Can Microsoft ascend into the cloud? (the level of resistance likely to be encountered by Microsoft from its customers as it prepares to launch its “triple play” strategy)

Article Type: Abstracts From: Strategic Direction, Volume 27, Issue 8

Mohammed A.Computer Weekly, February 2011, Start page: 16, No. of pages: 2

Assesses the level of resistance likely to be encountered by Microsoft Corporation from its customers as it prepares to launch its “triple play”strategy, involving Windows 7, Internet Explorer 9, and Office 2010. Bears in mind that there has been considerable fatigue among Microsoft’s customers over the years as most businesses only want a stable and uniform IT system that works and care little for a continuing series of operating system upgrades that leave organizations with Microsoft applications having differing levels of integration and functionality, making the IT infrastructure costly to maintain. Notes that IT analysts believe that Microsoft may be faced with a tough job in selling the new upgrades since many enterprises have settled on Windows XP and do not want to face the pain of another operating system and Office upgrade in a hurry. Argues that workers who have been using a particular version of Microsoft Office for up to ten years could become less productive if they have to learn how to use Office 2010’s new user interface and features.Article type: ViewpointISSN: 0010-4787Reference: 40AG526

Keywords: Communications technology, Communications technology, Operating systems, Organizations