News


Microsoft Solomon 6.0 Released

Microsoft is releasing an update of its enterprise resource planning package for midsize project-, service- and distribution-oriented organizations this month.

Microsoft Seeks Stay of European Commission Antitrust Penalty

Microsoft and the European Commission faced off in open court on Thursday for the first time in their five-year legal battle over antitrust concerns.

Fifth Windows XP 'Lite' Country is India

Fast on the heels of its announcement that Russia would be the fourth of five countries in a pilot program of a low-cost, limited-functionality version of Windows XP, Microsoft named India as the fifth country.

New Features Coming to SQL Server 2005 in Beta 3

When Microsoft delivers the Beta 3 version of SQL Server 2005, formerly code-named "Yukon," it will carry a number of feature enhancements that weren't available in the more broadly distributed Beta 2 version.

Beta 3, RTM Schedules Stand for SQL Server 2005

After having taken nearly every opportunity so far to push back the release schedule for SQL Server 2005, formerly known as "Yukon," Microsoft is allowing its SQL Server PASS Community Summit to pass without disclosing a new delay.

SQL Reporting Services Expanded Through Add-on Packs

Microsoft extended the usefulness of its SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services by making available three Report Packs, which are collections of report templates for specific Microsoft applications.

Russia is Fourth Country for Windows XP Starter Edition

Microsoft this week announced that it's expanding its Windows XP Starter Edition pilot program into Russia. The company said that it hopes to get the software to PC OEMs in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States by early 2005.

Microsoft Expands Mainframe Migration Alliance

The Mainframe Migration Alliance, Microsoft's coalition of the willing for moving customers from mainframes to Windows servers, got some new members and an official Web site on Tuesday.

Microsoft Releases Best Practices Tool for Exchange

About a year after releasing Exchange Server 2003, Microsoft rolled out a free, automated best practice tool to help IT get the most out of the e-mail server and its two predecessors -- Exchange 2000 and Exchange 5.5.

EMC Combines Storage Stack for Exchange

Over the last few years, EMC has found itself controlling a number of the assets that medium-sized businesses might need to consolidate and manage their Microsoft Exchange-based storage.

Exchange 2003 at One Year: a Migration Progress Report

Microsoft formally launched Exchange Server 2003 about a year ago. The company is holding off until next month to formally announce how much momentum the incremental upgrade to Exchange 2000 Server has built up in that time. Several analyst firms that track messaging closely, however, think they have a pretty good idea how migrations are going.

Microsoft Updates Volume Licensing Programs

Microsoft made some minor changes to its volume licensing programs this week as it launched a new centralized Web site for licensing information.

Oracle, Dell Partner on 10g for Windows

Dell and Oracle this week began jointly promoting a packaged offering of Oracle's low-end Standard Edition One version of its 10g database on Dell hardware and running Windows Server 2003. Previously Dell and Oracle only offered the packaged deal on the Red Hat Linux operating system.

Exploit Code Circulating for JPEG Flaw

The seriousness of an already critical flaw in the way a Microsoft component processes JPEG files got ratcheted up a notch this week as exploit code began circulating.

Fix Available for Windows XP SP2 Problem

Microsoft has issued a formal fix for a problem in Windows XP Service Pack 2 that resulted in error messages for programs that attempt to use loopback addresses other than 127.0.0.1.

Users Enjoying Breather Between Windows XP and Longhorn

It’s never taken Microsoft longer than three years (give or take a few months) to deliver a new version of its business-class operating system. And when Redmond ships its Longhorn operating environment sometime in 2006, more or less than three years will have elapsed since the software giant delivered Windows Server 2003.

Reed to Retire from Microsoft Board

William G. Reed Jr. will retire from the Microsoft board of directors after 17 years. The board has decided not to replace Reed, reducing the size of the Microsoft board from 10 members to nine.

Government Source Code Review Program Expanded to Office

Microsoft expanded its controversial Government Security Program to allow governments that Microsoft trusts to review the source code of Microsoft Office.

Visual Studio 2005 Gets New Edition

Microsoft this month continued the shuffle of its Visual Studio developer suite packages prior to their planned release next year.

Symantec to Buy Security Firm @stake

Security giant Symantec is buying digital security company @stake for an undisclosed sum in a deal that is expected to close in October.