Media coverage focuses on Microsoft's competition with Google, but Chairman Bill Gates sees IBM - not the Web search leader - as its biggest challenger. "People tend to get over-focused on one of our competitors. We've always seen that," Gates said, comparing the potential threat of Google's search capabilities to past competitors such as Internet browser Netscape and Sun Microsystems' Java programming language.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2005-07-06
IBM's consulting services competes directly with MCS (Microsoft Consulting Services): They both do billions yearly in revenues setting up custom solutions for Fortune 500 companies. Microsoft isn't _just_ a software company, though their software does indeed help drive MCS sales. They also do a ton of custom software development as well. So yes, they are huge competitors...there's a lot of money at stake in that arena, and between the two of them, they pretty much dominate it.
In the same vein, IBM isn't just a PC company...by far and away they are a services company who just happens to sell PC's as well. The cash cow for IBM is building large custom solutions for gov't/large businesses. Why do you think they sold their PC business to Lenovo?
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2005-11-02
IBM's consulting services competes directly with MCS (Microsoft Consulting Services):
And IBM will recommend a solution that does not use Windows. Though they will support one if you insist on it.
In the same vein, IBM isn't just a PC company
No...IBM isn't a PC company ... not any more ... Lenovo is a PC company.
Member since:2005-09-03
Member since:
2005-07-06
"Past competitors" sort of denotes that MS has won the war on a specific battle front
1. Netscape vs IE -- IE might have a lot of installed users, but Firefox (Netscape's grandchild of a sort) is kicking and screaming and more and more users are at least trying it out
2. Java vs .NET -- more Java apps exist than .NET - why look at this google maps on my phone, what's this you say? it's not a .NET app! wow! it couldn't possibly be java because that war is over...
3. IBM being the bigger competitor - hmmm. Any second year MBA (I have no faith in 1st year MBA ;-) ) will tell you that a competitor is one where you compete in the same arena for market dominance. MS does not sell PCs, IBM does not sell gaming consoles. Looking at two companies solely on the basis of revenue and seeing that one company has more revenue than another does not make you competitors!
4. What does IBM have to do with the development of the Cell processor and being in competition with MS ?
5. Microsoft was, is and will be a software company (as stated by them in the article) - I don't see why IBM is a threat. I can see Google, I can see Apple, I can see Nokia and Sony and Nintendo.
It seems to me that they are not focusing on the proper targets.