Just a few of the requirements for .NET, were that it would play well with HTTP, SOAP, UDDI, and XML.  What it really provides, is a framework to build upon.  While there was some confusion early on, about it actually being an operating system, that is definitely not the case.  It is actually tool to deliver software solutions in a web based world.  Which is afterall, where the future of Software As A Service (SAAS) seems to be going.  Slower than initially envisioned, but none the less, it is still moving in that direction.

The framework that is .NET, includes a number of libraries to perform many base functions.  ASP.NET, and ADO.NET are just a few of those libraries.  One of the really strong aspects of .NET, is it’s ability to incorporate existing languages like Visual Basic, JScript, C# and C++ under it’s umbrella.  Even older but still popular languages like COBOL are supported.  Future enhancements will incorporate other languages into the framework.  All with the intended purposes of running applications on the web.

Microsoft  also upgraded Visual Studio with a .NET version when .NET was initially released.  It provides several new features for the developer, and better integration between the wide number of languages supported by the framework.  Being a Microsoft product, you know that it will integrate exceedingly well with current and future versions of Windows.  It does not to surprisingly,  reveal a shift in Microsoft’s primary focus away from the single stand alone PC environment, and a leap into network based computing.  That not only includes networked PCs and laptops, but also mobile devices such as smartphones, cell phones, handheld gaming consoles, and other mobile computing devices.

With Google moving into the software arena, it’s not surprising to see Microsoft strengthen it’s arsenal of internet based software development tools.  The hard part for Microsoft will be to compete with companies like Google and Apple that are seen as true innovators in a very competitive field.