[The articles below were posted between Jun. 26, 2006 and Jul. 24, 2006 and appear in the August 2006 hardcopy edition of Update.] One or more are available below for free to non-subscribers.]
Server Platforms
- Free! First Microsoft-Branded Antigen Products Ship
- Following a security review of its acquired Sybari Antigen products, Microsoft has released new versions of some, and the remainder will be launched under the company's new Forefront brand
- Small Business Server 2003 R2 Ships
- SBS 2003 R2's new patch management capabilities and price cuts should help entice new small business customers, but are unlikely to prompt existing customers to upgrade
- BizTalk Update to Deliver RFID
- BizTalk Server 2006 R2, scheduled for the first half of 2007, will better support EDI-formatted business documents, RFID devices, and the Windows Communications Framework (WCF)
- Updated OS Deployment Tool in Beta
- A beta update to the Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 OS Deployment feature pack allows organizations to begin testing SMS-based deployment of Windows Vista
Business Applications & Services
- Free! Dynamics Wave Two Promises Consolidated Product
- A new ERP product from Microsoft Business Solutions could emerge after 2008; it will include functionality from Microsoft's four existing ERP products but will probably most resemble Dynamics AX
- Hosted Service Based on CRM Product
- CRM Live, a Microsoft-hosted customer relationship management service, will be available in the second half of 2007 and will compete with Salesforce.com
- Open Document Format for Office
- Open Document Format (ODF) support in the Office suite is the goal of a new Microsoft-funded project
- Office 2007 Web Preview, Delay
- A new 'test drive' Web site enables users to try Office 2007 applications in a browser, without installing the applications locally
Windows & Mobile
- Windows Vista Improves Desktop Management
- Improvements to management tools such as Group Policy and the Event Viewer make it easier for administrators to manage Windows Vista centrally, but applying policy still requires careful planning
- Windows Compute Cluster Edition Released
- Customers with compute-intensive application requirements and an investment in Windows can now get a high-performance computing solution from Microsoft
- WinFS Dropped, Parts Moved to Other Groups
- WinFS, a marriage of database technology with a file system, which was once touted as one of the three key 'pillars' of Windows Vista, has been cancelled
- July 2006 Security Updates
- July 2006's 'Patch Tuesday' included several critical and important patches, while Microsoft's handling of Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications is continuing to raise concerns among customers
- Improved ActiveSync Available
- Version 4.2 of desktop ActiveSync adds new features and is available for free download
- Winternals Acquired
- The acquisition of Winternals Software LP gives Microsoft a highly regarded expert on OS kernels and security
Consumer Products & Services
- Image Management Company Acquired
- The acquisition of iView, which creates software for managing large numbers of digital images, could bolster Expression, Microsoft's emerging line of software for graphic designers
Sales & Support
- New Partner Opportunities Promised
- New revenue-sharing models and numerous changes to product bundles and licensing were highlights of the 2006 Worldwide Partner Conference
- Architect Certification Launches
- The Microsoft Certified Architect program has taken in its first candidates, who will gain the architect credential after demonstrating their skills to a review board of other architects
- Service Boosts Electronic Software Delivery
- A new feature of Windows Marketplace—a Microsoft Web site that lets users find and purchase Windows-compatible hardware and software—could make electronic software distribution more attractive to customers
- Creative Commons Added to Office
- A wizard for Office lets users easily attach Creative Commons copyrights to documents and may help build a bridge between Microsoft and open-source communities
Corporate News
- Volume Licensing Strong in Q4'06
- A big jump in unearned revenue points to strong sales of multiyear license agreements in the last quarter of Microsoft's fiscal year 2006
- Web Portal Manages Customer Feedback
- The Microsoft Connect Web portal is becoming the main avenue for customer participation in beta programs, and for managing their feedback to Microsoft product teams
- New EU Fine and Other Legal News
- The European Commission fines Microsoft US$357 million for failing to release adequate documentation of Windows communications protocols; further fines could follow
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