Macintosh Apps to Continue

Microsoft’s partnership agreement with Apple expires in Aug. 2002, but the company’s Macintosh Business Unit will continue to develop applications for the Apple platform, according to the unit’s General Manager, Kevin Browne. Upcoming versions of Microsoft’s Mac applications will have better support for Exchange and instant messaging, which should make it easier for companies to collaborate with Mac-centric graphics departments and contractors. However, Microsoft does not plan to offer Mac ISVs strategic technologies that might support the Mac platform against Windows, such as the .NET development platform.

Agreement End Had Raised Doubts

In an Apr. 2002 speech to Microsoft’s Silicon Valley customers and partners, Browne moved to quell doubts about the future of Microsoft’s Mac applications. The doubts were raised by the imminent expiration of a five-year partnership agreement Microsoft and Apple signed on Aug. 5, 1997, which (among other things) called for Microsoft to continue to develop and enhance Office for the Mac, and for Apple to drop all outstanding legal claims against Microsoft and adopt Internet Explorer as its preferred browser.