The "State of the Union Address" I'D Like to See
In light of upcoming events…
Announcer: "Ladies and gentlemen, the leader of the free world's most influential software company, Bill Gates of Microsoft Corporation. Mr. Gates?"
Bill:
"Thank you. fellow citizens of the world, I come to you today to tell you that the state of Microsoft is strong and growing, but that we, our customers, and our partners face significant challenges. However, I am confident that together, we have both the strengths and the will necessary to face these challenges and to overcome them, to the benefit of us all.
"Key among these challenges is transforming Microsoft from a seller of bits on disks to a provider of dynamic, exciting, and profitable products and services, primarily online. I tell you now that Microsoft will make this transition successfully, in full partnership with its customers and business allies, and even in cooperation with our respected competitors, current and future.
"We are going to be joiners, not dividers. That means we are going to work earnestly and seriously with our respected industry colleagues to make and keep the OpenXML Formats standard truly open and compatible with other standards and products – including those that compete with us. We will not compete by exclusion, but will compete on our strengths – the ability to innovate based on three decades of learning about the user experience.
"The user experience is what will ultimately drive user satisfaction with and the business value of every IT investment. Microsoft likely knows more about this user experience than any other company on earth, and will use that knowledge to create and deliver great new applications and services. In addition, Microsoft will share this knowledge and experience with its partners, and through industry alliances and standards support, even with competitors. Specifically, Microsoft will begin immediately to incorporate into its enterprise offerings open, accessible features to enable and support user-centric, process-driven workflows and information sharing. We will basically 'BPM-enable' every document created with a Microsoft application, and ease and speed integration of incumbent BPM solutions with Microsoft applications and services."
"Similarly, we will strive to ensure that no user – nor device, nor operating environment – is 'left behind.' Instead, we will adopt and broaden what might be considered a two-tiered system of ubiquitous access. Microsoft online services will be fully functional and available to anyone who can get online, not just users of Windows or Internet Explorer. In addition, users of Microsoft Windows environments will have 'VIP' access to features and services to make the user experience consistent and seamless, even as users move from place to place or device to device.
Again, we will compete on our strengths, and deliver features and services that delight users, in ways that we and our business partners can translate into significant and sustained revenues. We believe that everything comes together online, and that we can leverage our historical strengths to create bridges between the past and the future. The "Windows in the cloud" metaphor popularized by my colleague and friend Ray Ozzie is, in this context, only the beginning.
Microsoft understands the burdens and responsibilities that come with its leadership position in the world of software, and the seriousness of the challenges facing us, our customers, and our partners. Whatever you may have thought of us in the past, rest assured, Microsoft faces the future eagerly, both excited and humbled by recent events and imminent opportunities. We invite and encourage everyone to work with us, to make us a better company, and to make the world a better, more connected and collegial place in which to work, play, and live. Thank you, and good night."
It's good to dream…your thoughts welcome, as always...
Michael Dortch has been an analyst, 'information entrepreneur,' speaker, and writer about IT and 'the real world" for the past 30 years. After almost 10 years at the Robert Frances Group (RFG), Michael begins a new position with Aberdeen Group in September.
Dennis Byron is an analyst with ebizQ, focusing on Open Source Software as well as Business Process Management technologies.
