WinInsider

Peter Osbourne had a simple idea: He and his team of 10 programmers at Dollar Rent A Car Systems created software code that made it possible for people to rent autos through the Web sites of Southwest Airlines and other partners. Little did he know that he had contributed to a marketing revolution that would reinvent the world's largest software company around a colossal technology campaign known as Microsoft.Net. Suddenly, the car project became a showcase for the burgeoning Web services initiative, with Osbourne as its poster child. "Some writers ask me, 'So, what is .Net?' And I say, 'Hey, you're talking to the wrong guy,'" said the group manager of advanced technology at Dollar, still amazed at all the attention. "My interest is in looking for tools that will add value to me and make it easier for me to develop."

A desire for intuitive, personal communication experiences that enable people to see, talk, work and play effortlessly online and in real time has spurred a real-time communications technologies growth. While millions of individuals send instant messages every day to colleagues, friends and family, organizations are discovering that they, too, can benefit from real-time communications. Increasingly, businesses see instant messaging as the first wave of innovative technologies that are changing the way their people share information -- not just by swapping text messages, but also by exchanging voice, video, collaborative applications and other powerful tools.

In order to promote its new processors and dispel what it calls the "Speed Trap," AMD has begun a tour across the country to give away thousands of Athlon XP motherboard bundles. Originally slated to visit six cities, AMD has expanded the original schedule to include an additional fifteen. The company hopes the promotion will reveal that Athlon processors are faster than Intel's Pentium 4, which touts higher clock speeds. The premise is simple: arrive at the announced location by the time stated, stand in line to receive a raffle ticket, and hope your number will be one of 200 called. Specific locations and times are disclosed 24 hours before each event. Your chances to win are very reasonable, despite recent events being host to thousands of AMD enthusiasts.

Eight months ago, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates showed off Microsoft's new Windows XP operating system for the first time and promised a revolution in how people use computers. Since then XP has been praised for its robustness and stability. At the same time, it's been criticized as another illegal extension of Microsoft's monopolistic power.  Code-named Neptune, Odyssey, and eventually Whistler, the OS was officially called XP -- for "experience." "When we started the XP project, which was coded-named Whistler, we had a vision," Gates said. "The vision was to take the experiences that people have today and make them better."

On simular note TechTV is airing a half-hour special on Windows XP tonight at 6:30pm, 9:30pm, and 12:30am Eastern. For DirecTV owners the program will be broadcasted on channel 354.

Microsoft announced this week that its forthcoming online service and accompanying software, dubbed MSN 7, will be made available online October 25, the same day Windows XP ships. Consisting of a Web portal, online access, and a new version of MSN Explorer, MSN 7 will integrate more closely with Microsoft's instant-messaging software and other online properties for music and video, money and finances, relationships, and games. The company says that MSN 7 is the foundation for its future moves in the online realm, in which Microsoft will increasingly go head to head with market leader AOL.

All six of the Microsoft employees who had contact with the allegedly anthrax-contaminated letter reported in yesterday's WinInfo Daily UPDATE have tested negative for the inhaled form of anthrax, and none have become ill. The workers will be monitored for the less deadly cutaneous form of anthrax--which doctors can treat with standard antibiotics, but health officials describe the health risk from this form of anthrax to be "very, very low." This risk is consistent with most of the anthrax scares that are turning up around the country these days.

Microsoft Corp. and South Korea's Samsung Electronics said on Wednesday they had agreed to jointly develop and market consumer PCs and electronic home appliances. Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates and Chin Dae-je, president and CEO of Samsung Electronics' digital media business, signed a memorandum of understanding in Seoul over the deal. Samsung said the deal had no monetary value. "The two companies intend to work together to develop and market a new breed of products based on Samsung hardware and Microsoft Windows software," Gates said in a statement. Gates is visiting several Asian nations to promote Microsoft's latest technology.

Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday unveiled a tie-up that brings a video-on-demand service closer to its MSN network, underscoring a push to expand its entertainment offerings to lure users to faster Web services. The announcement comes a day after Microsoft signed high-speed Web access deals to offer MSN over digital subscriber lines (DSL) through partnerships with Verizon Communications, BellSouth Corp. and SBC Communications Inc. Under the deal, Intertainer, a privately held Culver City, California-based company in which Microsoft is an investor, will roll out its video-on-demand service to 35 major U.S. markets as of Wednesday, up from six.

Thanks to NeoWin, Windows Messanger 4.5 just leaked. Download. Note: This looks like it is BETA software!, please use caution when installing it on your system. Not all features may be here.

Thanks to ActiveWin, MSN Explorer 7 is currently available for download.

Microsoft Corp. today announced the creation of the Developer and Platform Evangelism Division, which will integrate developer tools and evangelism efforts across Microsoft and enhance the tools and technologies available to millions of developers, partners, information technology professionals and end users. The new division will provide software developers with the best tools, programs, services and content offerings to create the next generation of world-class software. The division, which will be led by Senior Vice President Eric Rudder, combines elements from several divisions at Microsoft and will be a part of Microsoft's Platforms Group. The Platforms Group, which also includes the Microsoft Windows, .NET Enterprise Servers and New Media Platforms (formerly Windows Digital Media) divisions, is managed by Group Vice President Jim Allchin.