The software company announced that some of the next applications they will unveil in the near future will be available only in 64-bit versions, compatible just with 64-bit processors.

According to Microsoft representatives, 64-bit platforms offer the best support and these chips will make the greatest impact on the performance of applications such as Exchange and its SQL Server database. By the end of next year, Microsoft will launch Exchange 12 only as a 64-bit version.

For now, Microsoft acknowledges it will offer a pretty wide range of 64-bit compatible applications, among which Exchange Server 12, Windows Computer Cluster Server 2003, Windows Server and Longhorn Small Business Server. Microsoft's infrastructure solution for midsize businesses, codenamed Centro, will also be optimized for x64 hardware.

Jeff Raikes, president of the Microsoft Business Division, offered information about the launch of Microsoft Dynamics GP, business management applications that combine the capabilities of Microsoft's Great Plains assets with an interface that looks like the company's popular Office suite. This mix of a very well known user interface and a powerful business application is meant to offer a more user friendly yet complex tool.