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July 25, 2004
Are we there yet?
Over on Microsoft Watch, Mary Jo Foley writes about the increasing rumors that Microsoft is set to release more Open Source "Goodies". Faithful readers of this weblog will not be surprised by the news (newbies are pointed towards this, this and especially this from November 2002).
It's no real surprise therefore that Microsoft are cautiously testing the Open Source waters by releasing a little bit here and a little bit there. I don't think anything like an Open Source version of IE is in the pipeline - although the thought does have some charm (as does a version of IE for Linux).
Microsoft and Open Source - now there's a subject you could discuss for hours and hours. Just where does Microsoft really stand when it comes to the phenomena? Are they really scared by Linux? Does Bill tremble in his bed at night because of the Apache Server? I very much doubt it. Even so, these small steps do show that things may slowly be changing in Redmond. Not that they will become a major Open Source vendor over night - and of course they don't need to. Yet.
Two years ago, things may have looked easier for Microsoft - they could have played the patent card to stop Open Souce dead. (By the way - isn't that a coincidence that the memo "turned" up last week?) - But today, with the growing acceptance of Open Source in major commercial organizations (the typical Microsoft customer), things may not be so easy. Such a harsh move on Microsoft's part today would surely alienate many of it's customers and perhaps persuade them to move even quicker towards Linux or other Open Source alternatives.
Even so, let's face it, the golden days of selling your operating system for a premium are coming to an end. Just as the market for Office type software is slowly stagnating. So, Microsoft needs be thinking about alternatives and how it can profit from the growing commoditization in the software business.
By releasing little - unimportant (as yet) - pieces of its business as Open Source, Microsoft can safely "experiment" inside a relatively controlled environment. And plan the next move.
Posted by Matthew at July 25, 2004 09:47 PM