The leader of Microsoft�s integration efforts around open source software and its proprietary technologies is expanding his role by adding the title "general manager of Windows server marketing," further indication that Microsoft plans to crank up the volume on its Windows/Linux story.

Bill Hilf, who is the director of Microsoft�s Open Source Lab, and whose former title was general manger of platform strategy, added his new responsibilities in the past month, according to a Microsoft spokesman. Hilf�s new title is general manager of Windows server marketing and platform strategy. Hilf is not eliminating any of the current responsibilities under his former title, which include coordinating projects across Microsoft platforms and long-term strategic planning in the server and tools division.

�This expanded role is a natural evolution of the work Bill has led at Microsoft over the past four years � working together with Microsoft technology-development teams and the open source community to build interoperable solutions on top of the Windows Platform, and continuing the discussion around Linux and Windows,� a company representative said.