Free! Standard Language Could Aid DRM Interoperability: Microsoft and several other players have begun to rally around XrML, a technology that could mitigate but not solve the problem of digital rights management interoperability
Driving Down the Cost of SANs: With the help of a new logo program called “Simple SAN,” Microsoft hopes to entice small and mid-size organizations to consider using a new generation of less complex and expensive storage area networks
Eight Updates Released in April: Critical updates were released in Apr. 2005 to fix flaws in Exchange, Windows, Word, and MSN Messenger that could allow an attacker to gain complete control of an unpatched system
Windows Server 2003 SP1 Ready: Although the first service pack for Windows Server 2003 should cause fewer compatibility problems than XP SP2, the changes and new features mean customers should plan for significant testing
Spyware Taxonomy Evolving: As it prepares its first antispyware product, Microsoft is releasing more information on how it classifies and categorizes potentially unwanted software

Sales and Support

Free! Support Life Cycle Extended for NT, Exchange 5.5: By adding a “custom support” option to its product life cycle, Microsoft adds years to the life of older products, such as Windows NT 4.0 and Exchange 5.5
Premier Online Offers Greater Customization: Microsoft’s Premier Online Web site, reserved for customers with Premier Support contracts, has been reorganized to help customers find just the information they want
Team Aims at Software, IT Architects: The Architecture Strategy Team provides important technical guidance for software and IT architects, and gives partners a chance to reach this audience
Bigger U.S. Sales Force: More vertical and solution sales experts will be coming to Microsoft's U.S. field offices as part of a 10% enlargement of the region's enterprise sales force

Server Products

Symbian Joins ActiveSync Licensees: Symbian has joined Motorola, Nokia, and PalmOne in licensing Microsoft’s protocol for performing over-the-air synchronization with Exchange 2003
BizTalk Features Retail Partner: An accelerator for synchronizing retail product item catalogs shows that Microsoft will lean more heavily on partners to win BizTalk Server business in vertical markets

Business Applications and Services

Business Solutions ERP Roadmap 2005: Incremental releases through 2007 will drive consistency across Microsoft’s four enterprise resource planning (ERP) product lines; longer -term, the company has hinted that consolidation of its ERP lines remains a goal
Certification Program for Axapta Solution Providers: The Axapta Industry Builder initiative, announced in Mar. 2005, will certify third-party Axapta modules and position Microsoft as the single point of accountability for Axapta solutions containing third-party modules

Development Tools & Programs

VS 2005 Licensing Brings Major Changes: Visual Studio Team System prices show that Microsoft is aiming to undercut high-end competitors such as IBM/Rational but Team System still may be too expensive for small teams
Web Site Aims at VB 6 Holdouts: A Web site aimed at helping VB developers to move to .NET comes after an online petition asking Microsoft to keep VB 6 alive as an alternative

Consumer Products and Services

Music Niche for Community Site: A community-oriented Web site called Crossfader will promote Windows as a platform for electronic music production
Messenger, Spaces Focus on Advertisers: MSN Messenger 7.0 and MSN Spaces are out of beta and include new opportunities for advertisers
Free Consumer Bundle for Tablet PC: To capitalize on potential consumer interest in portable PCs, Microsoft has released a free consumer-oriented application pack for the Tablet PC
Video Download Service Launched: MSN Video Downloads will increase the amount of video content available for portable devices such as the Portable Media Center

Corporate News

Antitrust Bites March Earnings: Microsoft has settled an antitrust claim by Gateway for US$123 million, paid Burst US$41 million, and set aside US$550 million for similar claims by Novell, RealNetworks, and other undisclosed parties
New Senior Vice Presidents: Recent promotions to senior vice president include Microsoft's corporate marketing head, as well as the leaders of its MSN business and professional services arms
Accenture Director Joins Board: The appointment of former JPMorgan Chase CFO Dina Dublon to Microsoft's board of directors deepens the links between Microsoft and Accenture



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