LAS VEGAS--Nov. 12, 2001-- Xerox Corporation is shining the spotlight on software and services designed to make the digital office work better, showcasing at Comdex 2001 the solutions it offers today while providing a peek at technologies coming tomorrow. Chief among them: Xerox announced that its next version of CentreWare Web Printer Administration software will be developed on Microsoft Corp.'s .NET platform, using the software tools from Microsoft's Visual Studio.NET, which will be launched next quarter. Xerox is the first printer vendor to be named a Joint Development Partner for Microsoft's Visual Studio .NET program. Microsoft .NET is a comprehensive architecture platform that allows individual software applications to communicate and share data over the Internet, regardless of operating system or programming language. Xerox is working closely with Microsoft to develop the next generation of CentreWare Web, which is standard on Xerox's Document Centre multifunction systems and Phaser printers. For example, in the future when using Microsoft .NET messaging services, CentreWare Web - which can manage any network printing device through a Web browser - will be able to alert system administrators or service technicians to a printer problem via a pager, e-mail or mobile phone. In addition, Xerox previewed technology that will make it even easier to send documents to printers or fax machines through mobile devices such as pagers or handheld computers. The technology, to be embedded into Xerox's next generation of mDoc wireless server software, compresses big document files into small icons that can be downloaded, viewed, customized and delivered without having to store the entire file on the mobile device, reducing network traffic and improving productivity. For example, a traveling sales representative could use a handheld device to download an invoice from a company server, personalize it with a customer name, and e-mail the completed invoice directly to the customer - all without going into the office. At Fall Comdex this week, North America's largest IT industry trade show, Xerox also is demonstrating three other office software products: DocuShare - Xerox Document Repository Software; FlowPort - Xerox Image Routing Software; and XCounter - Xerox Page Accounting Software. In addition, Xerox is highlighting its managed services, such as asset consolidation, and consulting services, such as an office document assessment. This is used to analyze a business' workflow and document needs and then identify the most efficient, productive mix of office equipment and software for that business - therefore helping to reduce the customer's document-related costs. Dillard's Inc., a nationwide retail store chain, will be featured as one customer who has used the office assessment to improve communications between its retail stores and headquarters and save 8 percent in equipment costs and $1.6 million in software investments.