Microsoft pushes back Blackcomb to 2005

PCWorld | at | by Mike

Microsoft plans to push back its next major operating system release, code-named "Blackcomb," to 2005 because the company fears the software could bring it further into conflict with antitrust regulators, say industry analysts.

In the interim, Microsoft is likely to release a less ambitious version of Windows dubbed "Longhorn" sometime in 2003--the date the company originally planned to ship Blackcomb, say analysts. Like Blackcomb, Longhorn will include features that contribute to Microsoft's much hyped .Net initiative, but it will omit database technology that could forge greater ties between Microsoft's operating systems and its Web services.