Microsoft Corp. this week announced the latest version of its MSDN Online developer site. The site provides more than 2 million developers with access to comprehensive development information.

Additionally, Microsoft's new MSDN site connects developers with industry experts and peers, offers new Online Special-Interest Groups (OSIGs) and provides instant access to training and support resources and more.

Microsoft has merged the Site Builder Network and MSDN Online Web sites and membership programs into one comprehensive developer resource. The new MSDN Online site starts with a customizable home page which enables developers to select the specific topics and technologies relevant to their own development needs, filter the latest developer news, MSDN Online Libraries and Knowledge Base updates and find out about training opportunities and events in their area.

Developers can search the MSDN Libraries, Microsoft Knowledge Base, the Microsoft events database and other technologies using a single query, and they can filter their search to obtain specific technologies or data.

MSDN Online is launching 15 new Online Special-Interest Groups, with access to newsgroups through a Web-based reader, training and certification resources, events listings, special offers, and links to other Microsoft and third-party resources. Current OSIG topics include:

• MSDN subscriptions
• Windows 2000
• Microsoft Internet Explorer technologies
• Visual Basic
• Visual C++
• Visual J++
• Visual Studio
• Visual FoxPro
• Visual InterDev
• embedded development
• Office Developer
• Windows CE-based application development
• Windows NT
• Internet Information Server technology
• Windows Media technologies