I see IBM are now jumping into the free Office software arena by launching IBM Lotus Symphony.
IBM Lotus Symphony is a free download from the IBM site (registration required).
Up until now, Microsoft’s competition in this space has come from OpenOffice and Google - neither of whom have a strong track record in the Enterprise Office space! The entry of IBM into this space is game changing.
As well as making Symphony free for download, IBM are also committing 35 developers to the OpenOffice development project. Again conferring the the IBM seal of approval on OpenOffice suddenly marks it up for serious consideration by larger companies.
Seen in light of these recent announcements, Microsoft’s recent move to capture the student market for Office begins to have an air of desperation about it!
I have written about Microsoft’s Silverlight environment several times since they debuted it at ReMix07.
For the end-user, it is a Flash-like plug-in which allows viewing of apps and media written specifically for it.
For the developer, Silverlight allows apps written in managed code to be delivered via a browser to Internet users in a platform agnostic manner.
It certainly changes what can be done with a browser and I have no doubt that Microsoft themselves will begin to use it to roll out Rich Intetnet Apps and try to regain some of the lost Internet space (Offlce Light, anyone?).
How do you find out more about Silverlight? Well, Fergal Breen of IrishDev is hosting a SilverLight event in Dublin next week (Thursday Sept 27th in the Cineworld Complex, Parnell Street, Dublin):
Martha Rotter, from the original Silverlight crew, invites you to witness how Silverlight can light up the web with Rich Interactive Applications
The event looks interesting and is free (!).
Registration is required.
I heard the breaking news on RTE this morning that the EU upheld the decision that Microsoft abused its dominant position to “freeze out rivals in server and software products”.
At the end of the audio report, RTE’s Europe correspondant Sean Whelan added that Microsoft may appeal this decision.
What is amazing to me about this is that the original finding against Microsoft came in 2004. After a five year investigation. So, we have Microsoft abusing its position to crush rivals, a five year investigation resulting in a decision against Microsoft, an appeal, three years later the decision against Microsoft re-affirmed and now the chance of another appeal?
I’m far from familiar with all the ins and outs of this process but eight years after the investigation started, with two decisions against them, they may appeal again? How much longer is this process going to take to reach a conclusion?
I wouldn’t like to be one of the affected companies looking for justice.
Update I see Dennis Howlett has written this up too and the BBC are now covering it as well.
I see that, according to InsideMicrosoft, Microsoft are offering Office 2007 Ultimate 2007 to students for $60!
According to the Microsoft press release the
limited-time promotion for college students starting today in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and starting Sept. 20 in Spain, Italy and France
No word on when, or indeed if, this promotion will be rolled out in Ireland.
Roping students in is potentially a clever tactic - the thinking being that they will get hooked on Office and remain loyal to it as a piece of software long after having left their studies. It costs Microsoft very little to do this as the cost to Microsoft of a copy of Office is essentially just the cost of the media (it is not clear if the $60 includes tax and shipping).
With credible, free alternatives like OpenOffice, Google Docs and Spreadsheets and Zoho office Microsoft really need to win hearts and minds.
Even if Microsoft succeed in getting students to buy-in to Office Ultimate, it is painless to leave Office because the alternatives are free! With that in mind, even $60 seems a lot to ask - Microsoft are going to have to change their business model eventually.
I wrote a post a few weeks ago about how slow Microsoft’s Support people were in getting back to me to resolve an issue I have with Windows Live OneCare.
The other day they sent me an email which said:
Case Reference Number: 1039327169
Dear Mr.Raftery,
Unfortunately we have been unsuccessful in resolving your issue at this time; therefore I can confirm I am closing this case as unresolved.
I’m sorry, what? That’s it?
Microsoft are just giving up?
Windows Live OneCare is such a piece of junk that Microsoft themselves can’t even support it?
This doesn’t auger well for the rest of their Windows Live offerings.
Incredible.
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