Stories by Elizabeth Montalbano

Motorola confirms layoff of 1,900 employees

A Motorola Inc. spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday that the mobile handset provider has laid off 1,900 employees since July as part of a move to cut costs in Motorola's supply chain.

US state finalizes plans to phase out Office

The state of Massachusetts has finalised a proposed move to an open format for office documents, a plan that involves phasing out versions of Microsoft's Office productivity suite deployed in the state's executive branch agencies.

Microsoft targets Google with developer platform

Microsoft will try to gain ground on competitors Google and Yahoo by unveiling a new web development platform today on which developers can add new search, mapping and instant-messaging features to online products from the MSN division.

AOL to give away spammer loot

In its own twist on letting the punishment fit the crime, America Online Inc. is disciplining a spammer who helped the company win an antispam lawsuit by giving away a substantial stash of loot purchased with profits from his illegal business.

Microsoft to reissue Windows 2000 SP4 update

Microsoft plans to re-release Update Rollup 1 for Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 due to several problems users are having with the current version, a company executive confirmed Monday.

Microsoft to patch software next week

Microsoft will release six software patches next Tuesday covering flaws in its Windows operating system. The company also is planning to release an updated version of its Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, and a nonsecurity update for Windows, Microsoft said in a statement posted to its Web site Thursday.

Microsoft could face trademark challenge over 'Vista'

The founder of a Redmond, Washington-based custom application and services provider is considering taking action to challenge Microsoft over the naming of the next version of the Windows operating system (OS).

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