Microsoft Said to Be Near Sharing VSIP Tool

Microsoft Corp. was close to sharing a key programming tool after learning that Palm Inc. was participating in the antitrust case against the software giant, an executive from the hand-held computer maker said in federal court.

Palm executive Michael Mace told U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly the software giant had refused Palm access to the software development tool called Visual Studio Integration Program, or VSIP, and had set one-sided conditions for allowing Palm hand-helds to work with Microsoft’s .Net Internet software.

Mace was the ninth witness called by nine states seeking stiffer sanctions against Microsoft for findings it illegally maintained its Windows monopoly in personal computer operating systems.

“We are pleased that Palm may now be offered access to VSIP, but the process by which we go there was very disturbing,” Mace said in written testimony.

Mace, chief competitive officer of Palm’s software subsidiary, said Microsoft had refused to allow Palm into the VSIP, even though it was supposed to be open to the whole computer industry.