Here is an MSDN Newsflash that I got today. It implies that we could see VFP 7.0 in mid-2000 and that it will be XML enabled.

=============== Special MSDN Flash ===============

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Microsoft Announces Platform for Building Next Generation of Web Applications

Steve Ballmer and Paul Maritz disclosed Microsoft's vision for building web applications on Monday. Windows DNA 2000 is the next generation of infrastructure to take building Web applications from today's websites to tomorrow's "web services." Now developers can focus on solving business problems instead of overcoming the barriers between different products. All components of Windows DNA 2000 are slated to ship by mid 2000.

Web application developers will realize faster and easier development, greater interoperability with other Web applications and simplified deployment and management of their solutions. Windows 2000 is the cornerstone for the new services which include application services, legacy interoperability, e-commerce, data access and storage, developer tools and exciting new software for deployment and management of servers. Integration of XML is a key theme across the services, so interoperability runs throughout the vision.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/events/stratday

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Windows DNA 2000 includes:

* Microsoft Windows 2000 - a fully integrated Web applications platform with all core services included for building distributed Web applications. These services include a higher performance Web server, transactions, messaging and an integrated, high performance XML parser available to any application.

* A new server product that makes it easy to deploy and manage you Windows DNA 2000 applications within "farms" of high availability clusters

* A new server product aimed at XML-based business-to-business commerce. It provides integration at the business process level within an enterprise or with trading partners across the Internet.

* A new server product which provides network, data AND application integration with a variety of legacy hosts

* Microsoft Commerce Server 4.0 - an updated version which provides a much deeper level of personalization

* Microsoft SQL Server, code named "Shiloh" - an updated version which represents the next generation of SQL Server 7.0. XML support is native in this new version and data mining capabilities are enhanced.

* Microsoft Visual Studio - updates are aimed at enhancing Windows DNA 2000 development and include the NEW Visual Studio Installer which enables highly reliable, self-repairing applications


All the Windows DNA 2000 building blocks are designed to work together, share a common component model in COM+ and can be integrated into the next generation of distributed Web applications with a common set of development tools. Find out more about how Microsoft is working to help you transform web sites into programmable web services where you integrate all your applications, whether inside your organization or with your trading partners across the Internet.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/events/stratday

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