Ed Scannell

IBM Corp. gave its On Demand computing initiative a B-12 shot on Thursday announcing a handful of virtualization and grid-enabling technologies designed to streamline the infrastructure of corporate IT shops and make it easier to manage.

Microsoft Corp. on Monday revealed more details on its SharePoint Portal Server, currently in beta testing, that will feature tighter ties with many of the collaboration capabilities woven into the Windows Server 2003 scheduled to be delivered on April 24.

Trying to enhance the appeal of Windows XP among wireless users, Microsoft Corp. on Monday announced it is making a free upgrade available that supports the Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) with a new security solutions from the Wi-Fi Alliance.

IBM Corp. on Wednesday announced it will offer a CICS (Customer Information Control System) SOAP Technology Preview designed to help developers build connections to its venerable CICS-based mainframe applications through Web services.

Hoping to lower the costs associated with deploying Linux in the enterprise, SuSE Linux AG on Monday announced a partnership deal with Ximian Inc. that will see SuSE selling Ximian's integration and management product.

Hoping to speed the integration of Windows XP into corporate environments, Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced updates to a set of tools that helps administrators reduce the time it takes to deploy the operating system by streamlining the process for application compatibility testing.

IBM Corp. this week will use its annual PartnerWorld conference as a platform to again sell its On Demand computing initiative, announcing a raft of new products and services designed to help business partners sell the initiative.

IBM Corp. will underline its ongoing companywide commitment to SMBs (small and medium-size businesses) next week when it introduces new versions of DB2, Notes, and Tivoli at its PartnerWorld conference in New Orleans.