Microsoft Takes Aim at MiFID

Microsoft is positioning itself as a MiFID solutions provider, with an announcement today of an eight-solution technology grab bag intended to meet the requirements of the European uber-regulation. The software giant is parading out its partners as "mix and match" MiFID solutions that all focus on the MS architecture commonly used in the financial services industry (and, let's be honest - the world) including Office 2007, SQL Server, SharePoint and Windows. Notably, Windows 2003 is the operating system noted in the release, most likely because all of the partners' technologies aren't yet optimized for Vista.Microsoft is calling on a flock of partners big and small to support its MiFID efforts including Aleri Labs, BearingPoint, C.O.S., Debug Software Tailoring, Fintecs, Gissing Software, HCL, HP, Progress Apama, Qumas, Rapid Addition, Singularity, SunGard, SuperDerivatives, TAP Solutions and Zenomorph.

The technology solutions will be sold both individually and as a complete suite. The component functionalities are planning and testing, client classification, best execution, reporting, market connectivity, reference data and trade history, systematic internalization, and systems integration.

Does Microsoft's MiFID position make you any more likely to consider its partner as your MiFID solution? Most, if not all solutions will be Windows compatible anyway, so does partnership with MS really give these vendors any kind of leg up? Leave your thoughts in the Comments section. Cory Levine, Wall Street & Technology