Combined with the company's existing database, applications, and middleware, the forthcoming products are intended to provide an infrastructure for managing not just data, but knowledge. Microsoft's evolution as a knowledge-management vendor has been slow, but company officials say the products laid out at last week's TechEd developers conference in Dallas represent a significant advance. All of those are part of an overall knowledge-management solution.
Businesses are clearly interested.
Microsoft previewed middleware, which will enter testing later this year, for integrating Windows applications with apps on mainframes, minicomputers, and other platforms, including Unix. The software, code-named Babylon, is based on technology in the company's host connectivity product, SNA Server, and will help eliminate communications problems that result when applications use different messaging and protocol formats. It's bridging the gap between host systems and downsized systems, and that has business value. Users will be able to view search results from a variety of desktop tools, including the Outlook mail client, Windows Explorer browser, and third-party products. Platinum entered beta testing this month and is due next year.