In a bid to boost its .Net framework, Microsoft Corp. late last month announced that it will bundle Seagate Software's popular business reporting tool with Visual Studio .Net.
Microsoft's .Net framework, which was announced in June, is based on a Web service infrastructure that allows Windows applications to share data and functionality with other applications over the Web. The product is due to ship sometime next year, according to Microsoft officials.
Mike Schiff, an analyst at Current Analysis Inc. in Sterling, Va., said the bundling deal with Seagate Software, a subsidiary of Scotts Valley, Calif.-based Seagate Technology Inc., is an important one because it will give developers a decision analysis tool for building Windows and .Net-based Web applications.
"The whole idea of openness' is based on the number of vendors using your tools," said Schiff.
For example, a report application developed for the .Net framework could contain business logic to query stock or 401(k) reports, which users could refresh in real time.
So far, Crystal Reports is the only tool slated to ship with Visual Studio .Net, and Microsoft officials said it may be the last.