Enabling a Multinational Enterprise | Introducing Microsoft Windows Server(TM) 2003

Microsoft has a number of options available to help you achieve the goal of a truly multilingual and multinational enterprise. Windows Server 2003 will soon be available in a number of localized versions optimized for particular regions of the world. In addition, the English-language version of Windows Server 2003, in conjunction with the Multilingual User Interface, allows you to switch the language of the interface as needed, supporting a wide variety of languages and locales. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. Finding the option that fits the needs of your organization is the first step toward a multilingual enterprise.

Multilingual User Interface

The MUI is a product from Microsoft that enables IT professionals to deploy Windows in a multilingual, global environment without creating a unique localized installation for each region that must be supported. The MUI allows the user interface, including the Start Menu, program elements, alerts, and help files on a particular installation to switch among languages as needed.

The MUI runs on top of the English version of the operating system. This means that the IT department does not have to deploy and manage a unique version of software for every language that is required. Instead, they can standardize the deployment to the English-language version of the operating system with the MUI. The MUI also supports desktop applications, including Microsoft Office, as well as server products such as Microsoft SQL Server.

Options for Multinational Enterprises

The English version of Windows Server 2003 is the best choice for organizations that do most of their business in English but occasionally need to work in another language. For example, a company based in the United States has a subsidiary located in Japan. The company does the bulk of its business in English; however, it sometimes needs to read e-mail and documents written in Japanese. It also maintains a Japanese-language Web site. The English-language version of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 is a sufficient server for this company's needs. In addition, the company might use Microsoft Windows XP as the desktop operating system. It might also use Microsoft Office XP to view Japanese documents and read e-mail written in Japanese.

The Multilingual User Interface brings flexible support for multiple languages to the English version of Windows Server 2003. The MUI is the best solution for businesses that need to carry out their business in a number of languages. For example, imagine a company that has numerous offices based worldwide. Users in its various offices need to be able to work in their regional language, and in some locations multiple languages must be supported. The IT department has determined that the only way to support the entire company in a cost-effective manner is to create a standardized deployment that can be rolled out to all regions. Deploying Windows Server 2003 with the Multilingual User Interface allows them to meet these goals. The MUI is also the best choice when a company needs to work either in two or more languages in a single location, particularly where multiple users need to log on to the same computer in different languages, or where there are roaming users. Take a company based in the United States that has branch offices in a number of countries , for example. In these locations, people do their work in a mix of English and the language of their region. By deploying the operating system and Office XP with the MUI, the company is able to achieve this goal.

Microsoft will also ship versions of Windows Server 2003 localized for a single region. Localized versions are optimized for use in a single language other than English. This comes at the cost of some flexibility. A localized version of Windows Server 2003 can support only the language in which it is localized. In addition, deploying and maintaining multiple localized versions is typically more difficult and expensive than supporting a single version. A localized version is the best choice when a company requires only a single language other than English. A company based in Japan, which does its business in Japanese, can use the Japanese-language versions of Windows Server 2003 to do its business.

Multinational Improvements

Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional are the next step in multilanguage support. They incorporate a number of important improvements over the previous version of the MUI, including the following:

More locales.

Windows 2000 featured support for a variety of languages, locales, and input methods . This has been expanded in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 with the addition of nine new locales, bringing the total number of localizations supported to 135.
Easier to use.

The Regional And Language Options control panel has also been improved in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to make it easier to carry out language- related tasks , particularly those that are most commonly used. The new task-based design makes it easier to manage and configure language support on desktop computers.
Easier to get help.

The Multilanguage Document Consultant in the Windows XP Help and Support Center can help users diagnose and resolve problems encountered in opening, viewing, and editing multilingual documents.
Support for multiple languages and scripts.

One of the three included language collections is installed by default, depending on the language version; the other collections are installed on demand. The Basic Language Collection supports most Western and Central European languages, while the Complex Script Collection supports complex script languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Indic, and some Asian languages and languages that use right-to-left script. Finally, the East Asian Collection includes support for additional Asian languages.
Language for non-Unicode programs.

Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003 also allow you to specify a language setting for non-Unicode programs. This setting determines the language to be used by programs that do not support the Unicode standard.

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