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[The articles below were posted between January 31, 2005 and February 21, 2005 and appear in the March 2005 hardcopy edition of Update. One or more are available below for free to non-subscribers.]
Server Products
- Free! Enterprise Search Strategy Centers on SharePoint
- Microsoft's approach toward enterprise search has been to develop a single core search technology which the company's diverse product groups customize for their own audiences
- Free! Unified Messaging on Exchange Roadmap
- The Exchange Server roadmap includes a service pack with new and improved features for 2005, and a new release for 2006 that will include native support for voice mail and faxing
- Wireless Exchange Synch Broadens
- Future versions of PalmOne, Motorola, and Nokia cell phones will get native wireless access to Exchange data even though they do not run the Windows Mobile or Windows CE platforms
Windows and Mobile
- Mac Clients Connect to Windows Servers
- By building on many of the same open-source projects used in Linux, Apple has made it much easier to incorporate Macs into Windows networks, although some hassles remain
- Microsoft Acquires Sybari Software
- The Sybari Software acquisition will initially result in antivirus products for servers but could impact how all antivirus and antispyware products work together in future versions of Windows
- Antispyware Software Enters Beta
- Microsoft has released a beta of its antispyware product, but issues with classifying potentially unwanted software could limit the value of the tool
Business Applications and Services
- Small Business Manager Updated, Renamed
- A revamped and renamed Small Business Manager (now Small Business Financials) accompanies a new Microsoft strategy for competing against Intuit’s QuickBooks and Best Software’s Peachtree
- Axapta 4.0 and MSCRM 2.0 Delayed
- Microsoft Customer Relationship Management (MSCRM) 2.0 and Axapta 4.0 have been delayed for the second time
- MSCRM, Navision Get New GMs
- Two recent hires bring new executives to the Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) marketing and strategy organization led by corporate vice president Tami Reller
- Office Developer Conference
- The latest developer technology for writing "smart client" applications was on view at a Feb. 2005 Office Developers Conference, but the roadmap for that technology remains complex
Development Tools & Programs
- Indigo to Power Servers
- 'Indigo,' Microsoft’s upcoming platform for advanced Web services, will be used in future versions of key server products, although details remain sketchy and Indigo is not yet in beta
Consumer Products and Services
- Nokia, Microsoft Sign Digital Music Deal
- Future Nokia handsets will support some Windows Media technologies; in exchange, Microsoft will allow the Windows Media Player on the PC to support some digital media technologies favored by Nokia
Sales and Support
- Briefing Centers, Research Initiative Buff European Image
- New Executive Briefing Centers and a European Science Initiative strengthen Microsoft’s presence in Europe
Corporate News
- New Businesses Shine in Q2'05 Earnings
- Growth in server hardware shipments and strength in Microsoft's emerging businesses helped the company post record profits for the third consecutive quarter
- Changes to Vice Presidents
- Since Dec. 2004, Microsoft has promoted several new vice presidents and changed the duties of some others
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