According to The Register, Microsoft Corp., Transmeta Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. have been collaborating stealthily to see that Microsoft software works properly with AMD's forthcoming 64-bit Sledgehammer. This is despite Microsoft's public stance favoring Intel's Itanium. The story has it that chip design newcomer AMD lacked the skill to produce a software simulator of the Sledgehammer that Microsoft needs to test software on. Transmeta, however, specializes in simulating chip activities as the company's power-saving technology depends on shifting duties normally performed by chips to software. Transmeta agreed to help AMD, apparently, because it has an interest in reducing Intel market dominance.

In related news, Intel is showing off its Itanium microprocessor in a Munich systems show, running on a variety of systems. According to attendants, Intel personnel there hinted the release date will be March 2001. Systems running with the Itanium included Compaq, Fujitsu Siemens, Hewlett-Packard and the Dell PowerEdge with four CPUs.

For information on the Sledgehammer simulator, read theregister.co.uk. For more on the Munich show, read theregister.co.uk.