Gates: Microsoft poised for growth
eWeek | at | by Mike
The long-term outlook for the high-tech industry is good, and Microsoft Corp. will be at the forefront of it, according to Chief Software Architect and Chairman Bill Gates. SQL Server 2000 has been leading the way, as has Windows XP, which has now sold 46 million licenses, Gates told about 300 financial analysts, investors and journalists.
Microsoft saw some "remarkable successes in 2002" despite tough economic times, he said, adding that "Web services are gaining broad appeal . and WS-I [the Web services interoperability organization] now has more than 100 members and Microsoft's Visual Studio .Net is now deploying all kinds of Web services applications."
In fiscal 2003, Microsoft will release Windows .Net Server, for which the company released Windows .Net Server Release Candidate 1 Wednesday, Windows Media 9 series, Windows XP Media Center edition, MSN 8, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, Windows CE for Smart Displays and an update of Visual Studio .Net, Xbox Live, and new Xbox games.