BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Microsoft set to escape government oversight in 2011]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/14/microsoft-set-to-escape-government-oversight-in-2011/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/14/microsoft-set-to-escape-government-oversight-in-2011/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/14/microsoft-set-to-escape-government-oversight-in-2011/#commentsFiled under: ,

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) was hung out to dry back in 2002 when the U.S. government slapped it with all kinds of fines and limits based on its anti-competitive behavior in the PC market. Although Microsoft financially overcame all that was set against it, the company has not really wilted in terms of its software products or even the use of its market-leading internet browser, Internet Explorer.

Continue reading Microsoft set to escape government oversight in 2011

Microsoft set to escape government oversight in 2011 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Anti-trust rulingAnti-trustRulingBill GatesBillGatesMicrosoft anti-trustMicrosoft Corp.MicrosoftAnti-trustMicrosoftCorp.MSFDTFri, 14 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's new Office product to compete for free with Google Docs]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/14/microsofts-new-office-product-to-compete-for-free-with-google-d/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/14/microsofts-new-office-product-to-compete-for-free-with-google-d/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/14/microsofts-new-office-product-to-compete-for-free-with-google-d/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) released Google Docs a few years back, it may have scared software competitor Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) just a bit. Office is one of Microsoft's largest cash cows and the company knows many previous software applications are being ported to jut the web -- not to your local PC. Google's entire existence is based on this. So, when will we see Microsoft Office for the web?

Continue reading Microsoft's new Office product to compete for free with Google Docs

Microsoft's new Office product to compete for free with Google Docs originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogle DoscGoogle Inc.GoogleDoscGoogleInc.inthenewsMicrosoft Corp.Microsoft OfficeMicrosoftCorp.MicrosoftOfficeMSFTTue, 14 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's Bing has Google running scared? Yeah, right.]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/16/microsofts-bing-has-google-running-scared-yeah-right/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/16/microsofts-bing-has-google-running-scared-yeah-right/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/16/microsofts-bing-has-google-running-scared-yeah-right/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) has hit an initial home run with its Bing "decision engine" that it has been advertising like crazy. But, with over 60% of the search market share in the U.S., should leader Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) be worried about the newer competitor?

Continue reading Microsoft's Bing has Google running scared? Yeah, right.

Microsoft's Bing has Google running scared? Yeah, right. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BingGOOGGoogle Inc.Google seatchGoogleInc.GoogleSeatchMicrosoft Corp.MicrosoftCorp.MSFTTue, 16 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft to spend $100 million marketing new search engine?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/26/microsoft-to-spend-100-million-marketing-new-search-engine/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/26/microsoft-to-spend-100-million-marketing-new-search-engine/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/26/microsoft-to-spend-100-million-marketing-new-search-engine/#commentsFiled under: ,

Does Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) really continue to believe that it can grab internet search market share away from giants like Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Yahoo!, Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO)? The software company, which time and time again has said it intends to continue competing in the race for search market share, is about to release its latest effort -- Bing.

Continue reading Microsoft to spend $100 million marketing new search engine?

Microsoft to spend $100 million marketing new search engine? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 May 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogle searchGoogleSearchLive SearchLiveSearchMicrosoft Corp.MicrosoftCorp.MSFTTue, 26 May 2009 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's Windows 7 coming this summer]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/18/microsofts-windows-7-coming-this-summer/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/18/microsofts-windows-7-coming-this-summer/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/18/microsofts-windows-7-coming-this-summer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) took many of the chin when it released Windows Vista over two years ago when it received as many panning reviews as possible for the world's largest software company. Since then, the software behemoth has been planning a Vista successor that is leaner, safer, and doesn't require the latest PC to provide optimum performance.

That being said, the rumor is that the new Windows 7 will be available for sale and on new PCs sometime at the beginning of 2010. According to one of Microsoft's chief Windows engineering leads, the world could see Windows 7 sometime this summer.

Continue reading Microsoft's Windows 7 coming this summer

Microsoft's Windows 7 coming this summer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 May 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>inthenewsMicrosoft Corp.Microsoft WindowsMicrosoftCorp.MicrosoftWindowsMSFTsteven sinofskyStevenSinofskyWindows 7Windows7Mon, 18 May 2009 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon talking to Microsoft about iPhone rival partnership? Here we go again.]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/29/verizon-talking-to-microsoft-about-iphone-rival-partnership-her/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/29/verizon-talking-to-microsoft-about-iphone-rival-partnership-her/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/29/verizon-talking-to-microsoft-about-iphone-rival-partnership-her/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Verizon Wireless, a division of Verizon Communications, Inc. (NYSE: VZ), and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) may be partnering soon to take on the Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone. The iPhone, which has re-defined the mobile handset and has racked up huge sales worldwide in the 22 months in existence, needs a strong competitor. So far, all the iPhone "killers" have been anything but.

Continue reading Verizon talking to Microsoft about iPhone rival partnership? Here we go again.

Verizon talking to Microsoft about iPhone rival partnership? Here we go again. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DEnny StriglDennyStrigliPhoneMicrosoft Corp.MicrosoftCorp.MSFTVerizon iPhoneVerizon WirelessVerizonIphoneVerizonWirelessVZWed, 29 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Office seeing enhanced competition with free OpenOffice]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/28/microsoft-msft-office-seeing-enhanced-competition-with-free-op/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/28/microsoft-msft-office-seeing-enhanced-competition-with-free-op/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/28/microsoft-msft-office-seeing-enhanced-competition-with-free-op/#commentsFiled under: ,

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) is putting the final touches on Windows 7, and by all accounts it will be Microsoft's best operating system product in nearly a decade when it's released. But that's not the only cash cow the software giant has -- its Office franchise is hugely profitable as well. Could that piece of its business ever be in jeopardy, though?

The OpenOffice.org full software productivity suite is, in an odd way, Microsoft Office's largest competitor. Largest in that it's unknown in almost every corporate circle I've seen, and significant in that it provides -- for free -- almost everything the costly Microsoft Office does.

Continue reading Microsoft Office seeing enhanced competition with free OpenOffice

Microsoft Office seeing enhanced competition with free OpenOffice originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Microsoft Corp.Microsoft OfficeMicrosoftCorp.MicrosoftOfficeMSFTOffice 2007Office2007openoffice.orgopenoffice.org-3.0Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's Ballmer slams IBM's potential purchase of Sun Microsystems]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/20/microsofts-ballmer-slams-ibms-potential-purchase-of-sun-micros/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/20/microsofts-ballmer-slams-ibms-potential-purchase-of-sun-micros/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/20/microsofts-ballmer-slams-ibms-potential-purchase-of-sun-micros/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) really does go ahead and buy Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA) for a cool $6.5 billion or more, the two former adversaries could be joined into a powerful computing combination. One of its -- no, its largest competitor would be: Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). With many powerful players challenging Microsoft's dominance these days (Google in the consumer space), here's another one. That is, if the merger speculation turns out to be true.

Continue reading Microsoft's Ballmer slams IBM's potential purchase of Sun Microsystems

Microsoft's Ballmer slams IBM's potential purchase of Sun Microsystems originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>IBM Corp.IbmCorp.inthenewsMicrosoft Corp.MicrosoftCorp.MSFTSteve BallmerSteveBallmerSun MicrosystemsSunMicrosystemsFri, 20 Mar 2009 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's Android a sleeper threat to Microsoft?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/20/googles-android-a-sleeper-threat-to-microsoft/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/20/googles-android-a-sleeper-threat-to-microsoft/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/20/googles-android-a-sleeper-threat-to-microsoft/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google Inc.'s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android operating system was publicly marketed as a mobile operating system when it was released. The first wireless handset it was available on was the G1 smartphone offered by the fourth-largest U.S. wireless carrier, T-Mobile USA. But, you can't keep an open-source operating system developed by the Google behemoth down to just one platform.

Continue reading Google's Android a sleeper threat to Microsoft?

Google's Android a sleeper threat to Microsoft? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogleGoogle AndroidGoogleAndroidInc.Microsoft Corp.Microsoft SurfaceMicrosoft TabletMicrosoftCorp.MicrosoftSurfaceMicrosoftTabletFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's newest Windows Live services: its best yet]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/16/microsofts-newest-windows-live-services-its-best-yet/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/16/microsofts-newest-windows-live-services-its-best-yet/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/16/microsofts-newest-windows-live-services-its-best-yet/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) has had troubles recently trying to convince customers to use its Windows Live services over the competitor's products, namely those produced by Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG). Although Windows Live is a fine collection of services, Google gets all the glory just because of its name and because its products are no-frills and work very well. Microsoft's software doesn't exactly have the same reputation, unfortunately.

But Windows Live just got way better. Microsoft, as of late, has opened itself up to collaborating with other services, websites and partners to allow customers a "one-stop shop" for doing everything in one place. AOL did this recently by allowing all the popular email services (Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail, Google's Gmail) to be accessed from its custom homepage.

As these companies are now figuring out, the world does not revolve around just themselves. Customers use services from multiple companies and sources and making it all accessible under one brand or roof is now what all companies are trying to make available to their customers. Microsoft's attempt here with Windows Live includes integration of popular social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace) as well as instant messaging and email from many popular sources.

This is a great move from Microsoft. Instead of forcing customers to play in its own sandbox, the software giant has figured out that perhaps more of its customers will come to it and stay there if it offers a connection to non-Microsoft services and products that complement its own (not compete).

Microsoft's newest Windows Live services: its best yet originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When the first Bill Gates/Jerry Seinfeld television commercial was released about three weeks ago, there were mostly negative reviews of it. After all, the spot was odd, didn't mention Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) products at all, and really did not have any connection to what Microsoft was all about. Most likely, this was by design. This was Microsoft's attempt to fend off those cute (but now, annoying) Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) ads that have a "hip and cool" actor portraying the Mac PC while a geeky, nerdy actor portrays the Windows PC. And this was Microsoft's comeback? That was the question many asked.

The second commercial in the series was much better -- but it seemed more like a sitcom mini-episode than anything. The editing and writing was admirable, but still -- the connection with Microsoft's products, vision and former leader and founder was small and light at best. Where was Microsoft going with this? Was the company trying to re-invent Seinfeld's own award-winning sitcom that aired on NBC until 1998? Who knows? Throughout both commercials, though, Microsoft was generating a buzz. Although much of the best-covered buzz was negative.

Although there are reports that Microsoft is "dumping Seinfeld," perhaps he was just a way to generate initial buzz about Microsoft's campaign to position Windows Vista and other Microsoft products as helpful lifestyle tools. Although the company says that a move away from the Seinfeld-Gates shtick was a planned move, maybe it was and maybe it wasn't. Regardless, Microsoft does have an enormous challenge to really get consumers convinced that a Windows PC can be just as cool as an Apple PC. Maybe a rotation of stand-up comics throughout its spots could do the trick.

Microsoft's "Seinfeld/Gates" ads were good, but not good enough originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) was seen as a monopolist in the 1990s, governments all over the world hit it with antitrust lawsuits. The world's largest software company saw its kingdom under attack even as it continued selling operating system software (and later, internet browsers) to all the world's PC manufacturers.

Microsoft is still the king when it comes to software these days, but an old nemesis, Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is shaping up to become the next monopolist in the PC technology arena.

Apple's iPod/iTunes ecosystem could be called a monopoly. It commands the lion's share of the digital music player and downloading market and customers just can't stop buying the hardware and software. Does that make Apple a monopolist? After all, by some measures, Apple's market share is now larger than Wall Street darling Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG). Does Apple's 11% share of the PC market make it a monopolist? Does this smaller market share even suggest that? On the surface, no. But Apple's influence extends way beyond that hardware market share figure. Its control of entire market segments would suggest Apple may resemble what Microsoft looked like 10 years ago.

Continue reading Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft (MSFT): A monopolist role reversal?

Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft (MSFT): A monopolist role reversal? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) will be building its fourth data center in Des Moines, Iowa at a cost of $500 million, the software maker said yesterday. The reasons give for Iowa as the site for such a large project were tax breaks as well as low energy costs. The data center will be located on a 42-acre plot of land just outside Des Moines. Fifty to 75 workers are expected at the new data center, with an average salary of $70,000 annually.

Microsoft must think adding large data centers will help its online efforts compete against Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG). Perhaps the company is right -- because right now, no company can touch Google's online search market. However, there are more Microsoft Hotmail and Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) Mail users than Google Gmail users. Google's market share lead doesn't extend into all its online product offerings, but don't think for a second that the Mountain View-based company doesn't want to steal as many users away from Microsoft's Hotmail as possible -- plus grab customers of other Microsoft online services.

The new data center will take a year to 18 months to compete, although company officials were mum on how many servers would reside there, as the company is still designing the data center. It did say that its data center servers would be contained in shipping containers instead of the standard server rack to allow more transport and setup flexibility. The state of Iowa is expected to give combined tax breaks to Ole' Softie of about $3 million per year. Not to be outdone, though, Google is building a $600 million data center just 122 miles west of Des Moines. At last, two of the largest forces in computing will be neighbors soon.

Microsoft to open $400 million data center in Iowa originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A week from today, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) will no longer allow computer manufacturers to sell Windows XP.

That's right, "Ole Softie" is basically stating that new PCs must come with a flavor of Windows Vista. Although Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) will let customers keep a pre-installed version of Windows XP for a fee, the general consensus is that if you want a new PC with Windows XP on it from the factory, you better order it this week.

Windows XP will still be available from those generic "beige box" system builders until January of next year, so all is not lost. But from major computer manufacturers, it's gone next week.

Windows Vista has gotten a ton of bad press in the last year though hundreds of millions of the system have shipped already thanks to it coming pre-loaded on desktop and laptop PCs from all the leading PC makers. Still, there are some "keep it simple stupid" customers that have written off Windows Vista as being a slothy hog of an operating system and only want Windows XP on that daily-driver PC that may be a few years old, but works perfectly and is very stable.

Moral of the story -- if you've been waiting to order that new laptop with pre-installed Windows XP get that order in now or get ready to use Windows Vista.

Microsoft's Windows XP going away after June 30 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>inthenewsMicrosoft Corp.Microsoft Windows VistaMicrosoftCorp.MicrosoftWindowsVistamsftWindows XPWindows XP dateWindowsXpWindowsXpDateMon, 23 Jun 2008 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's Tellme launches voice-guided movie search with Fandango]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/24/microsofts-tellme-launches-voice-guided-movie-search-with-fanda/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/24/microsofts-tellme-launches-voice-guided-movie-search-with-fanda/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/24/microsofts-tellme-launches-voice-guided-movie-search-with-fanda/#commentsFiled under: ,

Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Tellme Networks launched a new service this week geared at mobile phone users who would like to purchase movie tickets from their handsets -- using only their voices. Partnering with movie web site Fandango, Tellme announced that the new service would allow movie information, playing times, driving directions and even ticket purchases to be accessed by pressing only a single button on a cellphone and then using voice commands. This is the first really useful customer product that has come out of the Tellme acquisition, and it looks to be a decent one -- but it's curious that a Microsoft product will work first on BlackBerry devices -- one of its heaviest mobile competitors.

From a customer adoption perspective, this sounds fantastic. The mobile carriers in the U.S. have no clue how hard they've made the standard cellphone to use. Packing so many functions into a standard phone these days makes them a jack of all trades but master of none. Try going to a regular web site on your phone's web browser, if you can find out how to even get to the web browser, for example.

As said previously, the Tellme/Fandango product will initially be available on BlackBerry handsets and devices and will utilize GPS technology inside these handsets to determine where customers are calling from in order to provide the customized, voice-guided movie information and ticket-purchasing experience. This appears to be a perfect solution to give cellphone subscribers a foolproof and easy way to access services without having to use complex cellphone menus, browsers and other tools. The partnership said the voice-movie service would become available in GPS-enabled cars soon as well.

Microsoft's Tellme launches voice-guided movie search with Fandango originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FandangomicrosoftMicrosoft Corp.MicrosoftCorp.MSFTTellme NetworksTellmeNetworksThu, 24 Apr 2008 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple's assault on Microsoft's core business]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/14/apples-assault-on-microsofts-core-business/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/14/apples-assault-on-microsofts-core-business/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/14/apples-assault-on-microsofts-core-business/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has really never been down for the count as a company, although it's been on hiatus a couple of times in its 30 plus year history. Never before has the company seen such product and financial success, though, than in the 2001-current period. Under current CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs, the company is a force in the entertainment business along with ramping up its fortunes in the PC business where it started. We won't even mention the hardware business (iPod, iPhone).

But the one elusive crown that Jobs would probably love to see shift to his company is the operating system used by PC customers. Now that current Macintosh computers can run Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows Vista (or XP) operating system, is Jobs slyly trying to wrestle the operating system of choice crown from his longtime competitor? After all, a Macintosh customer can switch between a full Mac OS (operating system) on his or her PC and Microsoft's Windows with a keyboard press. Use one OS for work-related things and another for -- everything else. Guess which is which? And don't think that's just what Jobs envisions when he's made every single Mac computer being sold capable of running Microsoft's Windows. Perhaps he's trying to win a long war with Microsoft on the basis of Apple's cooler-than-cool hardware rather than software?

Continue reading Apple's assault on Microsoft's core business

Apple's assault on Microsoft's core business originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AAPLappleApple Mac OSAppleMacOsInc.inthenewsMicrosoft Corp.Microsoft WindowsMicrosoftCorp.MicrosoftWindowsMSFTWindows VistaWindowsVistaMon, 14 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's main Windows Vista blogger leaves the company]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/03/microsofts-main-windows-vista-blogger-leaves-the-company/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/03/microsofts-main-windows-vista-blogger-leaves-the-company/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/03/microsofts-main-windows-vista-blogger-leaves-the-company/#commentsFiled under: ,

Blogging is content that gets niche (and profitable) audiences to the doorstep of business's sites. It's no surprise that large companies have blogging staffs to communicate with customers these days. It's also great to see unfiltered voices step beyond the chokehold of marketing and PR departments to give a true voice to companies. Trust me, customers can tell the difference between a self-serving blog and a genuine one.

Software giant Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) just lost its main blogger who covered its flagship software product -- Windows Vista. Nick White said this week that "I want to share with you the bittersweet news that I am moving on to a role outside Microsoft" in order to join blog-centric company BuzzCorps. White will be replaced by Windows communications director Christopher Flores. Note to Flores: be honest with your audience and don't become a simple mouthpiece for Windows Vista, Share in the joys and disappointments both. Become a Microsoft outsider.

Does this mean that Microsoft still doesn't understand how to retain someone in a Web 2.0 role? Hardly, but the company is, by all measures, late to the game in a changing web world -- on multiple fronts. It's even poised to spend the largest amount ever for an acquisition if buying Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) ever comes to pass. Until then, its needs a central "all things Vista" representative -- something that can't be an easy task to accomplish.

Microsoft's main Windows Vista blogger leaves the company originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftMicrosoft bloggerMicrosoft Corp.MicrosoftBloggerMicrosoftCorp.MSFTThu, 03 Apr 2008 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's Liddell the architect of Microsoft's acquisition spree?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/12/microsofts-liddell-the-architect-of-microsofts-acquisition-spr/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/12/microsofts-liddell-the-architect-of-microsofts-acquisition-spr/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/12/microsofts-liddell-the-architect-of-microsofts-acquisition-spr/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Was the hiring of New Zealander Chris Liddell a strange choice for Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ: MSFT) CFO post back in 2005? By all accounts, it was. Liddell's background in the paper industry seemed odd as a preparation for leading the finances of the world's largest software company. But, Liddell has proven quite the dealmaker since taking over his post from former CFO John Connors.

He's engineered more than 50 deals since acquiring his post and he's managed to loosen the purse strings from a notoriously stingy company. Microsoft, after all, had over $30 billion in cash at one time and just didn't seem to ever spend it. It even tried to start buying back up to $30 billion in its own shares back in 2004 -- but too many shareholders wanted to hold onto their Microsoft holdings. But, was it Liddell's idea to use about all of Microsoft's cash hoard in offering a money/share split for the recent $44 billion bid for Yahoo!?

The company just this weekend Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) told Microsoft that its bid was just too low. For a company with consistently lowered profits in the last fiscal year, Yahoo! sure has a big head on its shoulders. Should Liddell's idea to have the software giant actually -- gasp -- issue debt be a wise move if its play for Yahoo! moves forward? At the rate Microsoft generates free cash flow, it's not a bad idea.

Say what you will about Old Softie, but the company commands hefty, growing sales every quarter. Liddell's quiet aggressiveness in using acquisitions to drive growth instead of waiting for organic growth is commendable, and it's required. Competitor Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) won't slow down, and Microsoft needs a financially savvy CFO like Liddell to get the company into quick-react mode against all the web-based competition that has now arrived.

[The author holds a long position in MSFT]

Microsoft's Liddell the architect of Microsoft's acquisition spree? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chrios LiddellChriosLiddellMicrosoftMicrosoft Corp.MicrosoftCorp.MSFTTue, 12 Feb 2008 11:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft studies subconscious, trying to be ahead of Google, Apple]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/18/microsoft-studies-subconscious-trying-to-be-ahead-google-apple/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/18/microsoft-studies-subconscious-trying-to-be-ahead-google-apple/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/18/microsoft-studies-subconscious-trying-to-be-ahead-google-apple/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Is Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) becoming desperate when it wants to study consumer brain patterns to find out why its competitors are so successful? Microsoft Research wants to expand its presence in 'brain-computer interfaces' for its coming push into natural computer interfaces that will someday replace keyboards and mice. Of course, Ole' Softie has been talking about speech recognition for what seems like an eternity. So far, it has barely taken off in the consumer marketplace from what I have seen. Does anyone you now interact with their PC using mostly voice commands?

Microsoft competitor Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) made the computer mouse popular nearly three decades ago to really jump-start user interaction with PCs, and added 'multi-touch' to 2007's iPhone to again invent another way of computer interaction. What else is coming down the road? Whatever it is, Microsoft wants to be there first this time. The world's largest software maker seems to be honing in on reading a customer's mind to enable PC interaction. Science fiction? So far, yes -- but possibly not for long.

Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), whose internet search engine finds results to customer queries in what seems like perfect fashion, isn't staying back from this field either. Although Google is keeping mum on its ambitions to connect the human mind with a computer system or interface, it continues honing its artificial intelligence systems that power those instant search results millions of times an hour around the world. Google, though, is famous for keeping things under wraps until a release date is imminent. I guess we'll have to wait and see which is first, if any.

[The author holds a long position in MSFT]

Microsoft studies subconscious, trying to be ahead of Google, Apple originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AAPLApple, IncApple,IncGOOGGoogle, Inc.Google,Inc.Microsoft Corp.Microsoft marketingMicrosoft subconsciousMicrosoftCorp.MicrosoftMarketingMicrosoftSubconsciousMSFTFri, 18 Jan 2008 14:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft releases new tools for online advertisers]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/04/microsoft-releases-new-tools-for-online-advertisers/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/04/microsoft-releases-new-tools-for-online-advertisers/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/04/microsoft-releases-new-tools-for-online-advertisers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) will be rolling out new tools and services soon to encourage more internet advertisers and producers to create better online ad campaigns, the software giant said this week. Naturally, the new tools will work with Microsoft's adCenter and Live Search environments. With competitor Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) collecting the lion's share of online advertising revenue, will these newer tools make a dent in that empire?

Perhaps a little. Nothing new here -- Google and Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO) tools are designed to work with their own search engines and related properties as part of an advertising customer recruitment and retention strategy. But, from looking at these tools, I'd hardly call them revolutionary.

One of the newer tools, which is being described as an "adCenter Add-in for Excel 2007," allows search ad customers to research the effectiveness of ad keywords by reach and targeting efficacy. If this just imports adCenter data into Excel, then this is a non-product. If the product imports adCenter data into Excel and performs a huge massaging of data to give specific suggestions to the Excel-using adCenter customer, then this is a good thing.

But it will take more than that for Microsoft to burst through the 10.3% market share stat it gleaned in September, compared to 57% for Google.

[Disclosure: I own MSFT shares as of 12-4-07]

Microsoft releases new tools for online advertisers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingGOOGGooglemarket shareMarketShareMicrosoft AdCenterMicrosoft Corp.MicrosoftAdcenterMicrosoftCorp.MSFTTue, 04 Dec 2007 16:01:00 EST