Taking a step toward converting the home into a supercomputer

Article Abstract:

Sun Microsystems today will introduce Jini, the first consumer version of distributed computing technology. Jini is designed to let a range of consumer appliances communicate with a ubiquitous computer network that contains millions of small programs. The commercial use of distributed computing also could shift the computer industry's balance of power away from Microsoft's OS dominance and Internet designs. Examples could include smart cars that inform drivers of traffic congestion and phones that contain detailed information on all listed US phone numbers. Microsoft is reportedly developing a similar system, Millenium, but Jini holds an early edge because of Sun's versatile and popular Java programming language. Sun's plans call for hardware and consumer gadget vendors to add Jini to their products by Jan 2000. Questions remain whether computer networks, the heart of distributed computing, will be universal and wireless.

Author: Markoff, John
Product development, Sun Microsystems Inc., SUNW, Company technology development, Network architectures, Network architecture

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Microsoft will reorganize into 5 units

Article Abstract:

Microsoft Corp. is reorganizing into five separate divisions in response to customers needs, according to the software concern's second-in-command and co-founder Steven Ballmer. In a teleconference held with Bill Gates, Ballmer said the reorganized company would be headed by a 14-member executive committee chaired by Gates. The divisions will be run by Microsoft veterans, though Brad Silverberg and Nathan Myhrvold's names were absent from the management plan. Ballmer denied that the reorganization was in response to the Federal government's antitrust lawsuit, saying he wanted to make the Redmond, Washington-based concern more responsive to its customers. The stock market responded to the announced plan by sending Microsoft shares up by $3.25 to $92.375 following a 2-for-1 stock split.

Author: Markoff, John
United States, Management, Microsoft Corp., MSFT

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Subjects list: Computer software industry, Software industry, Software
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