REDMOND, Wash., July 26, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. today announced a new program to certify applications that meet the Application Specification for Windows® 2000. This program establishes an unprecedented technical standard to identify applications that are secure, manageable and run reliably on the Microsoft® Windows 2000 family of operating systems. Microsoft has worked with Rational Software Corp. and VeriTest Inc., a division of Lionbridge Technologies, to provide comprehensive testing services and automated tools to help ISVs and corporate developers build applications that meet this rigorous specification. Applications that meet this criteria will be eligible for the new
“Certified for Windows”
logo to make them easy for customers to identify.
“The Microsoft Certified for Windows program is a quantum leap ahead of anything we’ve done in the past,”
said Brian Valentine, vice president of the Business and Enterprise Division at Microsoft.
“We’ve raised the technical bar through a demanding Application Specification, and we’re working with industry leaders to deliver comprehensive testing tools and services. It was clear that we needed to offer a new level of status to the most reliable and manageable applications available: Certified for Windows.”
“We see Windows 2000 Certified applications as a key tool in our migration to the Windows 2000 platform at Pfizer,”
said Matthew Parsons, principal system architect at Pfizer.
“Deploying applications that meet this matured standard will provide for a more manageable, reliable and supportable environment, on Windows 2000 as well as earlier Windows platforms. Pfizer will look to vendors to provide certified applications. We also plan to use this specification as part of our internal application-development guidelines.”
To help enterprise developers and ISVs introduce compliance with the Application Specification for Windows 2000 early in their development projects, Rational will deliver the Rational TestFoundation for Windows 2000. Rational TestFoundation for Windows 2000 is a freely* downloadable set of tools, methods and scripts to help developers follow the specification. Developers using the Rational TestFoundation for Windows 2000 in conjunction with Rational TeamTest can automate testing for a comprehensive solution for compliance and certification testing.
“The Application Specification for Windows 2000 is an excellent set of guidelines for developers building Windows 2000-based applications,”
said Eric Schurr, vice president and general manager of corporate marketing and suite products for Rational Software.
“The Rational TestFoundation for Windows 2000 reduces the time, complexity and cost of validating and certifying applications by giving developers a well-planned, repeatable test process that can be automated with Rational TeamTest. For any development team, whether it is striving for Windows 2000 certification or general compatibility, this is the industry’s simplest, most effective solution.”
VeriTest, the testing arm of Lionbridge Technologies, provides a broad range of test services worldwide and has been involved with various Microsoft logo programs since 1995. VeriTest will provide compliance testing and related services for developers interested in obtaining the Certified for Windows logo.
“VeriTest has worked closely with Microsoft’s Windows 2000 test organization to develop a comprehensive plan that brings compliance testing to a new level,”
said Marc Zasada, Lionbridge vice president responsible for VeriTest logo programs.
“As part of our certification services, VeriTest will also deliver customized Rational TeamTest scripts to help developers achieve certification more easily.”
VeriTest provides a broad range of test services worldwide and has been involved with various Microsoft logo programs since 1995. Working with VeriTest and Microsoft to define the certification test plan will be well-known testing consultant, James Bach.
Availability
Compliance testing for desktop applications will open in August at the VeriTest lab in Los Angeles, and VeriTest labs in Paris and Tokyo will offer testing later in the fall. Customers can also make arrangements with VeriTest to conduct on-site testing of their applications. The Rational TestFoundation for Windows 2000 is scheduled to be available in October 1999. Compliance testing for server applications will commence in the fall. Developers interested in obtaining the Certified for Windows logo can also earn the logo for their products on previous-level operating systems, including Windows 95, Windows 98 and the Windows NT® Workstation 4.0 operating system. For more information about the Certified for Windows certification program, please visit the Microsoft Certified for Windows logo program Web site at http://msdn.microsoft.com/certification/ .
About Rational Software
Rational Software Corp. (Nasdaq
“RATL”
), the leader in unifying software teams, helps organizations develop and deploy e-business, Web, enterprisewide, technical and embedded software through a combination of tools, services and software engineering best practices. Rational’s solution unifies the key members of a software team – including analysts, developers and testers – and provides unique offerings optimized for each of these roles, thereby improving team and individual productivity. Rational simplifies the process of acquiring, deploying and supporting a comprehensive development platform, reducing total cost of ownership. Founded in 1981, Rational had revenues of $411.8 million for its fiscal year that ended in March 1999 and employs thousands of people worldwide.
About VeriTest and Lionbridge Technologies
Lionbridge Technologies provides multilingual Internet services to the world’s leading technology and Internet-driven companies, including Cisco Systems Inc., IBM Corp., Microsoft, Motorola Inc., Novell Inc., Oracle Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. Its multilingual eRelease, eSupport, eLearning and eCommerce services are based on a Rapid Globalization Methodology that integrates engineering, linguistics, testing and project management to enable simultaneous worldwide release, via the Internet, of products as well as related customer support, training and marketing materials. Lionbridge’s VeriTest laboratories operate as a fully independent testing service, unaffiliated with any publication or industry association. VeriTest’s definitive, real-world testing is conducted through a worldwide network of specialized labs for localization and compatibility testing for software, hardware and telecommunications products. To learn more, visit http://www.lionbridge.com/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
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