MICROSOFT

Global companies extending their networks into Africa will find it a challenge to establish easy telecom links in comparison to the better established systems in the U.S., Europe or Asia. While mobile phone use is growing rapidly across the continent, fixed-line density is low and Internet access is limited.

Microsoft's Bill Gates made an announcement last month that marked the beginning of the end of an era. For over 30 years Gates has maintained an influential voice in shaping the company that he co-founded. It stands today as the world's largest software maker.

A European fine on Microsoft Corp. will have no effect on the launch of Vista, its next-generation Windows operating system, the U.S. software giant's Japan unit said on Thursday.

Software giant Microsoft and South Africa's cellular group Mobile Telephone Networks (MTN) announced on Tuesday a collaboration to provide affordable internet connection services in South Africa.

Microsoft is set to transition one of its largest business software suites away from traditional hosting methods to the online arena, pitting its latest offering against entrenched competitors which include Oracle, SAP AG, along with burgeoning Salesforce.com.

The European Commission confirmed on Friday it would debate antitrust sanctions against U.S. software giant Microsoft at a regular meeting on Wednesday.

Responding to government requests for interoperability, Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday it will offer free software that will allow Word, Excel and PowerPoint to handle documents in rival technology formats.

An EU committee ruled on Monday that Microsoft failed to comply with a landmark antitrust decision, paving the way for fines of up to 2 million euros ($2.56 million) a day, a source familiar with the situation said.

Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday it will delay the release of its Office 2007 business productivity software to improve product performance in the latest setback for the world's largest software maker.

Microsoft Corp. expects Adobe Systems Inc. to file a lawsuit against it in Europe over the use of software to make electronic document files, according to a report.

Under pressure from Microsoft Corp. investors to return a portion of the company's $35 billion cash reserve and revive a flagging share price, Chief Executive Steve Ballmer on Wednesday defended the company's first-class problem of having too much cash.

Microsoft Corp. launched on Tuesday a new version of its Windows Live Local online mapping service with real-time traffic reports and features to make it easier to share maps and information.

Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said Thursday he has a five-year target to gain a bigger slice of the lucrative online advertising market dominated by Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc.

The online search industry has proven to be a fierce battlefield since it emerged in the mid 90’s. At the time, many companies ventured into the field hoping to capitalize on the fledgling industry. However 10 years later, a burst tech bubble has filtered out the also-rans, leaving behind three major contenders with one announcing its new proposal for a better search solution for advertisers and web surfers.

At the biggest video game show of the year, Sony, which has dominated the console market with its PlayStation 2, must show gamers reason to wait six more months for its PS3, even though Microsoft's next-generation Xbox 360 already sits temptingly on stores shelves.

Some investors are viewing Microsoft Corp. as a bargain after uncertainty about its investment strategy and development delays pushed the software giant's share price to three-year lows.

Microsoft Corp.on Thursday said it struck a deal to enable its Windows Mobile operating system to work with Qualcomm Inc.'s mobile phone chips, a move seen helping it gain more headway in the wireless business.

Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates told a ballroom full of U.S. newspaper editors he's developing onscreen reader software that will make reading news digitally a lot more like flipping through a paper.

A special 13-judge court opens high-stakes hearings on Monday, deciding if it should curtail the European Commission's role as an antitrust watchdog or endorse forcing Microsoft to change its business practices.

eBay Inc. has had talks with both Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp. to determine whether one of them might be a suitable ally against common threats from Google, Inc., the Wall Street Journal said on Friday.