Not surprisingly given Microsoft's big cloud push, the emphasis with the upgrade is on improving how well the software scales for internet hosting -- the company wants one common backbone that can handle as little as a small e-mail server to large-scale Azure deployments and virtualization.

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Their original strategy was to go after Web-hosting firms and Internet service providers looking for cheap computing muscle.

FORBES: Attack From Below

Half a dozen well-funded shops lead the charge in supplying small and mid-size businesses with fancy digital features that once were available only to rich corporate titans--videoconferencing, always-on Internet access, web hosting and more.

FORBES: Land Grab

Examples include Zhihu, a Quora-like service for China, and Diandian, a Tumblr-like blog hosting platform for China, started by high-profile Internet entrepreneur Jack Xu, notably the former CIO at XiaoNei (now Renren).

FORBES: Just How Hot Is China Venture? Very!

Their startup, called BrassRing, would go after the job-recruiting market by hosting career fairs, running Internet job boards and developing software for corporate personnel departments and university career-placement offices.

FORBES: Help Wanted. Please!

The deal gives Nextlink a toehold in Europe, high-speed data lines, web-hosting and e-commerce services and the right to haul traffic for Internet service providers.

FORBES: "We're On A Collision Course"

He was a student at Princeton University when he co-founded a company providing Internet access and Web hosting.

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One example: Exodus Communications (nasdaq: EXDS - news - people), a provider of Internet hosting services.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Researchers at SANS and security firm Websense (nasdaq: WBSN - news - people ), in San Diego, notified the Chinese Internet service provider and domain registrar hosting the computers with malicious software.

FORBES: Google-Hacking Goes To China