The news comes less than a week after Microsoft scrapped delivery of Longhorn Server, which had been slated for late 2004 release. Windows .Net Server 2003's successor, code-named Blackcomb is not expected until 2005 or 2006. The two server release changes, in concert with a potential delay for Windows XP's successor -- code-named Longhorn Desktop -- indicate major tweaking to Microsoft's server roadmap. Microsoft's OS plans had grown hazy over the last couple of months, as the company rethought its strategy. At one point, Microsoft even considered scrapping both Longhorn releases and going straight to Blackcomb, sources familiar with the company's product strategy said. But such action would have created a huge gap between the release of Windows XP and its successor. Even now, Microsoft is uncertain about Blackcomb and Longhorn release dates. A Microsoft representative last week said the company could not give an estimated release date on Blackcomb. The company would "firm up a date" based "on customer response," she said. Microsoft still plans to release Longhorn as the next desktop version of Windows desktop, but just when is uncertain. "It's too early to tell when Longhorn is going to be released," the spokeswoman said. Until now, Microsoft executives had emphatically insisted Longhorn would ship in 2004, with no update in-between. Uncertainty about the ship date opens up the possibility Microsoft would be compelled by customers to release an interim update to Windows XP, particularly in Longhorn slipped in 2005. "Microsoft would have this gigantic gap in between releases," Silver said. "It's a gap for people who bought Software Assurance," Microsoft's maintenance licensing plan for which customers pay ahead annually for upgrades. But disengaging desktop and server OS development also could mean faster delivery of Longhorn. By freeing up resources to focus on the desktop version of Windows, Microsoft conceivably could dedicate more resources to development and push back some features to Blackcomb. "Maybe 'too early to tell' means trying to take something out so they can deliver Longhorn sooner," Silver said. But what features Microsoft might remove, if any, may not be known for months -- as the company is still reviewing what conceivably could be delivered in a timely fashion. One much-touted feature, for example, would support new storage capabilities that are part of the next version of SQL Sever, code-named Yukon.
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