Microsoft to continue building great software

THE year 2004 has been one where Microsoft focused our attention and increased our commitment in three core areas — education, digital inclusion and local economic development — to spur the innovation economy.

We have also seen good success on an increasing number of local companies gaining .NET Certification and developing using the technology as it’s proven to be faster, better and easier.

In 2005, our goal is to continue building great software that empower people anytime, any place and on any device that will help them realise their potential.

In line with the Prime Minister’s aim to create a performance culture and knowledge-based economy, we will continue our investments in these three key areas:

# Increasing knowledge;

# Increasing opportunity; and,

# Increasing access to technology for as many Malaysians as possible.

We have continually asserted that intellectual property (IP) will form the currency of the future. This means we need to continue unearthing, nurturing and developing talent that will continue to create, innovate and spawn greater wealth.

It is really an end-to-end value chain that creates a self sustaining and constantly growing ecosystem. In that vein, we will continue to engage with the Government, industry, investors, associations and ultimately technopreneurs themselves in making this happen.

As the Prime Minister remarked during the recent IAP, there needs to be a balance between open source and commercial software to drive innovation.

Intellectual property creation, development, enhancement, protection, and more importantly policies should be consistent with the principles of neutrality. These will, we believe, continue to make the difference in helping Malaysia realise its potential.

In 2005, Microsoft will deliver the first beta for its next generation Windows operating system, code-named “Longhorn”. It will continue to improve security for Windows users by making it easier for them to get their computers clean and stay safe.

In addition to improved security, “Longhorn” will make it easier for businesses to deploy and maintain Windows.

“Longhorn” will also deliver an integrated search solution for the operating system that will make it easier for business organisations to find and manage their mission critical data such as documents and email.

In 2005, Microsoft will continue to provide ongoing security guidance for developers and information technology (IT) professionals at http://www.microsoft.com/security/guidance, and for consumers at http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security.

The company will continue to respond to customer needs for a consistent monthly security update cycle, building higher-quality updates, providing additional customer resources and improved communication of security information.

Another new management tool slated for final release during the first half of 2005, Windows Update Services, will let system administrators more easily assess, control and automate the deployment of Microsoft software updates, helping keep their Windows-based PCs and services more secure and to minimise downtime.

Microsoft remains committed to helping protect e-mail as an essential communications tool. The company is working with its own customers and across the industry to maintain confidence in email and its many benefits, and to protect users’ privacy against unwanted communication such as spam and “phishing”.

Looking ahead to 2005, the group is driving increased implementation of the Sender ID Framework in MSN, Hotmail and other products, and further efforts to provide technology tools that guard customers against fraudulent “phishing” attacks.

A beta version of MSN Messenger 7.0 offers the instant messaging (IM) service’s 145 million users worldwide new ways to express themselves online and personalise their instant messaging experience with new features such as a “Nudge”, an alert that shakes the contact’s conversation window with an audible notification, or a “Wink”, animated pictures that include sound and that can be virtually “thrown” onto the screen of a contact’s IM window.

Complete versions of MSN Messenger 7.0 will arrive in 2005.

In the first quarter of 2005, Microsoft Business Solutions CRM will offer promotions and special pricing for partners and small business customers interested in taking advantage of Microsoft Windows Small Business Server and Microsoft CRM.

These opportunities will help reduce the cost of purchasing and implementing Microsoft CRM for small businesses, so they can deploy and realise the combined benefits of the Microsoft platform and Microsoft CRM, a joint solution that gives employees easy, one-stop access to their customer, sales and service information.

Microsoft will be releasing a new edition of Microsoft Office designed for small business management in 2005, which combines the Microsoft Office 2003 Professional Edition, Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting product and the next version of Microsoft Office Outlook with Business Contact Manager, to provide small businesses the software resources necessary to manage sales, marketing and financial processes in a single, integrated suite.

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