Microsoft after the bell 06-19-06: messenger upgrade, everybody loves Ray

Posted Jun 19th 2006 6:48PM by Sarah Gilbert
Filed under: After the Bell, Products and Services, Launches, Management, Microsoft (MSFT)

windows live coming soon Evidently, investors were feeling good about Microsoft's future today, after concerns late last week. Maybe it was the new version of Messenger released today. Maybe it was general warm-and-fuzzies over the prospects of leaders like Ray Ozzie, who will inherit much of Bill Gates' technology leadership (and, if Ray's listening to Steve Gillmor's advice, he will "seize control of the company alongside Steve Ballmer, not as a greater of equals with Craig Mundie"). Either way the stock was up over 2%, or 45 cents, to $22.55.

MSN Messenger has been renamed along with so many other properties under the "MSN" moniker, to "Windows Live Messenger." While I don't love this focus on the "live"-ness of everything Microsoft (as opposed to the dead messenger? We all know that instant messenger programs do get people in the flesh, it seems so redundant to have to mention that), people seem excited about the new product.

Oddly, though, the "live" debut seems to have hit a snafu ... users are reporting a "coming soon" page where the press release points to a download.

Tags: $22.55, after the bell, AfterTheBell, at the bell, AtTheBell, im, instant messenger, InstantMessenger, messenger, microsoft, microsoft messenger, MicrosoftMessenger, msft, msn messenger, MsnMessenger, ozzie, ray ozzie, RayOzzie

Print this

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-19-2006 @ 9:46PM

Frodo Baggins said...

Ever since Gates stepped down, all I can think about is who's left running the company --- yeah, it's this idiot: http://www.ntk.net/media/dancemonkeyboy.mpg