MVPs to be a part of MS' SSI

BANGALORE: Microsoft recently announced the availability of source code of its products like Windows 2000 and XP operating systems, Windows Server 2003, Visual Studio .NET and ASP .NET to its MVPs, free of cost. Under its Source Licensing Program, MVPs of eligible countries can view selected Microsoft source code, but cannot modify, compile or distribute the code.

Software professionals with sound technical backgrounds and willingness to assist other Microsoft users are selected by the company to be a part of its Most Valued Professionals (MVPs) database. There are currently 2700 developers in this program.

Microsoft also announced the availability of its Windows CE 5.0 operating system source code under its source code-licensing program.

Microsoft Shared Source Initiative was launched in 2001, whereby select enterprise customers, government organizations, developers and researchers get partial access to source code. However, the company maintains strict control over eligibility for the program and which code it releases to participants. Said an online report.