Microsoft Corp. today announced the Microsoft� Solution for Windows�-based Hosting Version 3.5, which incorporates new tools and best practices designed to help hosting service providers significantly lower operational costs through improved site density and better management capabilities. Targeted primarily at service providers that offer shared Web hosting or discount dedicated server hosting, the latest version of the Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting also introduces Web Site Starters for Windows, a set of development partner and community applications including integrated Web-site building, Web logging (blogging), forums and photo-sharing applications optimized to run in a Windows-based hosted environment.

The Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting has been extremely popular; in the past year alone, we estimate that hundreds of hosting providers have deployed components of the solution," said Pascal Martin, general manager for Hosting Solutions at Microsoft. "The latest version of the solution should further empower service providers to reduce costs while increasing revenue per user. Hosting providers now have new tools and resources to help them improve Web-site performance and scalability and reduce customer support costs through more effective monitoring and problem resolution. In addition, Version 3.5 offers a rich set of new applications that hosters can add to their Windows-based offerings."