October 23, 2005 9:00 PM PDT
Office 12: Is that your spreadsheet on my server?
Last modified: October 24, 2005 8:22 AM PDT
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The notion of "business intelligence," or easy access to critical company data, is one of the
As part of
Today, Microsoft has two different products using the SharePoint name. One is Windows SharePoint Services, a free downloadable add-on to Windows Server 2003 that offers basic file sharing and portal abilities. Microsoft also sells a separate, broader server software package known as SharePoint Portal Server 2003. A company representative declined to say how Excel Services will be offered.
Microsoft also announced new abilities of the Excel desktop software, including tools for better visualizing data as well as the ability to maintain a persistent connection to server applications including back-end software such as programs from SAP, Oracle and Siebel Systems.
Executives at Microsoft say all of the improvements are designed to broaden the number of workers who have access to the needed numbers to understand their business.
"Until now, Business Intelligence software has been too complex, costly, and disconnected from the software tools people use every day to do their jobs," Jeff Raikes, Microsoft Business Division president, said in a statement.
The company is also readying an
In the shorter term, Microsoft is also announcing the Nov. 1 availability of Microsoft Office Business Scorecard Manager, a previously disclosed server-based program for monitoring key business data. The product will cost $5,000 for the server software plus a $175 fee for each user that connects to the server, Microsoft said.
The Redmond, Wash.-based company
Business Objects, which already offers business intelligence software, downplayed Microsoft's chances.
"Customers want access to all their data, something Microsoft will always struggle with," said Rene Bonvanie, chief marketing officer for Business Objects, in a statement. "What good is it to look at only 40 percent of your company's data, when you are responsible for 100 percent of your company's performance?"
Bonvanie made it clear that Business Objects intends to defend its turf. "This is our market, and Business Objects is orders of magnitude larger, even on Microsoft's own platform," Bonvanie said.
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http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=1903
also, to see how the marketplace will respond to Microsoft newest strategies in "trying to help inspire smarter cubicle dwellers".
people who should have access to them. I'm not sure what MS
thinks that they are bringing to the party that is actually new. Could
be just another MS redefinition of the obvious.