US restricts new Windows export

MUMBAI, FEB 9: Windows 2000 will ship without support for 128-bit encryption in India and other countries outside North America because of US laws prohibiting export of products with over 56-bit encryption, Microsoft officials said on Wednesday. The new Microsoft network operating system, scheduled for worldwide launch on February 17, comes with out-of-the-box 128-bit encryption support.

Officials said the company and several others like IBM were lobbying with the US government for a relaxation in the law. They said the drawback would not impact Windows 2000 sales in India or other countries. For the first time, Microsoft has also made the OS interoperable. quot;It combines the ease of use of Windows 98 with the reliablity of Windows NT,quot; S Somasegar, GM, services group.