News
Microsoft Delays NGWS Details
- By Scott Bekker
- May 30, 2000
In the face of the antitrust ruling that the world is awaiting from Judge Jackson, Microsoft Corp. officials rescheduled the Forum 2000 conference, in which the company plans to outline its Next-Generation Windows Services (NGWS), from June 1 to June 22.
Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) has thus far been mum about its newest software strategy, and Forum 2000 is where the company has publicly stated it will unveil the details of a three-year road map. The company is also expected to discuss how future versions of its operating systems fit into NGWS.
Although no details have been discussed yet, NGWS is reported to be an Internet-based platform, whether it is in-house or outsourced. Users will be able to access the services from a variety of devices, thus attempting to fulfill Microsoft’s newest company mission of anytime, anywhere access.
To give an idea of the magnitude Microsoft is placing on NGWS, several of the company’s top brass were scheduled to speak at Forum 2000, including Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect; Steve Ballmer, president and CEO; Paul Maritz, group vice president of the platform strategy and developer group; Bob Muglia, group vice president of the business productivity group, and Rick Beluzzo, group vice president of the consumer group.
An e-mail sent from Microsoft’s marketing department to registered Forum attendees said that the antitrust case would be a distraction, and the company wants to keep Forum 2000 focused on NGWS. – Thomas Sullivan
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.