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Phase 1: Base Internet Capabilities (Embrace)
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| bet | 22/27 | | Sana | 19.03.2017 | | Hajmi | 3.19 Mb. | | #225 |
Phase 1: Base Internet Capabilities (Embrace)
We must deliver Internet-ready systems to customers in 1994. The biggest challenge in meeting this goal will be the extensive interoperability testing necessary to successfully establish Windows as an Internet-ready system. Although the development team is on track to deliver the necessary base technologies, we ensure 100% compatibility with the 100+ commercial Internet providers. Our in-the-box support for easy, compatible TCP/IP support is well ahead of Apple, IBM, and especially Novell’s positioning and pricing models, and sets the stage for our future endeavors.
Although offering Internet-compatible systems with Chicago and Daytona put the initial stake in the ground, poor application support can tarnish our image in the near term. The current state of public domain Windows-based tools is very sad. We need to inspire the development of high-quality Win32 Internet applications and begin winning the mindshare of those which have formerly embraced Unix as the standard Internet platform. Once the standard tools and services that have been available on Unix and Macintosh for years become widely available on Windows NT, those interested in offering Internet services will have a very attractive alternative to Unix. We can further enhance our image by solving customers’ bootstrapping problem; by making quality Internet tools easily available to Windows customers, we will shorten users’ paths to access to the infostructure.
The best way to establish respect in the Internet community is to become more active in it; we need to beef up our Internet support and participation through PSS. The FTP server experiment went very well, given the late-night efforts of those wanting to make it happen. It’s apparent that more effective management of the server and increased internal communication will help make this resource much more valuable and allow us to further defray support costs. We also need to consider Usenet-based customer support and other services such as gopher, WAIS and WWW to deliver both pre- and post-sales information effectively to customers as companies like Novell and Digital have.
As important as bringing customers to Microsoft via the Internet, we need to provide the product groups access to the rich technical resources it has to offer. From specifications, to analysis, to algorithms, every product group within Microsoft stands to gain a great deal from being able to access these resources readily. A number of technical barriers face us in offering desktop connectivity right now, however setting up public access terminals will go a long way toward enhancing our corporate understanding of the Internet as well as increase our research capacity.
Weaving the Internet into our networking marketing messages will establish a more visible presence and get us up on the Internet “wave”. The stability and use of the FTP server is testimony that Windows NT can handle mission-critical 24x7 service to huge numbers of concurrent users, and an excellent message to share. Our efforts in compatibility testing our products with 100 Internet providers ensures our commitment to Internet-based support and Internet-compatible products needs to be communicated and leveraged.
Action Items: -
Deliver easy-to-use, Internet support with Chicago and Daytona: TCP/IP, Windows Sockets, & SLIP/PPP
Need commitment from Chicago for TCP/IP PPP development work
Ensure interoperability of Microsoft dialin offerings with all major Internet providers, offer Internet provider list with ResKit
Ensure interoperability of Microsoft TCP/IP offerings with all existing Windows Internet tools
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Ensure the availability of high-quality Internet navigation tools and servers
Sponsor a development contest for Win32-based Internet tools
Deliver winning Internet tools to customers via the Daytona/Chicago ResKits and on the Internet itself
Dedicate PSS resources to the efficient management and administration of the Internet server
Develop a PSS requirements document detailing the needs of Microsoft customers w/ Internet access
Daytona/Chicago press releases/Interop+NetWorld demos
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Enhance employee access to the Internet as a research tool (kiosks)
Provide Windows NT Internet systems in the library, EBC, etc. for public use
Examine extending desktop access through the SIAM project, allow creation of Internet-wide aliases for technical discussions
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Develop a cross-team plan for the next level of Internet interoperability
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