If Microsoft Corp is really serious about moving its technology into large scale Enterprise customer sites it has to make sure it has all the technology in place. The quickest way is to buy it in, and so the company is getting out its checkbook once again. This time its target is LinkAge Software Inc, the Toronto-based developer of electronic mail and directory synchronization software, which Microsoft has had its eye on for some time. Financial details, as usual with Microsoft, were not disclosed. LinkAge has concentrated on high-end X.400 and SNA directory services software for Windows NT, and Microsoft sees the advantage of offering customers migrating from legacy systems to its Exchange Server software the chance to have their messaging systems co-exist during the transition. The LinkAge software will enable customers to link Exchange Server with systems such as the IBM Corp PROFS Professional Office System running on the VM operating system, or SNA Directory Services-based systems such as IBM OfficeVision running on AS/400s or MVS mainframes. LinkAge also has a Lotus Development Corp Notes-based product, Notes Connector, which enables Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes users to share e-mail, directories, document links and attachments. And the acquisition will also help Microsoft link Exchange up with other systems, including its own Microsoft Mail, Novell Inc’s GroupWise and Digital Equipment Corp’s All-in-One systems. Microsoft has worked with 12-year-old LinkAge over the past five years, and will use both its existing technology and its development and services team. LinkAge has close links with Santa Monica-based directory services house Isocor Inc, and recently signed a worldwide reseller agreement with Digital Equipment Corp.
