Microsoft moves Flash rival into spotlight

...because Silverlight uses vector graphics, he said. Microsoft also will offer content publishers digital rights management tools.

In addition, developers familiar with Microsoft's .Net tools for writing Windows or web applications can use their existing skills for online video.

Later in the second quarter, Microsoft plans to release its Expression suite of tools aimed at graphics designers and web developers.

At the NAB Show, the software giant intends to demonstrate its Expression Media Encoder, a tool for preparing existing Windows Media Video files for the web.

The user interface design for Silverlight is written using a Microsoft-developed language called XAML.

Applications also can be written using JavaScript or HTML. At Mix07, Microsoft will detail other scripting languages that can be used to write Silverlight applications, Key said.

Eventually, Microsoft intends to create versions of Silverlight that run on mobile devices.

Although Microsoft has signed on media and advertising companies interested in Silverlight, the technology still does not have broad industry support.

Hosted application provider Salesforce.com has no plans to support Silverlight because it "isn't a factor in the marketplace," said Adam Gross, director of product marketing at Salesforce.

Also at the NAB conference, Microsoft plans to detail enhancements to Windows Longhorn Server, due later this year, geared specifically at serving up video more efficiently, Key said. The company will also discuss an addition to its SharePoint Server, tailored to the media and entertainment industry.