NEWS
Volume 1 Issue 5
The Software-as-a-Service Plan
From: Information Week and CRN
11/14/2005 issue pg. 22 & 14
The recent memo leaked from Microsoft stating a turn of the tide, the software-as-a-service plan. From the horses’ mouth “…to make software far more powerful by incorporating a service model which will simplify the work that IT departments and developers have to do…”says Gates. Specifically aimed at the internet and providing software services, this is obviously in response to competition. Specifically, Google and their ability to tap into the search engine as an internet service, also, Adobe systems, Apple and Skype Technologies have taken similar strides.
Microsoft’s ability to adapt to a changing market has been proven to be easy in the past. And Microsoft seems to be on its way with rumors of hosting CRM for Windows Live and Office Live. Even thought hosting has been outsourced to ePartners and Navisite, wondering what their role will be in this new world Microsoft is tapping into. Even though Microsoft CRM GM has denied this rumor, it has Microsoft partners worried. Arnie Bellini of ConnectWise states “Microsoft has slowly been migrating its entire model toward a subscription rather than the purchase & update model, which is killing them.” It will be interesting to see were Microsoft is going exactly in the future.
Microsoft's Steve Ballmer Tops the Top 25 CEO's of the Year
From: CRN 11/14/2005 issue pg. 28
CRN announces its top 25 CEOs of the Year in its Nov 14th issue and at number 3 is Steve Ballmer CEO of Microsoft. With 5 years under his belt he has dealt with slow growth, increased competition and employee defections. Most recently the stand still stock price and diverse set of changes from software-as-a-service to open source development. In response to these adversities, new plans for growth have been created. He has investing heavily into the search arena, introducing new search capabilities with MSN, Windows Vista and Internet Explorer 7. Accords have been signed with rival such as Palm, Real Networks and Yahoo to vamp up mobile and Internet services. Ballmer through his adversities and triumphs he deserves this recognition.
Microsoft goes British
From: Federal Computer Week 11/14/05 issue pg 12
The British Library, the United Kingdom’s National Library, have employed Microsoft to digitize 25 million pages of content. Of these pages 100,000 out of copyright books will be available through MSN Book Search beta service next year. The Library has also promised more digitizing of pages to Microsoft for the future. There is a 3 year strategy in place to develop a digital research environment to store, manage, preserve and provide access to material for academic, personal and commercial researchers.
A National Digital Library is being developed to house this digital collection effort. It will contain among other things Web sites, electronic journal and digitized version of the institutions collection. This National digital Library is being construction by the Library but has Microsoft and other technology companies providing software, consulting and technical support. This is a step in the positive direction for Microsoft increasing growth.
