Microsoft debuted the latest version of its Commerce Server software at TechEd in New Orleans Tuesday, promising improved .Net development capabilities.
This version integrates with Microsofts Visual Studio.Net development tool via tools in its Developer Portal, allowing faster creation of Commerce Server applications from within Visual Studio.Net, said Microsoft officials.
Commerce Server 2002, the successor to Commerce Server 2000 and Site Server before that, also includes an Application Runtime, Base Class Library and Common Language Runtime Interoperability Layer that allows developers to create Commerce Server applications using Active Server Pages.Net and the .Net Framework. This ties in .Net applications with core Commerce Server services and systems, officials said.
This version is also targeted to companies conducting business globally, with its multi-language and multi-currency support. Catalog management has also been improved in this release to allow customers to aggregate catalogs from multiple suppliers, create customer-specific or locale-specific catalogs, and offer custom product pricing.
Commerce Server 2002 integrates with Microsoft Passport to extend single sign-on services to the applications.
Microsoft is introducing two new editions in this version to the previously offered Evaluation and Developer Editions.
The Enterprise Edition, targeted at large, global organizations, is priced at $19,999 per CPU and supports an unlimited number of CPUs. Its also certified for Windows Datacenter.
Theres also a Standard Edition for small to medium-sized enterprises with more limited function. That edition is priced at $6,999 per CPU with a limit of two CPUs.
Microsoft will also introduce new .Net capabilities for its Exchange e-mail and collaboration server at TechEd. On Wednesday, the company will release the Exchange 2000 Server XML Web Services Toolkit for Microsoft .Net.
The toolkit, the third developers toolkit released for Exchange 2000, provides self-paced .Net training for Exchange developers. In addition to training materials, it includes reusable code samples for creating .Net applications for scheduling, calendaring, contacts and workflow in Exchange.
The toolkit is free of charge to existing Exchange customers, costing only $7.95 for shipping and handling for customers who dont wish to download it.