Microsoft Debuts Latest Version of Commerce Server At TechEd in New Orleans
Microsoft debuted the latest version of its Commerce Server software at TechEd in New Orleans 
Tuesday, promising improved .Net development capabilities.
This version integrates with Microsoft's Visual Studio.Net development tool via tools in its Developer Portal, allowing faster creation of Commerce Server applications from within Visual Studio.Net, said Microsoft officials.
Commerce Server 2002, the successor to Commerce Server 2000 and Site Server before that, also includes an Application Runtime, Base Class Library and Common Language Runtime Interoperability Layer that allows developers to create Commerce Server applications using Active Server Pages.Net and the .Net Framework. This ties in .Net applications with core Commerce Server services and systems, officials said.
This version is also targeted to companies conducting business globally, with its multi-language and multi-currency support. Catalog management has also been improved in this release to allow customers to aggregate catalogs from multiple suppliers, create customer-specific or locale-specific catalogs, and offer custom product pricing.
Commerce Server 2002 integrates with Microsoft Passport to extend single sign-on services to the applications and has a range of new features geared more toward larger organizations, such as multiple-language-and-currency support and centralized security management.
While Commerce Server has been typically used for business-to-business and business-to-consumer e-commerce applications, it is increasingly being
targeted for business-to-employee applications and government portals.
Another new feature of the .Net-based server is integration with Microsoft's Visual Studio .Net development environment through Commerce Server Developer Portal. This will allow developers to develop for Commerce Server 2002 without custom coding. Microsoft's new hosted, programmable MapPoint .Net Web service will allow developers to integrate maps, driving directions, distance calculations and other related features into business processes and Web sites.
Microsoft is introducing two new editions in this version to the previously offered Evaluation and Developer Editions.
The Enterprise Edition, targeted at large, global organizations, is priced at $19,999 per CPU and supports an unlimited number of CPUs. It's also certified for Windows Datacenter.
There's also a Standard Edition for small to medium-sized enterprises with more limited function. That edition is priced at $6,999 per CPU with a limit of two CPUs.
Microsoft will also introduce new .Net capabilities for its Exchange e-mail and collaboration server at TechEd. On Wednesday, the company will release the Exchange 2000 Server XML Web Services Toolkit for Microsoft .Net.
The toolkit, the third developer's toolkit released for Exchange 2000, provides self-paced .Net training for Exchange developers. In addition to training materials, it includes reusable code samples for creating .Net applications for scheduling, calendaring, contacts and workflow in Exchange.
The toolkit is free of charge to existing Exchange customers, costing only $7.95 for shipping and handling for customers who don't wish to download it
Tuesday, promising improved .Net development capabilities.
This version integrates with Microsoft's Visual Studio.Net development tool via tools in its Developer Portal, allowing faster creation of Commerce Server applications from within Visual Studio.Net, said Microsoft officials.
Commerce Server 2002, the successor to Commerce Server 2000 and Site Server before that, also includes an Application Runtime, Base Class Library and Common Language Runtime Interoperability Layer that allows developers to create Commerce Server applications using Active Server Pages.Net and the .Net Framework. This ties in .Net applications with core Commerce Server services and systems, officials said.
This version is also targeted to companies conducting business globally, with its multi-language and multi-currency support. Catalog management has also been improved in this release to allow customers to aggregate catalogs from multiple suppliers, create customer-specific or locale-specific catalogs, and offer custom product pricing.
Commerce Server 2002 integrates with Microsoft Passport to extend single sign-on services to the applications and has a range of new features geared more toward larger organizations, such as multiple-language-and-currency support and centralized security management.
While Commerce Server has been typically used for business-to-business and business-to-consumer e-commerce applications, it is increasingly being targeted for business-to-employee applications and government portals.
Another new feature of the .Net-based server is integration with Microsoft's Visual Studio .Net development environment through Commerce Server Developer Portal. This will allow developers to develop for Commerce Server 2002 without custom coding. Microsoft's new hosted, programmable MapPoint .Net Web service will allow developers to integrate maps, driving directions, distance calculations and other related features into business processes and Web sites.
Microsoft is introducing two new editions in this version to the previously offered Evaluation and Developer Editions.
The Enterprise Edition, targeted at large, global organizations, is priced at $19,999 per CPU and supports an unlimited number of CPUs. It's also certified for Windows Datacenter.
There's also a Standard Edition for small to medium-sized enterprises with more limited function. That edition is priced at $6,999 per CPU with a limit of two CPUs.
Microsoft will also introduce new .Net capabilities for its Exchange e-mail and collaboration server at TechEd. On Wednesday, the company will release the Exchange 2000 Server XML Web Services Toolkit for Microsoft .Net.
The toolkit, the third developer's toolkit released for Exchange 2000, provides self-paced .Net training for Exchange developers. In addition to training materials, it includes reusable code samples for creating .Net applications for scheduling, calendaring, contacts and workflow in Exchange.
The toolkit is free of charge to existing Exchange customers, costing only $7.95 for shipping and handling for customers who don't wish to download it