Microsoft reveals more partners, plans for Windows Home Server
Gateway, consumer storage vendor LaCie and Medion International will join Hewlett Packard in delivering new Windows Home Server systems this fall, Microsoft announced on May 15, the opening day of its Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) in Los Angeles.
Microsoft also announced, as many expected, that the company will make Windows Home Server available to system builders who can build customized, white-box Home Server systems. And the company unveiled eight application vendors who have committed to supporting Windows Home Server.
Hardware partner Medion is set to show off its model, code-named Medion Home Server, at WinHEC this week. The product will be able to store from 500 GB to 2 terabytes. It is scheduled to ship by the end of 2007.
Among the software vendors who will be introducing Windows Home Server applications and services are:
• Diskeeper Corp., with Diskkeeper 2007
• Embedded Automation with mControl for managing home lighting, security, climate control and audio/visual systems
• F-Secure with its antivirus software
• Iron Mountain with its data-protection services
• Lagotek with its Home Intelligence Platform for home automation
• PacketVideo Corp. with its PacketVideo Connect media-streaming app
• Riptopia with its CD loading service
• SageTV with its SageTV Placeshifter media-server software
Microsoft also kicked off the “Code2Fame” challenge for developers of Windows Home Server hardware and software add-ins at the conference. Using the recently introduced Windows Home Server software-development kit, contestants are being encouraged to create new software and hardware add-ons to the Windows Home Server platform. Winners will get cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
Microsoft execs believe there are 40-million-plus multi-PC homes worldwide that are a potential market for Windows Home Server systems.