News


Microsoft Updates Windows Phone 'Mango' SDK, Takes App Submissions

Microsoft announced on Tuesday that a release candidate (RC) of the latest software development kit (SDK) for Windows Phone 7.5, code-named "Mango," is now available.

Microsoft Enters Open Source Cloud Deal with China Standard Software

Microsoft signed an interoperability and legal agreement on Tuesday with China Standard Software Co. Ltd. (CS2C) as part of a Linux server partnership deal. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Microsoft Working on USB 3.0 Support on Windows 8

According to the latest post on the Building Windows 8 blog, Microsoft is working to make its next-generation desktop OS work with Universal Serial Bus 3.0 (USB 3.0) technologies.

Intermedia Becomes Microsoft Office 365 Syndication Partner

Intermedia, a large-scale provider of hosted Exchange mailboxes, is joining Microsoft's Office 365 syndication program.

HP Considers Spinning Off PC Business, Gives Up webOS

HP stunned the IT world by saying it is considering the spinoff or sale of its PC division. The company also announced it is killing its webOS-based hardware business -- marking an exit from its short-lived tablet and smartphone arm -- while looking at licensing options for its webOS software business.

Researchers Detect 'Supercookie' Tracking Code on Microsoft Sites

In response to claims from researchers that certain Microsoft Web sites contain code that could track users, Microsoft announced on Thursday that it has disabled the so-called "supercookies."

Microsoft Gives Office 365 Customers 25 Percent Credit for Outage

Microsoft on Thursday told Office 365 customers affected by this week's outage that it will deduct 25 percent from this month's bill.

Amazon: Dublin Cloud Outage Not Caused by Lightning

Amazon has issued an apology and explanation in response to the massive cloud outage that crippled its Dublin datacenter last week.

Judge Rejects Google's Complaint Against Microsoft in Android Case

A judge has rebuffed Google's attempt to disqualify an expert witness in the legal battle between Microsoft and Motorola over Android's use, saying that Google had not documented its claims.

Microsoft Introduces Windows 8 Teams, Hints at 'App Store'

A Microsoft executive revealed on the Building Windows 8 blog on Wednesday that it is taking about 35 teams to execute the various planning, coding and testing efforts surrounding the new OS.

Office 365 Migrations Start September for BPOS Users, Will Take 1 Year

For users of Microsoft's Business Productivity Online Services (BPOS), the transition to Office 365 will begin next month, but Microsoft's latest communications indicate a few caveats.

Microsoft's Office 365, SkyDrive and CRM Online Services Hit by Outages (UPDATED)

Several Microsoft cloud services, including Office 365, SkyDrive and CRM Online, experienced major outages on Wednesday.

Former Microsoft Entertainment & Devices President Joins Sonos

Robbie Bach, a 22-year Microsoft veteran who led the company's Entertainment & Devices (E&D) division, this week joined audio electronics company Sonos as a board member.

Microsoft Gives Details on Windows 8's Progress in Blog Series

A new Microsoft blog series is giving the public some insight into Windows 8, the upcoming Microsoft client operating system that is currently under development.

Google To Acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 Billion

In a stunning move that could upend the smartphone market, Google today said it will acquire phone handset maker Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. for $12.5 billion in cash.

Microsoft Opens 'Partner Exam Academy' Exam-Prep Service

Microsoft has unveiled the new "Partner Exam Academy," an online resource that gives those pursuing Microsoft certifications access to free and for-fee exam-prep materials.

Google Accuses Microsoft of Improperly Sharing Android Code

The ongoing feud between Microsoft and Google over the Google-backed Android mobile OS continued this week.

Ex-Microsoft Mobile Engineer Goes to Skype Competitor

Rebtel, the No. 2 VoIP company in the world behind Skype in terms of revenue, has named former Microsoft mobile engineer Daniel Forsman to its executive ranks.

Motorola 'Open' to Smartphone Partnership with Microsoft

A deal with Microsoft to put Windows on Motorola's mobile devices is not out of the question, according to a top Motorola executive on Tuesday.

Windows Phone 7 Falls Behind Samsung Bada in Latest Share Numbers

Smartphones are on a rising tide, but the Windows Phone 7 boat isn't getting a lift.