Microsoft has noted that times are tough, and indicated revenue figures are flattening out (although there may be some hope in the Server and Tools Business). No real surprised there. Tough times call for prudent analysis. They’ve still been hiring, albeit at reduced rates, but are reducing budgets for the coming year.
This of course falls in line with what we’ve been seeing across the industry, and is especially hard hitting in the 20-29 year old age bracket. Graduates will be engaging in much more post-graduate study that normal – perhaps further education will be one of the few growth areas.
Whilst Microsoft will no doubt be struggling (like everyone else in IT) what remains to be seen is how the Software + Service play pans out. Will the $/user model get a sudden boost against the traditional big $ licensing costs.
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Hi Craig
stuff and am enjoying watching all the vendors play it out.
I always enjoy your posts, you write succinctly and to the point, leaving the reader wanting more, so off we go to find out more, such is the wonder of blogging and the web search. I’m fascinated by this SaaS/Software+Service/Azure/Client+Services (when will all the cutesy names end?!?
Your final remark about the $ per user licence model reminded me of a recent blog post highlighting Google’s Gmail SLAs and their "specious" claims of 99.9% uptime.
Google arguably are pioneering the SaaS model with Gmail for corporates such as the much publicised Macquarie University deal in 2007 (arguing that by not buying eg: MS Exchange and Outlook Client licences the TCO is lower for a web-based email solution yada yada)
The blog post I’m referring to is here: http://is.gd/cusW
The other news items about "cloud" email for the universities are here:
UNSW MS Exchange deal: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/UNSW-does-Microsoft-Exchange-deal/0,130061733,339293559,00.htm
Uni of Auckland NZ Google Apps deal: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/Largest-NZ-uni-picks-Google-Apps/0,130061733,339290511,00.htm
Macquarie Uni Google Apps deal:
http://www.pr.mq.edu.au/events/archive.asp?ItemID=3118
Can’t wait to see how this all pans out in 2009!
Cheers
Tony Hollingsworth
http://tonyhollingsworth.blogspot.com