Microsoft Corp. and JDA Software Group Inc. have signed a multiyear alliance that will expand their existing relationship and accelerate the development, marketing and sales of the JDA Portfolio® suite based on the Microsoft® platform and Microsoft .NET technologies. Through the alliance, Microsoft and JDA will jointly promote JDA's .NET-based enterprise solutions as a strategic solution for the retail industry. This solution will not only take full advantage of the Microsoft .NET Framework, it will drive sales of JDA products on the Microsoft SQL Server (TM) database platform. JDA and Microsoft also will be closely evaluating the use of BizTalk® Server 2004 within the Portfolio suite of NET-based applications. BizTalk Server 2004, the newest member of Microsoft Windows Server System (TM) , will enable retailers to integrate systems, employees and trading partners through more efficient automation and orchestration of key business processes.