Microsoft net servers launched

By MICHAEL FOREMAN

Microsoft has announced nine web server software products, which have been named after its vision of an "any device, any time, any place" internet.

The software giant is also hoping the .Net Enterprise Server range will help its Windows 2000 operating system to be taken seriously as a platform for large-scale internet applications.

While Microsoft has claimed that a quarter of all internet sites worldwide now run on its software, at many high-end installations Windows 2000 has been dismissed in favour of Sun's Solaris operating system.

Of the nine products announced, only Windows 2000 Datacentre Server, Host Integration Server 2000 and SQL Server 2000 are available immediately.

Exchange 2000 Server, BizTalk Server 2000, Commerce Server 2000, Application Centre 2000, and Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000 are expected to ship before the end of the year.

The final product, Mobile Information 2001 Server, will appear next year.