Linked by Eugenia Loli-Queru on Tue 14th Mar 2006 15:57 UTC
Company makes plans to move away from prepackaged software and into web-based applications. As the Internet transforms the way people use computers, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has a message for the world's biggest software maker: adapt or die. "We must act quickly and decisively," Gates wrote in an Oct. 30 memo to Microsoft executives. "The next sea change is upon us." More at DetNews.
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Member since:
2005-07-18
Microsoft wants to diversify away from pre-packaged software and toward Web-based services that provide steadier, faster-growing income streams. In this vision, users would lease access to online software or use services in exchange for putting up with on-screen ads.
People who, for example, do online banking already use online software. That system is unlikely to change because it's undesirable to introduce another party when it comes to controlling your money.
But what about word processing? I don't understand why anybody would want to lease an online word processor. Wouldn't you have to be online to use it? There are still a lot of people who can't get broadband or don't want to pay for it.
And suppose you're not using a package much so you drop the lease. Can you still access all the documents or files you created with it?
As for putting up with on-screen ads--that's motivation enough for many to not be interested at all.
I think Gates is right to say, The next sea change is upon us. But I'm skeptical about the possible responses.