Rumors were floating around the industrial control industry last week that Microsoft Corp is out shopping for a real-time NT kernel, in particular eyeing Venturcom Inc. Chief executive officer Michael Dexter-Smith told our sister publication ClieNT Server News that the rumors might have started because of the number of Microsoft projects Venturecom are currently involved in -20 or more at present. But, he says, that’s as far as it goes – no acquisition negotiations or offers whatsoever. Dexter-Smith, by the way, says that on the strength of sales of just the development kits for the company’s real-time kernel for NT alone, his company should achieve $6m revenue this year.