Microsoft yesterday unveiled Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008, at a launch in Sandton, attended by 3 500 partners, customers and developers.
The Johannesburg launch was one of 225 such events worldwide. Microsoft GM of developer and UX platforms and tools John Case, guest speaker at the event, said this launch is the largest in Microsoft's history, touching 200 000 people directly, and a further three million-odd online.
In a statement announcing the launch, Manoj Bhoola, head of the server and tools division at Microsoft SA, said the launch is a major milestone to help customers on the road to Dynamic IT. This Microsoft initiative aims to help customers optimise their people, processes and technology and, in turn, position IT as a strategic asset for their business.
"IT professionals and developers tell us they spend too much time and money managing existing systems and not enough investing in new capabilities that create strategic advantage," said Bhoola. "That feedback is at the core of the innovations in this new wave of products. Already, the overwhelming response from thousands of IT professionals and developers around the world is that this is the most secure enterprise platform we have ever delivered and that it will simplify management and enable them to focus more on driving their businesses forward."
Case outlined four things that define the Dynamic IT environment: "Being able to truly manage complexity and achieve agility, being able to protect information and control access, being able to advance business through providing IT solutions, and enhancing personal productivity."
Also in the statement, Bhoola said that, with the introduction of Windows Server 2008, partners will deliver this next-generation platform to its customers worldwide, enabling them to achieve greater reliability, performance and control over their IT infrastructure. In addition, Microsoft's advanced Windows Deployment Services suite will allow partners to increase the speed of deployments and simplify management.
According to the statement: "More than 40 companies are making announcements today and more than 80 partners are participating in launch events around the world. In SA, these sponsors included Business Connexion, Dell, HP, IBM, iSolve and K2. Highlighting the opportunity for industry partners, a 2007 IDC study predicts that for every R1 Microsoft earns from Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 this year, the ecosystem beyond Microsoft - software and hardware vendors that support or incorporate the products - will reap R10 in revenue."
Microsoft, in a separate announcement, also detailed investments in tools and programs for hardware and software partners. These include the Windows Software Logo Program, Works with Windows Server 2008, Certified for Windows Server 2008, Metro Early Adoption Program and Application Compatibility Labs.
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