News
Microsoft, Xerox Combining Technologies
- By Scott Bekker
- May 19, 1999
Microsoft Corp. and Xerox Corp. (
www.xerox.com) announced a joint technology and market-development initiative under which the companies agreed to share technology and work together to create new collaboration and communication solutions based on the Windows NT Embedded operating system and Microsoft Exchange Server, as well as Xerox' Document Centre Systems.
With the Xerox Document Centre family, users can scan documents directly to Microsoft Exchange Server. These documents can be shared locally by a team or replicated across a global enterprise through the use of Exchange Public Folders.
Under the agreement, Xerox licensed Windows NT Embedded 4.0 as the operating system for a future generation of Document Centre products.
In turn, Microsoft licensed the Xerox PARC-developed WebForager, a user-interface technology that will be used in combination with Microsoft's current 3-D user interface research.
Xerox separately announced a distribution and marketing alliance with Compaq Computer Corp. Initially, Xerox Connect and Compaq will constitute the primary delivery channels for the Exchange and Document Centre solution, forming the backbone of a knowledge-sharing solution for the office environment.
The Microsoft Exchange and Document Centre solution is scheduled to be available in the United States in the third quarter of 1999, with extended worldwide distribution next year. – Thomas Sullivan
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.