Microsoft's Server and Tools business realigned

Microsoft is realigning one of its major business groups.

It said Friday that the Server and Tools business, responsible for some18 consecutive quarters of double-digit revenue growth, is moving into the Microsoft Business Division headed by Jeff Raikes.

The Server and Tools business, led by Bob Muglia, makes products such as Windows Server and Visual Studio software-writing tools.

As part of the reorganization, the developer and platform evangelism team, which tries to attract more software builders to the Microsoft fold, is moving under Muglia's group.

Redfin

Sweet Digs reviews halted, firm fined

Complying with an order issued by the local real-estate multiple-listing service, discount broker Redfin has discontinued the online property reviews, Sweet Digs, it featured on its Web site.

The Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS) told Seattle-based Redfin that Sweet Digs violated its rule against advertising details of homes listed for sale by other companies.

Launched in December and written by 15 freelancers, the reviews attracted more than 3,000 e-mail subscribers, according to Redfin. These reviews provided perspective "from outside the real-estate industry, so that consumers get a more complete portrait of the property for sale," said company CEO Glenn Kelman.

The MLS fined Redfin $50,000. Redfin is appealing.

Boeing

Navy says F/A-18 needs a retrofit

Boeing's top fighter jet, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, has a structural flaw in its wing requiring a retrofit, the U.S. Navy said Friday.

The change, to be carried out in 2009, will fix the flaw before "the flight-hour threshold in which fatigue could potentially be experienced," the Navy said in a statement.

The problem has already been corrected in aircraft coming off the production line and will have no negative financial impact for Boeing, said Paul Guse, a company spokesman.

Richard Aboulafia of Teal Group, a Fairfax, Va.-based aerospace consultancy, said: "As long as the fix is cheap and the consequences minimal, it shouldn't affect Navy procurement numbers or export appeal."

Compiled from Seattle Times business staff and Reuters