Microsoft announced enhancements to its rich internet application (RIA) development tool Silverlight at its Mix 07 web developer conference in Las Vegas this week, including support for .Net and the next version of Visual Studio.

The beta version of the cross-browser Silverlight was released at the event, alongside the announcement of support for dynamic languages like Python and Ruby.

Microsoft also announced new capabilities in Orcas – the next version of Visual Studio – and Expression Studio which will allow developers to build Silverlight applications.

"Silverlight is an important aspect of our software-plus-services strategy focused on delivering great user experiences that span the web, the PC and mobile devices,” said Microsoft chief software architect Ray Ozzie in a keynote speech. “It does so, in part, by bridging technical barriers that previously made it difficult for web developers and designers to collaborate.”

In related news, IBM has launched a new social network – developerWorks community spaces – designed to enable developers to collaborate online around twelve community topics including software as a service, SOAs and mashups.

The firm also announced Lotus Connections for Partners – a new resource which utilises blogs, profiles and social bookmarking to allow IBM business partners to share information and collaborate on business activities.