Microsoft must be innovative with Hohm to avoid being an also-ran

So, something that Microsoft didn't have a passing interest in years ago is something the company wants to play in now -- home energy control over the web. Microsoft's Hohm product looks promising, but I'm afraid it won't make the cut unless Microsoft really innovates an excellent product here.

After all, Google has pioneered the stance of having all its products connected to the net -- it's entire existence relies on that. Microsoft doesn't exactly have that reputation. A home energy management tool that is always available via the web seems like dated thinking now that 2009 is half over. If electric cars are to become the norm, electricity management will become a concern pretty quickly as fossil fuels move over during the next few decades.

It's hard to see Microsoft being an innovator here, but it has a real chance to reinvent itself if it can grab onto something and take the lead. It will require being innovative, which will be Microsoft's largest challenge, unless it wants to play in yet another "me-too" field and take a small percentage of the upcoming profit.