In May, Microsoft announced that it had a new research program under way, aimed at developing an operating system and software development tools for robots.

FORBES: Magazine Article

In May, Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) announced that it had a new research program under way, aimed at developing an operating system and software development tools for robots.

FORBES: The Robots Are Coming!

Research In Motion this morning announced the release of an updated version of the operating system software for the PlayBook tablet: Playbook OS 2.0.

FORBES: Research In Motion Releases PlayBook OS 2.0; Will It Help?

But the EDI system requires proprietary software and private networks which most small Asian manufacturers can't afford, says Joe Sweeney, research director in Hong Kong for the Gartner Group.

CNN: MIDDLEMEN, BEWARE