Microsoft Y2K 10-Q Feb 12greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread |
I would read this carefully.http://www.ampsc.com/~imager/Testimony/Category.html
Brian
http://sec.yahoo.com/e/l/m/msft.html
February 12, 1999MICROSOFT CORP (MSFT)
Quarterly Report (SEC form 10-Q)Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Year 2000
The Year 2000 presents concerns for business and consumer computing. Aside from the well-known problems with the use of certain 2-digit date formats as the year changes from 1999 to 2000, the Year 2000 is a special case leap year, and dates such as 9/9/99 were used by certain organizations for special functions. The problem exists for many kinds of software and hardware, including mainframes, mini-computers, PCs, and embedded systems.
Microsoft offers a broad range of information resources and software updates to help customers plan and implement Year 2000 remediation programs. Current information about the Company's products and business and technical issues is available at the Microsoft Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure and Resource Center web site (www.microsoft.com/year2000). Information on the web site will help customers evaluate the impact of the Year 2000 on Microsoft products used in their computing environments.
The Company is continuing to test its products and classify its tested products into the following categories of compliance: "compliant," "compliant with minor issues," and "not compliant." Most of the products tested are either "compliant" or "compliant with minor issues," as defined. Microsoft's policy is to make future and current versions of its core products Year 2000 "compliant," although the status of certain current versions will remain at "compliant with minor issues." For non-compliant products, Microsoft is providing recommendations as to how an organization may address possible Year 2000 issues regarding that product. Microsoft is issuing software updates (at no additional charge) for most, but not all, known issues. Not all products will be tested.
Information on the Company's web site is provided to customers for the sole purpose of assisting in planning for the transition to the Year 2000. Such information is the most currently available concerning the behavior of the Company's products and is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. However, variability of definitions of "compliance" with the Year 2000 and of different combinations of software, firmware, and hardware will likely lead to lawsuits against the Company. The outcome of such lawsuits and the impact on the Company are not estimable at this time.
The Year 2000 issue also affects the Company's internal systems, including information technology (IT) and non-IT systems. Microsoft is assessing the readiness of its systems for handling the Year 2000, and has started the remediation and certification process. Contingency plans are being developed in parallel with the testing and remediation efforts.
Microsoft is evaluating its third-party distribution and supply chain to understand their ability to continue providing services and products through the change to the year 2000. Microsoft is monitoring and working directly with key vendors, product manufacturers, distributors, and direct resellers to avoid any business interruptions in the year 2000. For critical third parties with known issues, contingency plans will be developed.
The Company is also reviewing its facilities and infrastructure. Remediation efforts are under way and certain contingency plans are in development.
While Year 2000 issues present a potential risk to Microsoft's internal systems, distribution and supply chain, and facilities, the Company is minimizing risk with a worldwide effort. Microsoft is performing an extensive assessment and is in the process of testing and remediating mission critical components. The current plan is to have the majority of these components resolved by June 1999, with the remaining components resolved by September 1999. Management currently believes that all critical systems will be ready by the Year 2000 and that the cost to address the issues is not material.
Resolving Year 2000 issues is a worldwide phenomenon that will likely absorb a substantial portion of IT budgets and attention in the near term. Certain industry analysts believe the Year 2000 issue will accelerate the trend toward distributed PC-based systems from mainframe systems. Others believe a majority of IT financial resources will be devoted to fixing older mainframe software in lieu of funding purchases of PC software or transitions to systems based on software such as that sold by Microsoft. The impact of the Year 2000 on future Microsoft revenue is difficult to discern but is a risk to be considered in evaluating future growth of the Company.
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