Microsoft Corp. unveiled the vision and road map for its next generation of software and services, the Microsoft .NET platform. Microsoft .NET (pronounced “dot-net”) will provide easier, more personalized and more productive Internet experiences by harnessing constellations of smart devices and Web sites with advanced software through Internet protocols and formats. This new family of Microsoft .NET products and technologies replaces the previous working title of Next Generation Windows Services (NGWS) and includes software for developers to build next-generation Internet experiences as well as power smart Internet devices. Microsoft also announced plans for new products built on the .NET platform, including new generations of Windows, Windows DNA servers, Microsoft Office, the MSN network of Internet services and the Visual Studio development system. .NET will give users a more productive and purposeful experience through greater user control over personal information and preferences, new user interface technologies, a new breed of smart Internet devices, and the ability to harness multiple devices and services toward a common goal. .NET facilitates the continuous delivery of software to customers via a distributed computing model for the Internet that uniquely exploits the abundance of both computing and communications. .NET is based on Internet protocols and standards for interactions between devices and services, and in particular relies on XML. Bill Gates announced the new .NET platform, consisting of the following technologies: .NET User Experience. A new set of technologies for building next- generation user experiences, including the new Universal Canvas XML- based compound information architecture, natural user interface, integral digital media support, privacy-enabling technologies for management and control of personal information, and the new Dynamic Delivery system for secure and seamless installation, updates, roaming and offline operation. Visual Studio 7.0 will provide comprehensive support for XML-based Web service development, including developers who use Visual Basic. The new BizTalk Orchestration tool simplifies business process integration over the Internet. The .NET Infrastructure and Tools build off the XML-enabled family of Windows DNA 2000 servers. .NET Building Block Services. A new family of highly distributed, programmable developer services that run across standalone machines, in corporate data centers and across the Internet. And .NET Device Software. An array of software to power smart Internet-connected devices that can take maximum advantage of the .NET platform and fully participate in next-generation user experiences. This software will XML-enable any device, support intelligent interaction with the network and .NET services and serve as a foundation to bring .NET User Experience technologies to non-PC devices such as Pocket PCs, set-top boxes, cellular phones and game consoles. www.microsoft.com