REDMOND, Wash. — Aug. 27, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has signed several Microsoft Communications Protocol Program (MCPP) licensing agreements with industry leaders such as Aruba Networks Inc., BalaBit IT Security and Secure Computing Corp. under the U.S. protocol program.
The MCPP has been designed to answer software application developers’ need to interoperate with Microsoft® Windows® server and client environments as well as meet regulatory requirements.
“The MCPP, while recognizing what is expected of us by U.S. government standards, is a structured approach that will enable our customers to enhance their overall IT ecosystem,” said Bob Muglia, senior vice president of the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft. “Our responsibility is to provide customers and partners like Aruba Networks, BalaBit and Secure Computing with information, tools and support that facilitate interoperability with Windows.”
Aruba Networks, BalaBit and Secure Computing signed the MCPP licensing agreements, which makes available Windows client-to-server protocols used to communicate between Windows client and server operating systems.
“The innovative solutions we built using Windows client-to-server protocols were made possible by our ready access to technology and documentation as an MCPP licensee, as well as our close alliance with Microsoft,” said Michael Tennefoss, head of strategic marketing at Aruba Networks.
BalaBit, an Internet security company specializing in application layer proxying, licensed MCPP for audit and control restricted protocols. With its MCPP license, BalaBit plans to enhance its technology for Remote Desktop Protocols (RDP), which can now make RDP’s services available for Windows-based servers as well. The RDP is used by remote desktop clients to connect to Windows Server® Terminal Services, and it allows the client to remotely display presentation data and access licensing information, serial devices, and other desktop remote functions from the Windows Server.
“The control of encrypted remote server management protocols is a new, extremely fast-growing market segment, and we want to keep our leading position in it,” said Marton Illes, development manager at BalaBit. “We expect that our MCPP license will help us expand our business and make our products interoperable with Windows Server.”
Microsoft’s Commitment to Licensing Technology
These licensing agreements demonstrate the important role licensing intellectual property (IP) plays in ensuring a healthy and vibrant IT ecosystem. Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 200 licensing agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners and competitors to access its Microsoft Protocol Licensing Programs. The IP licensing program was developed to expedite access to Microsoft’s significant research and development investments and its growing, rich patent and IP portfolio. More information about Microsoft’s protocol licensing programs is available at http://www.microsoft.com/protocols.
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