Microsoft envisions some version of this software becoming the home platform that links all devices.

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Cable's solution to this is middleware software originally called OpenCable Application Platform ( OCAP) and more recently renamed to simply: OpenCable.

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But to make this work, there needed to be a comprehensive software platform.

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Trower, who's working on Microsoft's own software platform for robotic systems, says this kind of PC bot would serve as a multiapplication communication and work device, but it would have microphones and touch-screens for interacting with humans and the same adaptable and moving form factor as a small robot.

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And that is a group of everyone from manufactures of cell phones to software companies trying to understand how they could use this platform in a variety of areas.

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With this new platform, Microsoft offers a fresh approach to phone software, distinguished by smart design and truly integrated experiences that bring to the surface the content people care about from the Web and applications.

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This does not mean GigaSpaces will abandon the platform-independent version of its software, but it does mean encouraging new customers--or existing customers launching new projects--to consider Cisco UCS as a platform with significant advantages for grid or cloud-style applications.

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Mr Gates believed this could weaken the applications barrier to entry by usurping Windows as the main platform for software developers.

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He had the technical skills needed to solve this problem and started to build the first traffic platform that combined GPS technology with open source software.

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