Telcos and network service providers, ASPs and ISPs, have...

Telcos and network service providers, ASPs and ISPs, have all been growing as important players in the distribution of software functionality. With Windows 2000, Microsoft clearly thinks it has a much better horse to ride into battle to get these folks as customers. They will emphasize the new ASP channel as one they are especially targeting in that regard. They need a platform that actually runs 24 hours a day, and on bigger hardware configurations.