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Application Compatibility Factory Eases Vista Transition
The initiative is meant to shorten the path to Vista deployment for enterprise customers.
With development shops tangling with Windows Vista, Microsoft has rolled out the Application Compatibility Factory (ACF) initiative. The program uses systems integrators to provide enterprise customers with application compatibility testing and remediation in advance of deploying the new system.
The initiative is meant to shorten the path to Vista deployment for enterprise customers. Historically, those customers wait from a year to 18 months after the release of a new Windows version before deploying it. Much of that time is consumed with testing existing mission-critical applications for compatibility problems with the new version.
Integrators Wipro Technologies, Satyam Computer Services and Tata Consultancy Services will provide services to clients under the ACF program.
"Our ACF partners help customers identify the application compatibility blockers, assess application inventory, determine the best course of action and conduct remediation services," said Dave Wascha, director of Microsoft's Windows Client business group, in a statement. "Customers simply hire an ACF partner and they do all the work."
All the ACF partners have received the latest training for Windows Vista, including deployment tasks, the companies said.
Thanks to cooperation among the ACF partners and Microsoft's participation with its "ACF SWAT Team," the companies aim to provide complete turnkey testing and remediation services.
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.