Microsoft Business Solutions yesterday unveiled software designed to allow firms to centralise access to corporate information and applications via a common web browser interface.

The company said that its .Net-based Business Portal could help customers reduce IT and support costs, increase the availability of business information, and extend access to business applications.

The product has been designed to integrate with other Microsoft offerings, including Business Solutions-Great Plains and Business Solutions-Solomon, in order to provide access to business information pages and standard reports.

It can also be used to view external data sources and web-accessible applications.

"Microsoft Business Portal gives employees, customers and suppliers the power to serve themselves, which helps increase productivity, efficiency and, ultimately, profitability," said Mark Jensen, group product manager for new solutions at Microsoft Business Solutions.

Business Portal is scheduled for release in the UK, Middle East, Africa and Asia/Pacific in the third quarter of 2003.