Open XML Gets ISO Approval to Become a Standard
by Alex Woodie

Microsoft won a key battle over acceptance of its Office Open XML, or OOXML, document standard yesterday when the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, announced that it passed a recent ratification vote among members. The vote was a big win for Microsoft, which has struggled to promote Office 2007's new file format in the face of Open Document Format (ODF), a competing XML-based standard, increased scrutiny from government regulators, and a previous rejection by the ISO. However, legal hurdles to its adoption remain. READ MORE >

HP Targets SMB Shops with New Entry Servers
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

With Dell waking back up in the server market, particularly in the entry X64 space where it still has some clout, building out a distribution channel, and making some moves in the blade server area now, too, Hewlett-Packard has to stay on its toes and continue rolling out new technology to keep enticing small and medium businesses to choose its ProLiant products over Dell's PowerEdge alternatives in tower, rack, and blade form factors. READ MORE >

Windows Mobile Learns from iPhone with Version 6.1
by Alex Woodie

Microsoft this week announced Windows Mobile 6.1, a new release of the smartphone operating system that is expected to become available on new phones later this quarter. The new OS will be easier to set up, include a new Web browser, and feature better support for small screens and e-mail management. The software giant also unveiled System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008, which will allow IT administrators to more easily manage large numbers of corporate Windows Mobile smartphone users. READ MORE >

Microsoft Won't Raise Its Yahoo Offer
by Alex Woodie

Microsoft is unlikely to raise its initial unsolicited buyout offer for Yahoo, according a story this week in the Wall Street Journal. Citing unnamed sources close to Microsoft, the WSJ reports that, with no viable alternative offers for Yahoo's business, raising the initial $44.6 billion offer would be equivalent to bidding against itself. Instead, the software giant's strategy is to sit tight and wait for Yahoo to run out of viable options, after which it will accept Microsoft's initial offer. READ MORE >