| NEWS FLASH: Microsoft opens up desktop/server Windows source to MVPs |
Oct. 22, 2003
[Updated 1:30 pm PDT] -- Microsoft launched an added program today in its Shared Source Initiative, aimed at the company's "MVPs" (Most Valuable Professionals). Microsoft MVPs are individuals recognized by Microsoft for their expertise in one or more Microsoft products and technologies and their helpfulness in the online and offline Microsoft community. The new shared source licensing program, known as the Most Valuable Professional Source Licensing Program (MVPSLP), makes additional source code available to MVPs -- including Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 source -- in order to enable them to better assist online and offline technical communities.
Microsoft did not specify how many lines of source code are included the new program, or what percentage of the OSes' source it represents.
"Microsoft is delivering one of its most valuable assets [through the MVPSLP], Windows source code," Microsoft said. "As experts in the Windows platform, MVPs constitute a key community, and the MVPSLP is designed with that community's unique needs for source-code access in mind. Raising the level of self-support the community can find inspires greater community participation and provides a stronger feedback loop to Microsoft. MVPs help shape product development and research and provide a valuable link through which Microsoft can listen to customers."
"I'm a huge fan of the MVPs. They do a great deal to help Microsoft customers," commented Jim Allchin, group vice president of the Platforms Group at Microsoft. "Giving them access to one of our most valuable assets, Windows source code, is a testimonial to how much we value this dedicated group of people. Giving them access to the source code will help MVPs do even more for technical communities around the world and will thus strengthen support for everyone using the Windows platform."
Through Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative, MVPs were already eligible to receive Microsoft source code components for Windows CE .NET, ASP.NET, Visual Studio .NET, and Passport Manager. The new MVPSLP program expands the source code available to MVPs to include Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 source.
"My relationship with Microsoft and my technical knowledge have been strengthened by my participation in the MVP program and the new Shared Source program," said MVP Phil Webster. "The MVPSLP benefits the community by giving the MVPs a resource to understand exactly what is happening in the source code, and Microsoft gets valuable feedback from the MVPs -- a definite win-win arrangement. Getting to see how the code actually works is one of the best benefits of being an MVP."
According to Microsoft, its shared source now serves more than 650,000 developers through source code access programs. At this point, source code to Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows CE 3.0, Windows CE .NET, Microsoft Passport Manager, and components of Visual Studio .NET and ASP.NET Starter Kits is available via Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative.
About the Microsoft MVP award program
The Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award Program was started in the early 1990s as a way to recognize those members of the general public who voluntarily devoted their time and considerable computing skills to helping users in the various newsgroups hosted by Microsoft. The Microsoft MVP Award is given to the most outstanding members of Microsoft Technical Communities for their exceptional contributions in hundreds of online and technical communities, including Microsoft public newsgroups, which are popular forums for communicating with peers about Microsoft products, technologies and services.
Microsoft describes its MVPs as: "a diverse group of individuals from around the world who have two things in common: great expertise in one or more Microsoft products, and a willingness to share their expertise and their experiences with peers. Microsoft MVPs are driven by their passion for helping others and interest in Microsoft software."
There are currently more than 1,800 MVPs -- in 55 countries spanning 20 languages and covering more than 70 Microsoft technologies. Microsoft MVPs are not Microsoft employees. Microsoft provides MVPs a small award of software, but MVPs do not receive any monetary payment from the program, Microsoft said. More information about the MVP Program and related newsgroups can be found here.
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