Missing the Boat: Microsoft’s Online Services Shouldn’t be Clones
Posted by Mike Bijon December 09, 2005
I’m an IT manager by profession, and while Google has become “the ultimate IT answer guide” it irritates me that so few IT staffers actually document their fixes publicly so Google can make them available. Of course, several of my staff blog about video games and online poker on a daily basis, so maybe the problem is just a passion/work thing. When I have time I’ve been posting tech tips that should save anyone else in IT some time.
In a recent article I wrote about Windows Mobile 5.0 I’ve criticized the new OS and ActiveSync heavily for their problems - maybe I just have unrealistic expectations of the biggest software company in the world… I’ve also been playing with the Windows Live services and am disappointed - maybe I just have unrealistic expectations of the biggest software company in the world…
Microsoft really needs to sell to the needs of their current software users before they embrace and extend to the entertainment markets. For another $20 a year I’d love to do away with ActiveSync on the desktop and connect the PDA to a Windows Live account - though it will probably take another 2 years even though ActiveSync 4 already speaks TCP/IP. In the meantime, Microsoft is trying to figure out how to deliver enough value in their pseudo-Google services to bring in viewers to click their ads - and failing to deliver versions of Windows Mobile with all the fuctionality many users want.
Maybe a trackback to Scoble will at least help someone at Microsoft realize that they can actually make some money from this services thing if they stay focused small features that will sell to current Microsoft users. Then, if Microsoft still wants in on “the media thing” just buy out Sling in two years, assuming Apple hasn’t already done it better.
Mike Bijon: I work as senior technology manager and technologist for 
