Newsweek Predicts: Microsoft to Oust Ballmer in 2010
December 22, 2009 by The Editor
Filed under Company Strategy
The Seattle Post and Intelligencer, being the hometown newspaper, is pretty kind to Microsoft. So when its writers put pen to paper and analyze a Newsweek article which suggests that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is on the hot seat, its time to sit up straight and listen.
Newsweek’s best quote in the article:
“Ballmer is said to be a brilliant guy, but he got a black eye for the way he blundered and blustered and finally botched an attempted acquisition of Yahoo. He’s a screamer and a bit of a bully – not the easiest guy to work for. If Microsoft were any other company, this guy would be in trouble.”
Will be interesting to see it this comes to Fruition. Microsoft is still printing money hand-over-fist, has put the Windows Vista debacle behind them with a successful launch of Win 7 and its “decision engine” Bing is doing reasonably well despite the failed acquisition of Yahoo (which turned out to be not such a bad thing).
UPDATE: Just came across the following article - Ballmer fired a guy for not saying “Bing” with sufficient enthusiasm? WTF???
Microsoft Must Stop Selling Word 2007 by Jan 11: Patent Ruling
December 22, 2009 by The Editor
Filed under Company Strategy, Office
Ouch – this one has to hurt.
Turns out that Microsoft has been accused of infringing on a patent related to XML in its Word 2007 application. The company has been appealing rulings related to this for some time, however, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has just upheld a decision that would see Microsoft Word and Office banned from sale starting January 11.
The funny thing is the company who is suing, is not a patent troll seeking massive damages. The company, i4i, and is just looking to protect its IP.
Not sure how this will play out. Microsoft says that Office 2010 does not use the technology and seems to be scrambling to remove the seldom used feature from the software in time for the January 11 deadline.
Microsoft, Prioritizing Cloud Computing, Reshuffles Units
December 10, 2009 by The Editor
Filed under Company Strategy
SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones)–Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), in a move underscoring the growing importance to its future revenue profile of cloud computing, said it was creating a new business unit to focus on the fast-growing new technology trend.
Cloud computing is a broad term for a range of technologies which enables organizations to have their computing operations stored off the premises, accessed through the Internet on a metered basis.
Microsoft, based in Redmond, Wash., is merging two existing sub-units within its broader server and tools business: the Windows Azure group, which has driven the launch of its cloud-computing program, and the Windows Server and Solutions Group, the company said in an internal blog posting.
The new division will be called the Server and Cloud division, and will be headed by Amitabh Srivastava, who reports to ultimate server and tools unit head, Bob Muglia.
A number of companies, ranging from Internet giant Google Inc. (GOOG) to online business software provider Salesforce.com Inc. (CRM) are clamoring to offer companies tools to allow them to take advantage of cloud computing, which among other things allows customers to slash IT labor costs.
Microsoft’s challenge is to grab a greater slice of the nascent market without damaging the profitability of its products, the vast majority of which are still hosted and used on PCs or corporate servers.
Windows Azure, which Microsoft launched this fall, is the central plank of its cloud-computing strategy. Microsoft didn’t comment beyond the internal statement.
Shares closed up 0.5% at $29.71.
Great Video: Microsoft TV Ads From Yesteryear
November 18, 2009 by The Editor
Filed under Company Strategy
I’m not a big fan of Slate.com, but they did a great job collecting some of Microsoft’s TV Ads of the ages.
BTW – I never got the Seinfeld/Gates ads either.
Despite Line Dancing Employees, Microsoft Stores STILL Not As Cool As Apple Stores
November 18, 2009 by The Editor
Filed under Company Strategy
The marketing folks at HQ in Redmond have had some wins and some flops. I can’t imagine who dreamed this up? They guy who writes the birthday songs for Red Robin?
watch the video
PC Sales Spike by 40% During Windows 7 Launch
November 3, 2009 by The Editor
Filed under Company Strategy
According to NPD sales data, the launch of Windows 7 triggered a 40% increase in sales as compared to the same week the previous year.
Morgan Stanley analyst Katheryn Hubert declined to predict whether or not the sales spike is evidence of a major trend or simply a temporary burst as those who had waited for Windows 7 buy their new systems. Microsoft’s own CEO believes the OS will have little impact in the long term and that most will simply get Windows 7 in the same time it normally takes them to replace a given PC.
Here at the Microsoft Observer, we believe that while not an early predictor of any success of the Windows 7 product, the spike suggests that consumers may think better of the updated operating system compared to Windows Vista.
