Joe Wilcox CNET News.com

Microsoft shipped its Windows XP operating system just six months ago, but the software giant is already preparing for the next wave of computing.

Jones sees Windows as a possible foundation for software services delivered immediately across a global network. For example, Microsoft hopes to evolve Windows XP's automatic update feature such that one bug or security fix could be immediately dispatched to all users. Microsoft's .Net Web services plan, which strives to link systems over the Web, would play a key role.