsoft Slowly Delivering on Security Promises

The release of Windows XP SP2 in Aug. 2004 was tempered by delays in patching improvements, including Windows Update Server

Embedded OS Roadmap Shows Little Change

A new release of Windows CE and an update to XP Embedded include incremental improvements, but there will be no major changes to the products or strategy until Windows Longhorn

Business Applications and Services

Business Solutions Roadmap 2004 Updated

Many product and feature enhancements planned for Microsoft Business Solution's product line in 2004 have been delivered; however, some have been postponed or cancelled

Office, FrontPage, OneNote Updates

A service pack for Office 2003 and FrontPage 2003 delivers new features for the InfoPath forms application; OneNote gets a price change and update

Tool Smoothes Conversion to Access 2003

A new toolkit helps users and administrators locate Access databases on their systems and identifies potential problems in migrating them to Access 2003

Development Tools & Programs

ISVs Are Major Focus of Visual C++ Roadmap

Visual C++ 2005, currently in beta, highlights two major themes of the product roadmap: making C++ better for developing .NET applications while simultaneously increasing support for ANSI C++ standards

Consumer Products and Services

New Media Group Formed

A new group in the Windows Client business unit will promote Microsoft's digital media technologies and PC-based home entertainment scenarios to content owners, consumer electronics companies, and standards bodies

MSN Acquires E-Mail Search Provider

The acquisition of Lookout will help MSN deliver tools for users to search e-mails, contacts, calendar entries, and other information stored in Outlook or Exchange

MSN Testing Blogging Service

In its effort to match Google feature for feature, MSN begins testing a Web logging ('blogging') service in Japan

Works, Digital Imaging Software Updated

New versions of Works and consumer digital imaging products offer incremental improvements

Sales & Support

Partner Program Adds New Support Services

The Microsoft Services Partner Advantage program supplements standard support services provided to all partners with additional packages available for a fee

Windows Starter Edition Launched in Asia

Windows Starter Edition is a limited version of Windows XP aimed at low-income users in less-developed countries

Small Business Market Gets More Attention

Research into small businesses has led Microsoft to develop several new strategies for reaching the small business market

Step-Up Licenses Made Permanent

Step-up licenses, which offer a migration path from standard to premium editions of many Microsoft servers and applications, have been made a permanent part of Microsoft's licensing offerings

Online Services Pioneer New Licensing Model

To accommodate business users of online services--such as Office Live Meeting, MapPoint Web Service, and Microsoft Business Network (MBN)--Microsoft has developed a new licensing model

Corporate News

Seven Businesses Push into FY'05

With few major product releases slated for FY'05, the seven business units are focused on strategies to sell their existing product lines, including better segmentation and anti-Linux tactics

Q4'04 Sees Record Profits

Strong sales to business customers in June helped Microsoft show record profits in Q4'04, but the company expressed caution about FY'05 earnings, particularly with regard to investment income

Lindows Suit Resolved

Lindows will change its name to Linspire in exchange for US$20 million; Microsoft avoids a jury trial in which its Windows trademark could have been at risk