From: "Swisher, Bob" <bswisher@ou.edu>
To: "'it-fyi@listserv.ou.edu'" <it-fyi@lists.ou.edu>
Subject: it-fyi: Microsoft a Partner in Internet 2 (Chron of Higher Ed)
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 11:30:16 -0500
Wednesday, April 28, 1999
Microsoft Corporation Becomes a Partner in Internet 2
By VINCENT KIERNAN
Washington
Microsoft Corporation, whose research division is quickly becoming the
1,000-pound gorilla of academic computer science, has decided to join
the Internet 2 consortium of universities and corporations, which was
created to develop new, high-speed computer networks.
The University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development, which
oversees the Internet 2 project, is announcing this morning that
Microsoft will become a corporate partner. The announcement is being
made during a meeting of Internet 2 member institutions.
As a corporate partner, Microsoft must contribute more than $1-million
worth of goods and services to universities that are participating in
the Internet 2 project.
"The Internet as we know it today is constantly pushed to its limits,"
said Rick Rashid, vice-president of Microsoft Research and a former
professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, in a
statement released by UCAID. "Even though we can participate in
videoconferences or exchange audio and video clips with one another, the
quality of the experience is not optimal, or compelling enough to make
it commonplace.
"By working with the Internet 2 consortium, Microsoft is confident that
together we can overcome the current technical challenges by developing
the new network technologies that will eventually revolutionize the
Internet experience."
Microsoft Research will build high-speed connections between its
research facilities and Abilene, the high-speed network developed by
Internet 2. Other corporate partners of Internet 2 include AT&T,
International Business Machines, Lucent Technologies, and MCI Worldcom.
More than 150 universities are also members.
Background stories from The Chronicle:
"New Network Connection Offers Fast Link Between U.S. and
European Colleagues," 4/27/99
"Connecting 50 Campuses, Fast Computing Network Goes Live
Today," 2/24/99
"Internet 2 Network Begins Coast-to-Coast Operation, Linking 8
Universities," 1/21/99
"Funds and Freedom Make Microsoft Nirvana for Some Researchers,"
4/24/98
Copyright © 1999 by The Chronicle of Higher Education