Comments on: Microsoft going after the internet http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/ Nic Brisbourne's view from London on venture capital and exploiting change in technology and media Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Equity Kicker » Blog Archive » The Borg joins the Federation - MSFT gets it part II http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-389 The Equity Kicker » Blog Archive » The Borg joins the Federation - MSFT gets it part II Thu, 16 Nov 2006 10:30:14 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-389 [...] I posted a couple of weeks ago that Microsoft are going after the internet and that they understand what they will need to do to succeed - although they still face a huge challenge [...] [...] I posted a couple of weeks ago that Microsoft are going after the internet and that they understand what they will need to do to succeed – although they still face a huge challenge [...]

]]> By: David Rowe : Microsoft EMEA - Investors in Innovation Newsletter - Autumn Edition 2006 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-196 David Rowe : Microsoft EMEA - Investors in Innovation Newsletter - Autumn Edition 2006 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 18:19:57 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-196 [...] Microsoft EMEA - Investors in Innovation Newsletter - Autumn Edition 2006   Welcome to the Microsoft EMEA Autumn Edition of the Microsoft Investors in Innovation newsletter! This edition arrives slightly late – much like the autumnal weather!   It was great to either meet or catch up with many of you at the recent VC industry events including ETRE06 and EVCA Venture Capital Forum. Microsoft were proud to sponsor both of these events and we have had great outcomes including executive level meetings and valuable partner introductions.  In addition, we have also hosted a number of VC briefings over the past month including Vista in London (and Vista is still due for launch on Nov 30th), Zune in Paris and the Microsoft Digital Day with a focus on the Windows Live advertising opportunity.   As well as these briefings, many conversations we have lead to what Microsoft can do for portfolio companies. I often focus on the “creating value through partnership” mantra – and have blogged on this here. In this newsletter, I want to focus on one very tangible initiative: the Empower Program, which provides start-ups with heavily discounted software, support and development licensing for up to two years. This program was rated as the most valuable and highly regarded in our recent start-up satisfaction survey. It is also – surprisingly – new news for many VCs and start-ups. Just thought I would give it another mention.   And while the industry is abuzz with the recent youTube acquisition, Microsoft’s acquisition trail also continues with the recent acquisition of Colloquis, driving the transaction count to four for the fiscal year. Although there is no European angle to report here, I have played host to a number of product teams who have come to Europe for VC and Company meetings over the past quarter. As Dan’l Lewin wrote in this article: we’re open for business and ready to deal.   Finally, a plug for an upcoming Library House event that we are jointly sponsoring with Intel Capital: MediaTech 2.006. This event – to be held at London’s IMAX theatre on Nov 30th – focuses on the convergence of media, technology and communications: gathering the innovators, the disruptors, the investors and the corporate players. We would love to see you there.   I hope you find this newsletter informative and interesting. As always, we welcome your feedback and I look forward to engaging with you and your portfolio companies.   Best regards,David RoweDirector, EMEA Emerging Business Team --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  MICROSOFT NEWS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Zune: Photo Video & Audio 2.0 Rather than a ‘me too’ product, the Zune is coming to market with some unique features that will provide an additional dimension to portable entertainment.  Top of mind is the Zune’s wireless capability coupled with its sharing service which allows users to identify other Zune’s nearby.  DRM is maintained via a “3 days or 3 plays” criteria on the shared media, thereby promoting people to try before they buy.  To purchase music, the business model is linked to a Zune Marketplace. However, the player is format agnostic and supports AAC, MP3, etc.  Lots of buzz around this device and perhaps the coolest thing is that is will be shipping in white, black and brown!   Wallop: SocialNetworking 2.0 Wallop, the next generation social network that began as a Microsoft Research project, has been spun off via Microsoft’s IP Ventures program.  The San Francisco-based company, which took $13 million in funding from Bay Partners, is headed up by CEO Karl Jacob a serial entrepreneur and Sun Microsystems and Microsoft Veteran.  Users have a homepage, unlimited storage for pictures, a music section (upload your tracks and let visitors play them), a blog and a cool chat feature called “conversations”.  The business model aims at monetisation through the sale of self expression items (e.g. clothes, furniture, beauty supplies, etc.) and to this end Wallop features an onsite marketplace, going after a slice of the $3 trillion per year U.S. market for self expression items.  Access to Wallop is currently by invite only, so if you would like an invite – email us.   EMEA MTC & MICs: What Price Innovation? Since 2004, the Microsoft Technology Centre (MTC) for ISV Development in Denmark has successfully helped leading and emerging ISV’s from all over EMEA to reduce time to market and increase quality in the next generation of their products.  Working together, Microsoft experts and engineers work with independent software vendors (ISVs) providing in-depth technical guidance, sharing Microsoft product plans and technical road maps, and offering marketing and business-level guidance.  Nimbus Partners, a 3i-backed UK company, built their next generation BPM solution on Microsoft’s Business Scorecard Manager and SQL2005 through an MTC engagement.   Moving forward, Microsoft is are adding to these investments by establishing a number of Microsoft Innovation Centres, focused on encouraging and accelerating solution innovation and entrepreneurship via the fusion of ISV IP and leading Microsoft products as well as innovations from Microsoft Research labs.  There are already sites operating in countries including Brazil, New Zealand and Spain: eight more are planned for EMEA including UK and Italy.   The MTCs and MICs offer leading solution acceleration and tangible value for ISVs. The cost of engagement is free for the ISV and each facility has dedicated capacity for start-up companies.  For more information, email emeaebt@microsoft.com.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  EMERGING BUSINESS PARTNERS IN THE NEWS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Mydeo: Multiple Award Winning Mydeo – an emerging business focused on quality global streaming video hosting for home and business users – is busily raking in the awards. Having been recognised as a 2006 HSBC Start-Up Star and being invited to present at ETRE06, Mydeo’s Co-Founder and CEO, Cary Marsh, has most recently been named one of the most promising figures in the UK business market by Growing Business magazine.      Cicero Networks: Another Deal in the Bag Cicero Networks – a leading provider of wVoIP solutions for fixed mobile convergence – announced that Comfone AG, the leading provider of international cellular roaming services has selected CiceroPhone, dual-mode softphone, to power the Comfone wVoIP service which is being launched today.  Using CiceroPhone, Comfone enables operators to seamlessly deliver both voice and messaging services using wireless VoIP (wVoIP) and existing GSM networks.   Skyrecon: NextGen Security Solutions SkyRecon – the premier European software vendor for advanced endpoint security solutions – were highlighted as "2006 Best Entrepreneurial Security Company EMEA" by Frost & Sullivan.  SkyRecon’s mission is to proactively ensure the integrity and reliability of data and applications on every client workstation – stationary or nomadic – without disrupting user activity.    Workshare: Tomorrow's Technology Today Workshare – a secure content compliance solutions provider that counts 65% of the Fortune 1000 as their customers – were awarded Tomorrow's Technology Today (Security Management) from InfoSecurity.  Workshare were also recognised as a Regional ‘Winning Customer’ award winner at Microsoft’s World-wide Partner Conference 2006.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  EVENTS: REVIEW & UPCOMING --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  IP Ventures: New IP from MSR Cambridge (Sept 26th, Cambridge) On September 26th Microsoft hosted 38 entrepreneurs and Venture Capitalists from the UK, France, Germany, Ireland and Denmark at our MSR Cambridge offices to discuss some of the innovative thinking taking place at MSR Cambridge and share new technologies that will be made available via IP Ventures.  Some the technologies features at this event included: Alternative communication devices for the home Sensor software platforms for wireless devices 3D graphics solutions for consumer or commercial video applications Real-time object recognition and categorizationWireless bandwidth aggregation and optimization technologies Digital image editing and manipulation The European IP Ventures team are currently following up on the leads from this event.  Further information can be found via the IP Ventures web site or email ventures@microsoft.com.   Windows Live: Microsoft Digital Day (Oct 20th, London) On October 20th, Microsoft UK hosted many of the UK & US execs from Windows Live – the division charged with delivering upon the MS online services strategy – plus Steve Ballmer for a ‘Microsoft Digital Day’. Attendance exceeded capacity and we managed to get a number of VCs in.  Feedback from those that attended was generally very positive. Some comments here: “It was a very good day. SB was inspiring!” “Definitely many interesting things going on at Microsoft!” “Overall I was impressed by the day.  There was a lot of good content on the state of the industry, (Microsoft) get a lot of the important ideas in Web2.0, in particular the need for authenticity and for the user to be respected and in control.” <www.theequitykicker.com>   The presentations from the Microsoft Digital Day are at the following link:                www.microsoftdigitalday.com/presentations                Password: msdigitalday   Library House Media Tech 2006: Digital Convergence (November 30th, London) What exactly is Media 2.0?  What are the key drivers for media convergence? Who are the upstart companies exploiting this industry disruption? Who’s making money and how?   Library House's MediaTech 2.006 event puts the convergence of media, technology and communications in one room: gathering the innovators, the disruptors, the investors and the corporate players face-to-face.   Bringing together some of the hottest upstart companies and mixing them up with the incumbent giants and the key investors, the panel sessions, the presentations and networking opportunities at MediaTech 2.006 are a must for anyone interested in doing smart business in the future of content-driven, technology-enabled businesses.   With contributions from top entrepreneurs such as Bob Young (CEO, lulu.com and co-founder of Red Hat), from giants such as Microsoft, Intel, Google, SKY and Yahoo, from Sequoia’s latest investee company, and from top investors such as Index Ventures, now is the time to register your place. Places are limited.   This one-day event is sponsored by Microsoft and Intel Capital, this one-day event is about making connections: between innovators, corporates and investors.   MediaTech specs: Date: 30 November 2006 Time: 8:00am (arrival and registration) till 8:00pm (drinks and canapes from 6:00pm) Location: Imax Theatre, Waterloo, London Cost: £395 + VAT : including networking lunch, refreshments, cocktails and canapes   Click here to view the most up to date event brochure and find out how to register your place.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Subscribe to this newsletter: If you would like to subscribe to future editions of this newsletter please e-mail emeaebt@microsoft.com.   © 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows Live, Office Live, SQL Server, and Visual Studio are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.   Published Wednesday, November 01, 2006 1:15 PM by David Rowe [...] [...] Microsoft EMEA – Investors in Innovation Newsletter – Autumn Edition 2006   Welcome to the Microsoft EMEA Autumn Edition of the Microsoft Investors in Innovation newsletter! This edition arrives slightly late – much like the autumnal weather!   It was great to either meet or catch up with many of you at the recent VC industry events including ETRE06 and EVCA Venture Capital Forum. Microsoft were proud to sponsor both of these events and we have had great outcomes including executive level meetings and valuable partner introductions.  In addition, we have also hosted a number of VC briefings over the past month including Vista in London (and Vista is still due for launch on Nov 30th), Zune in Paris and the Microsoft Digital Day with a focus on the Windows Live advertising opportunity.   As well as these briefings, many conversations we have lead to what Microsoft can do for portfolio companies. I often focus on the “creating value through partnership” mantra – and have blogged on this here. In this newsletter, I want to focus on one very tangible initiative: the Empower Program, which provides start-ups with heavily discounted software, support and development licensing for up to two years. This program was rated as the most valuable and highly regarded in our recent start-up satisfaction survey. It is also – surprisingly – new news for many VCs and start-ups. Just thought I would give it another mention.   And while the industry is abuzz with the recent youTube acquisition, Microsoft’s acquisition trail also continues with the recent acquisition of Colloquis, driving the transaction count to four for the fiscal year. Although there is no European angle to report here, I have played host to a number of product teams who have come to Europe for VC and Company meetings over the past quarter. As Dan’l Lewin wrote in this article: we’re open for business and ready to deal.   Finally, a plug for an upcoming Library House event that we are jointly sponsoring with Intel Capital: MediaTech 2.006. This event – to be held at London’s IMAX theatre on Nov 30th – focuses on the convergence of media, technology and communications: gathering the innovators, the disruptors, the investors and the corporate players. We would love to see you there.   I hope you find this newsletter informative and interesting. As always, we welcome your feedback and I look forward to engaging with you and your portfolio companies.   Best regards,David RoweDirector, EMEA Emerging Business Team ——————————————————————————————————–  MICROSOFT NEWS ——————————————————————————————————–  Zune: Photo Video & Audio 2.0 Rather than a ‘me too’ product, the Zune is coming to market with some unique features that will provide an additional dimension to portable entertainment.  Top of mind is the Zune’s wireless capability coupled with its sharing service which allows users to identify other Zune’s nearby.  DRM is maintained via a “3 days or 3 plays” criteria on the shared media, thereby promoting people to try before they buy.  To purchase music, the business model is linked to a Zune Marketplace. However, the player is format agnostic and supports AAC, MP3, etc.  Lots of buzz around this device and perhaps the coolest thing is that is will be shipping in white, black and brown!   Wallop: SocialNetworking 2.0 Wallop, the next generation social network that began as a Microsoft Research project, has been spun off via Microsoft’s IP Ventures program.  The San Francisco-based company, which took $13 million in funding from Bay Partners, is headed up by CEO Karl Jacob a serial entrepreneur and Sun Microsystems and Microsoft Veteran.  Users have a homepage, unlimited storage for pictures, a music section (upload your tracks and let visitors play them), a blog and a cool chat feature called “conversations”.  The business model aims at monetisation through the sale of self expression items (e.g. clothes, furniture, beauty supplies, etc.) and to this end Wallop features an onsite marketplace, going after a slice of the $3 trillion per year U.S. market for self expression items.  Access to Wallop is currently by invite only, so if you would like an invite – email us.   EMEA MTC & MICs: What Price Innovation? Since 2004, the Microsoft Technology Centre (MTC) for ISV Development in Denmark has successfully helped leading and emerging ISV’s from all over EMEA to reduce time to market and increase quality in the next generation of their products.  Working together, Microsoft experts and engineers work with independent software vendors (ISVs) providing in-depth technical guidance, sharing Microsoft product plans and technical road maps, and offering marketing and business-level guidance.  Nimbus Partners, a 3i-backed UK company, built their next generation BPM solution on Microsoft’s Business Scorecard Manager and SQL2005 through an MTC engagement.   Moving forward, Microsoft is are adding to these investments by establishing a number of Microsoft Innovation Centres, focused on encouraging and accelerating solution innovation and entrepreneurship via the fusion of ISV IP and leading Microsoft products as well as innovations from Microsoft Research labs.  There are already sites operating in countries including Brazil, New Zealand and Spain: eight more are planned for EMEA including UK and Italy.   The MTCs and MICs offer leading solution acceleration and tangible value for ISVs. The cost of engagement is free for the ISV and each facility has dedicated capacity for start-up companies.  For more information, email emeaebt@microsoft.com.   ——————————————————————————————————–  EMERGING BUSINESS PARTNERS IN THE NEWS ——————————————————————————————————–  Mydeo: Multiple Award Winning Mydeo – an emerging business focused on quality global streaming video hosting for home and business users – is busily raking in the awards. Having been recognised as a 2006 HSBC Start-Up Star and being invited to present at ETRE06, Mydeo’s Co-Founder and CEO, Cary Marsh, has most recently been named one of the most promising figures in the UK business market by Growing Business magazine.      Cicero Networks: Another Deal in the Bag Cicero Networks – a leading provider of wVoIP solutions for fixed mobile convergence – announced that Comfone AG, the leading provider of international cellular roaming services has selected CiceroPhone, dual-mode softphone, to power the Comfone wVoIP service which is being launched today.  Using CiceroPhone, Comfone enables operators to seamlessly deliver both voice and messaging services using wireless VoIP (wVoIP) and existing GSM networks.   Skyrecon: NextGen Security Solutions SkyRecon – the premier European software vendor for advanced endpoint security solutions – were highlighted as “2006 Best Entrepreneurial Security Company EMEA” by Frost & Sullivan.  SkyRecon’s mission is to proactively ensure the integrity and reliability of data and applications on every client workstation – stationary or nomadic – without disrupting user activity.    Workshare: Tomorrow’s Technology Today Workshare – a secure content compliance solutions provider that counts 65% of the Fortune 1000 as their customers – were awarded Tomorrow’s Technology Today (Security Management) from InfoSecurity.  Workshare were also recognised as a Regional ‘Winning Customer’ award winner at Microsoft’s World-wide Partner Conference 2006.   ——————————————————————————————————–  EVENTS: REVIEW & UPCOMING ——————————————————————————————————–  IP Ventures: New IP from MSR Cambridge (Sept 26th, Cambridge) On September 26th Microsoft hosted 38 entrepreneurs and Venture Capitalists from the UK, France, Germany, Ireland and Denmark at our MSR Cambridge offices to discuss some of the innovative thinking taking place at MSR Cambridge and share new technologies that will be made available via IP Ventures.  Some the technologies features at this event included: Alternative communication devices for the home Sensor software platforms for wireless devices 3D graphics solutions for consumer or commercial video applications Real-time object recognition and categorizationWireless bandwidth aggregation and optimization technologies Digital image editing and manipulation The European IP Ventures team are currently following up on the leads from this event.  Further information can be found via the IP Ventures web site or email ventures@microsoft.com.   Windows Live: Microsoft Digital Day (Oct 20th, London) On October 20th, Microsoft UK hosted many of the UK & US execs from Windows Live – the division charged with delivering upon the MS online services strategy – plus Steve Ballmer for a ‘Microsoft Digital Day’. Attendance exceeded capacity and we managed to get a number of VCs in.  Feedback from those that attended was generally very positive. Some comments here: “It was a very good day. SB was inspiring!” “Definitely many interesting things going on at Microsoft!” “Overall I was impressed by the day.  There was a lot of good content on the state of the industry, (Microsoft) get a lot of the important ideas in Web2.0, in particular the need for authenticity and for the user to be respected and in control.” <www.theequitykicker.com>   The presentations from the Microsoft Digital Day are at the following link:                http://www.microsoftdigitalday.com/presentations                Password: msdigitalday   Library House Media Tech 2006: Digital Convergence (November 30th, London) What exactly is Media 2.0?  What are the key drivers for media convergence? Who are the upstart companies exploiting this industry disruption? Who’s making money and how?   Library House’s MediaTech 2.006 event puts the convergence of media, technology and communications in one room: gathering the innovators, the disruptors, the investors and the corporate players face-to-face.   Bringing together some of the hottest upstart companies and mixing them up with the incumbent giants and the key investors, the panel sessions, the presentations and networking opportunities at MediaTech 2.006 are a must for anyone interested in doing smart business in the future of content-driven, technology-enabled businesses.   With contributions from top entrepreneurs such as Bob Young (CEO, lulu.com and co-founder of Red Hat), from giants such as Microsoft, Intel, Google, SKY and Yahoo, from Sequoia’s latest investee company, and from top investors such as Index Ventures, now is the time to register your place. Places are limited.   This one-day event is sponsored by Microsoft and Intel Capital, this one-day event is about making connections: between innovators, corporates and investors.   MediaTech specs: Date: 30 November 2006 Time: 8:00am (arrival and registration) till 8:00pm (drinks and canapes from 6:00pm) Location: Imax Theatre, Waterloo, London Cost: £395 + VAT : including networking lunch, refreshments, cocktails and canapes   Click here to view the most up to date event brochure and find out how to register your place.   ——————————————————————————————————–  Subscribe to this newsletter: If you would like to subscribe to future editions of this newsletter please e-mail emeaebt@microsoft.com.   © 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows Live, Office Live, SQL Server, and Visual Studio are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.   Published Wednesday, November 01, 2006 1:15 PM by David Rowe [...]

]]> By: nic http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-166 nic Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:14:43 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-166 Thank you both for good comments. MSFT are stretching themselves into many areas and execution will be difficult. My feeling is that they will make at least some progress in search though. mspoke - I would say to you that search can get much better still and MSFT will need to innovate much faster than Google to capture market share, but they will give it a good go. As I said they have come from behind in markets before. Also Google is starting to look pretty unfocused these days. Thank you both for good comments. MSFT are stretching themselves into many areas and execution will be difficult. My feeling is that they will make at least some progress in search though.

mspoke – I would say to you that search can get much better still and MSFT will need to innovate much faster than Google to capture market share, but they will give it a good go. As I said they have come from behind in markets before. Also Google is starting to look pretty unfocused these days.

]]> By: nic http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-10378 nic Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:14:00 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-10378 Thank you both for good comments. MSFT are stretching themselves into many areas and execution will be difficult. My feeling is that they will make at least some progress in search though. mspoke - I would say to you that search can get much better still and MSFT will need to innovate much faster than Google to capture market share, but they will give it a good go. As I said they have come from behind in markets before. Also Google is starting to look pretty unfocused these days. Thank you both for good comments. MSFT are stretching themselves into many areas and execution will be difficult. My feeling is that they will make at least some progress in search though.

mspoke – I would say to you that search can get much better still and MSFT will need to innovate much faster than Google to capture market share, but they will give it a good go. As I said they have come from behind in markets before. Also Google is starting to look pretty unfocused these days.

]]> By: mspoke http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-165 mspoke Tue, 24 Oct 2006 13:56:01 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-165 In Search - Google won, Microsoft lost, rarely do people change search engines, unelss they come up with something which is easoer to use then people will not change. How can you make it easier than having pretty much a blank page and a button which says 'search'? Go and ask your friends how many of them use MSN for searching, the answer will be around the 0 mark. They are just not interested in changing, even for those using MS's hotmail service. Whatever MS decide to do in the search space, or in any other space for that matter, will take too long and probably not work properly when it comes to market. They have a history of doing that. I would split MS up into many more much smaller companies. so that it can manouvre a little more quickly. In Search – Google won, Microsoft lost, rarely do people change search engines, unelss they come up with something which is easoer to use then people will not change. How can you make it easier than having pretty much a blank page and a button which says ‘search’? Go and ask your friends how many of them use MSN for searching, the answer will be around the 0 mark. They are just not interested in changing, even for those using MS’s hotmail service.

Whatever MS decide to do in the search space, or in any other space for that matter, will take too long and probably not work properly when it comes to market. They have a history of doing that. I would split MS up into many more much smaller companies. so that it can manouvre a little more quickly.

]]> By: mspoke http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-10377 mspoke Tue, 24 Oct 2006 13:56:00 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-10377 In Search - Google won, Microsoft lost, rarely do people change search engines, unelss they come up with something which is easoer to use then people will not change. How can you make it easier than having pretty much a blank page and a button which says 'search'? Go and ask your friends how many of them use MSN for searching, the answer will be around the 0 mark. They are just not interested in changing, even for those using MS's hotmail service. Whatever MS decide to do in the search space, or in any other space for that matter, will take too long and probably not work properly when it comes to market. They have a history of doing that. I would split MS up into many more much smaller companies. so that it can manouvre a little more quickly. In Search – Google won, Microsoft lost, rarely do people change search engines, unelss they come up with something which is easoer to use then people will not change. How can you make it easier than having pretty much a blank page and a button which says ‘search’? Go and ask your friends how many of them use MSN for searching, the answer will be around the 0 mark. They are just not interested in changing, even for those using MS’s hotmail service.

Whatever MS decide to do in the search space, or in any other space for that matter, will take too long and probably not work properly when it comes to market. They have a history of doing that. I would split MS up into many more much smaller companies. so that it can manouvre a little more quickly.

]]> By: alanp http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-164 alanp Sat, 21 Oct 2006 08:46:01 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-164 In "Internet 1.0" MSFT were conspicuous by their absense for quite a while until they "got it". They clearly are being more savvy now, but even for a company of their resources, they are operating on so many fronts.....can they do it all? Just a thought......will MSFT eventually play the IBM to some future Bill Gates with a bright idea? In “Internet 1.0″ MSFT were conspicuous by their absense for quite a while until they “got it”.

They clearly are being more savvy now, but even for a company of their resources, they are operating on so many fronts…..can they do it all?

Just a thought……will MSFT eventually play the IBM to some future Bill Gates with a bright idea?

]]> By: alanp http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-10376 alanp Sat, 21 Oct 2006 08:46:00 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2006/10/20/microsoft-going-after-the-internet/#comment-10376 In "Internet 1.0" MSFT were conspicuous by their absense for quite a while until they "got it". They clearly are being more savvy now, but even for a company of their resources, they are operating on so many fronts.....can they do it all? Just a thought......will MSFT eventually play the IBM to some future Bill Gates with a bright idea? In “Internet 1.0″ MSFT were conspicuous by their absense for quite a while until they “got it”.

They clearly are being more savvy now, but even for a company of their resources, they are operating on so many fronts…..can they do it all?

Just a thought……will MSFT eventually play the IBM to some future Bill Gates with a bright idea?

]]>