Ballmer Teases Software-Plus-Services in '07

Robert writes with a link to a CBR article hinting that Microsoft's vision of software-plus-services may begin to form this year. The idea is that an online version of Windows, plus a 'cloud' of related services and collaboration software, will allow a user to access their content from anywhere and (theoretically) be more productive. "In broad strokes, that vision is to build a set of services for servers, clients and mobile devices in the Internet cloud, with a new model of computation and user interface. Ballmer seemed to suggest the first of these services would launch, in some form, later this year. Underpinning these services would be a "cloud platform," which is the Windows Live Core architecture the company is working on. 'We are in the process today of building out a service platform in the cloud,' Ballmer said. 'We're building out a service-based infrastructure, not server by server but a new management model, a new device model, new storage, networking, computational model from the get-go.'"

Super-sharepoint?

[RManning]

We're starting to see the beginings of this concept with Sharepoint 2007. Somehow, at least at my job, this idea of easy, integrated unstructured content sharing has become a big deal. Our users don't seem to care, but the big-wigs writing the checks do. Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how they pull this off.

Re:You mean like - .Mac?

[johnalex]

Actually, Apple's .Mac utilities certainly work on other operating systems. You can store your documents on your iDisk and then access your documents from any machine with the iDisk utilities installed. This includes your Windows machine at work, if you're not blessed to use a Mac both places.

 

Catching Open Source again?

[zdzichu]

Just scroll bit down to GNOME Online Desktop [ometer.com]. Open Source desktop guys are talking about this idea for a long time. They want to build interface with contacts list as central place. People (online presences) are to become major pivot point. Telepathy, Galago, Decibel, KIMProxy gave application access to uniform online connectivity and presence information.
Additionally, projects like Stateless Linux break ties between user's documents and his computer. User's desktop moves with him when changing laptops etc.
They even built ,,aggregator for popular online sites and social notworking websites'' -- check Mugshot [mugshot.org].

One and ONLY one reason for this scheme

[macraig]

There's one, and only one, reason why Microsoft is hyping this: it's the next big push to acclimate the world to software as a subscription service. They're salivating over the prospect of being able to collect from you every month, just like Comcast does, and to the same degree of excess and (even more) obscene profit. They want to reeducate you to think of software as "content".

If you think Microsoft has made a lot of money selling one-time software licenses, just wait until they've got people accustomed to paying them every month. You ain't seen nuthin' yet.

This is one of those turnkey moments in history, folks. Either we plant our feet solidly and draw a line, or lose the whole farm as Microsoft convinces all the neighbors to sell out.

Uneasiness...

[catdevnull]

I'm not trying to bash Microsoft, but they don't exactly have the best reputation in the realm of security.

I would be VERY hesitant to use a MS service that allows access to "all of my content" using a nebulous array of servers. I certainly wouldn't want to be an early adopter of this technology until they can prove a secure track record--especially given the problems with their current product lines.

Even if a miraculous thing happens and the "Live Core" thing ends up being pretty secure, my biggest problem with this technology is its reliance on networking. If a second miracle happens and the quality, quantity, and ubiquity of broadband networking over the air and standard transmisson media gets to a point where it is reliable and affordable then we might be looking at a viable useable service.

As it stands today, MS's security holes and the limited reliability/availablity of current broadband services keep Steve's Live Core dream in the lab.

QuickBooks Example

[alohatiger]

Intuit offers QuickBooks as a web application. It's a great idea (although it relies on ActiveX + IE) and worth paying the monthly fee. We could access it from anywhere and the accountant could get into the data without coming to our office. For us, it was much better than the normal locally installed software.

Lots of apps (SalesForce.com, TaxCut, etc.) will benefit from this model.

Re:Heh. Seen this before.

[Knitebane]

I see you worked for International Network Services too.

Re:QuickBooks Example

[Anonymous Coward]

It's a terrible fucking idea!

What's so difficult about adding an 'accountant export' function to the software to be able to e-mail the data that the accountant needs (meaning read-only access of the data that he/she is supposed to see)? I'll tell you, nothing! Web access is just as easy to solve by including an application server with the software for local installation. These problems have been solved for years now.
Problem is, the old tricks doesn't let them suck their users dry by renting the software to them, that's the *innovative* part of this scheme.

And you're buying into it, unbelievable.