Microsoft to drop older products

Microsoft to drop older products

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) — Microsoft will retire several of its products next week, including Windows 98, to comply with a court order related to its dispute with high-tech giant Sun Microsystems over Java software, Cnet reported Monday.

In a posting to Microsoft’s developer Web site, the company lists several older products that are being phased out and that will no longer be available to customers as of Dec. 15. The roster of products includes SQL Server 7, Office XP Developer, Windows 98, and a number of Office 2000-related tools and patches.

Microsoft said the shift was “due to a settlement agreement reached in January 2001″ related to a Java licensing agreement between Sun and Microsoft.

While Microsoft will no longer distribute the products listed, many will continue to be supported. The company plans to offer SQL Server 7 support until the end of 2007, for instance.