Microsoft buries 'key .Net milestone'

Microsoft has quietly scaled back one of its .Net initiatives, leaving what it described as a "key milestone" off its release schedule for 2003.

Earlier this week the software giant released a preview of its enterprise computing infrastructure roadmap for next year.

Microsoft detailed a number of forthcoming releases based around its .Net web services strategy. These included plans for updating its email Exchange Server with the release of Windows .Net Server 2003.

Even .Net speech technologies are planned, as well software to improve network access from cars.

But conspicuously absent from the plans was anything related to MyServices.

When announcing his plans for .Net in March 2001, chairman Bill Gates described MyServices, then known as Hailstorm, as "a key .Net milestone".

MyServices was originally conceived as a means of allowing consumers to access a network of basic services, such as calendars, alerts and an electronic wallet.

But its priority has now dropped below providing network access from cars.

Some of the lustre was knocked off the plans earlier this year, after it emerged that large enterprise customers failed to share Microsoft's enthusiasm.

Plans for the company to host and store personal information were shelved in March after it failed to drum up enough interest.

Instead, Microsoft announced that it would sell MyServices to businesses, pencilling in a final version of the offering for early 2003.

Microsoft was approached for comment, but was unable to respond at the time of going to press.