Microsoft Outlines Plans for Interconnect Beta

As the world's largest software vendor Microsoft is keenly attuned to the market and acutely aware of cultural differences. In Japan, business men and women share their contact information by exchanging business cards and prefer that form of interpersonal communication over mechanistic contact management software. Microsoft's response is Microsoft Office Interconnect, an electronic business card management system made exclusively for the Japanese market.

Office Interconnect, currently in beta, allows users to create and send unique business cards secured by digital signatures. Users have the option to track their name card as it makes its way throughout their contact list with an e-mail-based peer-to-peer mechanism. This same mechanism can be used to notify contacts when personal information such a job title changes.

The software is an attempt by Microsoft to increase the geographic richness of its Office 2003 System and to remain competitive in the global marketplace.

Microsoft has endeavor to do the same with its Windows XP operating system by distributing a low-cost version of the software called Windows XP Starter Edition. Windows XP Starter Edition (SE) is currently only available in Thailand and Malaysia, but the software giant has hinted that it has intentions to expand the program's availability. Windows XP SE was offered as a response the growing attractiveness of open source alternatives and the pervasiveness of software piracy in both countries.

Commenting on Microsoft's move to localize Office, Laura DiDio, a senior analyst with the Yankee Group told BetaNews, "Microsoft scored a big hit with Office 2003 and is trying to expand on the success of that by giving customers what they want. Customers in regional markets do not always need the functionality that that is available in the US.

"Microsoft wants to create the perception that although it is the world's largest software maker, it is agile and leading edge and not complacent. Even with Linux and alternative office suites such as OpenOffice, StarOffice and Corel WordPerfect Suite breathing down its necks, Microsoft's biggest competitor is itself and older versions of its products," said DiDio.