In-Depth

Microsoft Buys Tools Vendor DevBiz

Microsoft buys out devBiz Business Solutions, the makers of TeamPlain Web Access, a Web interface for Team Foundation Server that helps you manage work items, documents, reports, and source control repositories.

Microsoft announced that it has bought out devBiz Business Solutions, a developer of .NET-related components and tools.

The announcement came during the first day of VSLive! San Francisco 2007, Microsoft's Visual Studio conference.

DevBiz is the maker of TeamPlain Web Access, a Web interface for Team Foundation Server (TFS) that allows managing of work items, documents, reports, and source control repositories.

"One of the most important aspects of VSTS [Visual Studio Team System] is that it brings the power of Visual Studio to the entire development team, providing tools for software architects, database professionals, testers, and project managers. However, there are countless other individuals who have indirect roles in the development cycle that don't necessarily require the full functionality of Visual Studio; they just need access to one piece of it: Team Foundation Server," said Brian Harry, distinguished engineer on VSTS in a statement.

Web Access for Team System "helps users manage work items and share documents, access automated build and project management, and view report and source-control repositories—all from a Web interface," according to company statements.

"With this acquisition, we can now offer both Windows and Web clients for TFS, making it that much easier for users to participate in the development life cycle. In addition, the TeamPlain client provides cross-browser access to a core subset of functionality within TFS, making it even more appealing to a broader set of users."

Microsoft announced that TeamPlain Web Access is now available as a free download to all TFS customers, and gave a partial road map of its intent for the acquisition.

TeamPlain Web Access will be re-released as Team System Web Access as part of the TFS Power Tools, the company said in a statement. At a later date, the product will be integrated into a future version of VSTS.

Founded in 2001, Rochester, NY-based devBiz Business Solutions released version 1.0 of its TeamPlain Web Access for Microsoft TFS a year ago.

TeamPlain Web Access is available for free download here.

About the Author

Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.

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