FAST Added to Enterprise Search Roadmap

FAST ESP, a high-end enterprise search product that Microsoft gained in its US$1.2 billion acquisition of Norway-based Fast Search and Transfer, will be sold alongside Microsoft’s own SharePoint-based enterprise search products, and the company has no immediate plans to consolidate platforms or eliminate products. Microsoft also said it will continue to develop FAST ESP for non-Windows OSs. Partner opportunities will be limited for the time being, however, as ESP will continue to be sold by the Fast sales force and will not be available through Microsoft volume licensing for at least 6 to 12 months.

FAST ESP Alongside SharePoint

Enterprise search tools help organizations find information in a wide variety of data sources, including file systems, e-mail systems, and corporate business applications. Today, Microsoft’s enterprise search products are based on SharePoint technology and come in three editions with slightly different capabilities:

• SharePoint Server offers enterprise search