Microsoft kicks off NT 5.0 marketing blitz

Microsoft will kick off its Windows NT 5.0 marketing blitz a week after thelaunch of Windows 98 when it hosts its NT Development Conference in SanJose California from June 30th to July 2nd. Microsoft is describing the event as the unofficial kick-off to the Windows NT 5.0 launch, which isexpected in early 1999. To give you an idea of how important this event isto Microsoft, the company had originally only invited its so-called RDP(Rapid Deployment Program) partners, those companies that get weekly buildsof Windows NT 5.0 so that they can developer drivers and other Windows NT 5.0-compatible solutions (The RDP members--which include companies such asCompaq, IBM, and Hewlett Packard--will help Microsoft in upgrading itscustomers to NT 5.0). Now, however, Microsoft intends to open up the NT 5conference to 3000 other guests, essentially quadrupling the attendance. Currently, the plan is for Microsoft to deliver Windows NT 5.0 Beta 2 toattendees at the conference, though the company isn't sure it will make that date anymore. Microsoft told TechEd attendees last week that Beta 2 might not be ready until late July or early August. On a positive note,they did say that "hundreds of thousands" of people will have access tothat release, suggesting that a consumer preview is likely.

Regardless of the ever-slipping release date of Beta 2, Microsoft has aplan to ensure that the final release date of NT 5.0 doesn't slip further.Any features that aren't basically ready after the release of Beta 2 willbe folded into a future NT release, code-named "Asteroid." It's unclear atthis time what name this product will be marketed under, though both"NT 5.1" and "NT 5.0 Service Pack 1" have been thrown around. An OptionPack release is also a possibility. Regardless, expect the Asteroid releasewithin a year of NT 5.0's release