Microsoft News Tracker

The Microsoft AOL acquisition story just gets better as Elinor Mills reports at CNET:

Google could try to bid for America Online to preempt a Microsoft takeover and protect the $380 million in revenue Google gets from its biggest partner, according to an analyst.

Press release:

Consumers helped put a dent in the software piracy business today. Information they provided helped Microsoft Corp. gather the information needed to file eight lawsuits against companies in Arizona, California, Illinois, Minnesota and New York. Each company named has allegedly distributed counterfeit and/or infringing Microsoft® software or software components.

Microsoft responds to consumer leads from its anti-piracy hotline — 1-800-RU-LEGIT — by gathering evidence against alleged software pirates through test purchases done by “secret shoppers.” This program allows the company to selectively purchase and test the authenticity of software being distributed in the marketplace. Customers can also share information with Microsoft about sources of counterfeit and/or infringing software through Microsoft’s newly launched Windows® Genuine Advantage (WGA) program.

WGA, an anti-piracy initiative that differentiates genuine Windows software from counterfeit software, provides an online validation tool for customers to determine whether their software is genuine. Customers who find out they have been deceived into buying counterfeit software by software suppliers may qualify for free replacement software under the program.

First there was the Forbes article, now Business Week has a cover story - Troubling Exits At Microsoft. Excerpt:

For most of its three decades, Microsoft has faced intense criticism. But in the past it came from the outside world. Rivals complained about its heavy-handed tactics. PC makers griped that it was hogging the industry’s profits.

Now much of the sharpest criticism comes from within. Dozens of current and former employees are criticizing — in BusinessWeek interviews, court testimony, and personal blogs — the way the company operates internally.

WindowsForDevices:

Sprint has announced what it claims is the first Pocket PC phone in the US to run Microsoft’s new Windows Mobile 5.0 software platform. The Sprint PPC-6700 is a CDMA handset with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard plus a 1.3 Mpixel camera and EV-DO, WiFi, and Bluetooth capabilities.

From the Sprint press release:

The PPC-6700 reproduces the Windows-based PC experience and utilizes a new suite of Microsoft Office software, including the addition of PowerPoint® Mobile™ for viewing presentations on the go and Excel® Mobile™ with enhanced attachment-viewing capabilities. Managing documents, email, appointments, contacts and tasks is easier than ever with a 416 MHz Intel® PXA270 processor and a sliding QWERTY keyboard that opens from the side and automatically changes orientation from portrait to landscape viewing mode.

“We believe the PPC-6700 really is the next-generation mobile device,” said Philip Christopher, president of UT Starcom Personal Communications. “Built with business applications in mind, the sliding keyboard and advanced data capabilities are just two of the many features, which when paired with Sprint’s advanced wireless service, are designed to enable professionals to virtually carry office capabilities in their pocket.”

Sounds like everything but the kitchen sink, but there is a downside as Tim Hibbard points out:

Sprint finally gives us a phone with Bluetooth, SD and Wi-Fi plus the bonus EV-DO and Mobile 5.0, but only a 3.7 hours battery life?? Are people really going to pay over $600 for a phone that will not make it through a work day on light usage, and not even make it to lunch on heavy usage. I wouldn’t.

Update: Jason Langridge observes that the European iMate JasJar Windows Mobile 5.0 phone was out first. The JasJar was also involved in an odd occurrence at last week’s PDC05.

Press release:

Microsoft Corp. today announced the acquisition of Alacris Inc., a global provider of certificate management and identity assurance software products. The acquisition enhances Microsoft’s strategy of providing easily administered identity and access management solutions.

“Customers have told us that smart cards are becoming an increasingly important part of their authentication and authorization strategy,” said Mike Nash, corporate vice president of the Security Technology Unit at Microsoft. “Through this acquisition, we’re excited to gain technology that makes it easier for customers to take advantage of the smart card capabilities in Windows® with tools to simplify smart card life-cycle management.”

Yahoo! has an Alacris company profile.