14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft revealed that its industry partners are building applications on top of Windows Vista and the 2007 Office System designed for the SMB environment. According to Microsoft, the applications delivered by partners for Vista and Office 2007 are addressed at the small and medium size businesses.
"The odds are stacked against small businesses keeping their doors open during the first year of business, let alone the first five," said Dave Wascha, director of the Windows Client business group at Microsoft. "Our industry partners have built applications on Windows Vista and Microsoft Office that will give small-business owners the tools they need to buck that trend."
Financial management, Sales and marketing, data security and backup and remote connections are the areas where independent software developers have focused their efforts. The Payments As a Secure Service (PASS) Consortium's Commerce Center designed for real-time finance management is one example of third-party applications that will integrate seamlessly with Microsoft Office Accounting Professional 2007 and Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007.
Similarly, FrontRange Solutions' GoldMine suite builds on the functionality of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Outlook 2007. CA's Anti-Virus 2007, F-Secure Anti-Virus, Maxtor OneTouch III Turbo Editions are designed to provide data security and extended backup capabilities.
"Built by independent software makers to take advantage of features in both Windows Vista and the Microsoft Office release, these applications are designed to help small-business owners more easily manage cash flow, stay productive on the road, track customer orders and sales leads, and ensure the protection and privacy of business information. When combined with the features and capabilities of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system, these applications enable small businesses to dedicate an even greater percentage of their time and energy to generating revenue," revealed Microsoft.