In January 2007 Microsoft acquired a company called Stratature with a motive of stepping into the lucrative MDM (Master Data Management) market currently dominated by IBM camp. Microsoft’s MDM effort is code-named Bulldog and will be part of the overall SharePoint universe in some form when it is released. An announcement has been made about a CTP which will be available in third quarter of 2008. At present a Technology Preview is available by requesting one. You can find more details here.

If you are interested in MDM you might be interested in visiting these links:

Kirk Haselden

Roger Wolter

MDM Page At Microsoft