When it comes to competing with open source free software like Linux and Apache, Microsoft isn't willing to uncloak its code yet. But Microsoft recently showed it is willing to try a little bit of the free part to get its foot in a Web hoster's door.

Friday at ISPCON, Brian Valentine, senior vice president of Microsoft's Windows Division, announced a change to the Windows Web Hoster Program that can result in up to 25 free licenses of Windows 2000 Advanced Server.

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