Microsoft says it is looking to turn over more of its programs to open-source software developers, playing a greater role in a process that the Redmond company has criticized strongly at times in the past.
Money-makers like the company's Windows operating system and Office productivity suite aren't on the table -- or anywhere near it.
Some analysts said they aren't surprised to see Microsoft signal plans for greater involvement with open-source communities. "If they find that it has some business value to them, I would expect them to continue doing it," said IDC analyst Al Gillen.
Microsoft confirmed Wednesday that it will deliver the high performance computing version of Windows Server 2003 that the company has been hinting at for several months. Windows Server 2003, HPC Edition, is expected to ship in the second half of 2005. With so much time before the delivery deadline, pricing and packaging decisions are far from final.
"The Windows Server 2003, HPC Edition will offer customers a Windows-based solution with a single simplified environment for developing HPC applications, deploying and managing HPC clusters," a Microsoft spokesperson said.
Dell, the world's number one PC maker, also gets an "A" in the education market, with market share three times greater than its nearest rival. But dominant Dell still wants more. CEO Michael Dell says the company can still continue to grow in the education market, and will continue lowering prices to make that happen.
"Sure we can grow it," Dell said this week. "I think it's fair to say we're going to be growing faster than the market." According to International Data Corporation (IDC), Dell already controls 44 percent of the market for computers and related products in education. Its nearest rival, Apple Computer, owns 14 percent of the market. The remainder of the top five includes Hewlett-Packard (HP, 11.3 percent), Gateway (6.2 percent), and IBM (3.7 percent).
Microsoft has been awarded a patent for using human skin as a power conduit and data bus. Patent No. 6,754,472, which was published Tuesday, describes a method for transmitting power and data to devices worn on the body and for communication of data between those devices.
In its filing, Microsoft cites the proliferation of wearable electronic devices, such as wristwatches, pagers, PDAs (worn on people's belts) and small displays that can now be mounted on headgear
Oracle and Microsoft competed for business applications contracts nearly 100 times in 2002 and 2003, according to a white paper Oracle released on Tuesday. The database giant distributed the paper to reporters in advance of testimony from Microsoft executive Doug Burgum, a witness for the U.S. Justice Department scheduled to take the stand Wednesday in the Oracle antitrust case in U.S. District Court here. The Justice Department is trying to block Oracle's proposed takeover of PeopleSoft.
An industry organization representing heavyweight e-mail providers Yahoo, Microsoft, America Online and EarthLink released recommendations for ending unsolicited commercial ("spam") e-mail, according to a statement by the group.
The Anti-Spam Technical Alliance's (ASTA) Statement of Intent, released Tuesday, includes a list of suggestions and "best practice" recommendations for Internet service providers (ISPs), e-mail service providers, governments, corporations and bulk e-mail senders.
Microsoft competes in the enterprise applications space, Oracle said in a white paper distributed one day before a top Microsoft executive is scheduled to testify to the contrary in the U.S. government's case to block Oracle's takeover of PeopleSoft.
The case hinges on the definition of the market for high-end human resources and financial management applications. The government argues that an Oracle-PeopleSoft merger would stifle competition, resulting in higher prices, because Oracle, PeopleSoft and Germany's SAP AG are the only options for buyers.
Security company Network Associates said Tuesday that there's no truth to rumors that it is considering an offer to be bought by a large company, possibly Microsoft. "We are not in discussions with Microsoft or any other company to buy Network Associates," said Jennifer Keavney, a spokeswoman for the company.
The statement came after a trade magazine published an article quoting unnamed Wall Street sources and partners as saying that the company was on the block and considering a deal with Microsoft.
Microsoft's top network security manager appeared at a company road show Tuesday to let other administrators know what the software giant is doing to help keep corporate networks safe.
Speaking at Microsoft's Security Summit, a 20-city tour to showcase the software giant's latest technologies regarding Internet threats, Richard Devenuti, corporate vice president for Microsoft's Services and IT unit, highlighted improvements in the company's software and told how those improvements had been incorporated into Microsoft's own networks.
Microsoft has boosted the prospects for some enhancements to Internet Explorer by appointing a new member to its product management team. Some analysts believe the appointment means that the much criticized browser will get a polish before Longhorn is released and IE's importance begins to fade.
In June 2003, Microsoft announced it would not release any new versions of IE as a stand-alone browser. Instead, the software giant said IE would be an integrated part of Longhorn, the company's next major operating system.
However, Longhorn is unlikely to appear for another two or three years, and as many companies are slow to upgrade their operating systems, it may not be in widespread use for up to three years after that.