Microsoft opens up on Web strategy at Mix '07

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Although Microsoft clearly has a large number of customers, it is still working uphill when it comes to wooing Web entrepreneurs who build mashup applications, said Dave Cotter, chief marketing officer of Mpire, a Seattle-based start-up that has built a mashup e-commerce application. Most start-ups with venture backing tend to use open-source products to build the company's offerings, he said.

"You know the marketing and technology will be there--it'll work. The real issue is what is the compelling call to action for the developer? What's the killer offering that's going to win over that Web developer?" Cotter said.

Dynamic languages, such as PHP or JavaScript, have become popular choices for writing many Web 2.0 applications. They have become viable alternatives, particularly on the client side, to Java or Microsoft's .Net programming languages, such as C#.

Currently, Silverlight can run applications written in Microsoft's XAML and JavaScript. But at Mix, the company is expected to announce support for other dynamic languages.

The company is also expected to discuss plans for making dynamic languages work better with .Net. According to Mix session descriptions, the company will detail projects aimed at letting Asp.Net Web developers and other .Net programmers work with dynamic languages such as IronPython.

To appeal to non-programmers, Microsoft later in the year will offer more code samples and documentation aimed at letting technically savvy businesspeople build mashup applications, Moore said.

[t8]

In other words do what Google is doing

Microsoft made a lucrative business out of copying and stealing other people's stuff.

[J. Blow]

History lesson

Microsoft is working from a well-worn playbook. Its overall goal is to build an "ecosystem" of partners and developers who can build applications that tap into the company's online services and software.


So maybe Google is copying Microsoft? I think Microsoft has been using this strategy since way before Google was born.

[ppgreat]

The more things change

The Net should be about open standards. Once again, MS is trying
to lock in their offerings to the rest of their products. They may
make a few concessions for interoperability at Mix, but this is still
the same ol' Microsoft, despite Ray Ozzie's prescence attempting to
show it's different.

Stick with the open source stuff, Web 2.x developers!

[Serg_1]

MS

You can find this so-called "stealing" in any business. Perhaps, "adopting ideas" would be a better term ... There's not really much difference between Google and MS really - at the end of the day all what matters is if the company makes the money or not! They may differ in the ways that this goal is achieved yet the substance is still the same. Both MS and google make good products but this is all it is - just products or stuff.

[Commander_Spock]

Since....

... "There's not really much difference between Google and MS really..."; then how much difference is there between -- MS, GOOGLE and IBM (the Dancing Elephant)!

[Serg_1]

error

Saying that PHP and C# run on a client side is an error! Clearly, the author has a poor grasp on the web both in business and technological terms. CNET, don't you check your material before putting it on the site?
Cheers

[Serg_1]

error

Saying that PHP and C# run on a client side is an error! Clearly, the author has a poor grasp on the web both in business and technological terms. CNET, don't you check your material before putting it on the site?
Cheers

[Microsoft_Facts]

My prediction is, the world will reject this as with other MS on-line...

My prediction is, the world will reject this as it has with other MS on-line services.

I'm somewhat embarrassed that in the US here, supposedly an advanced society, we cling to legacy Microsoft technologies while the rest of the world advances in leaps and bounds ahead of us. As an IT professional I do my part delivering quality solutions that best fit the need. Inferior MS products and technologies are only used when my hands are tied because some other vendor uses non-standard MS technologies and I have to tie in to it. But I don't do so sliently. Do your part, pick just one MS product in your life and upgrade. Firefox instead of Insecure Exposer; Thunderbird instead of LookOut; etc. Stuck with "It doesn't work with..."? Than call that vendor and demand they fix it, don't just use a MS product because it is the short-term easy way out. Otherwise you are part of the problem, not the solution.

[suyts]

I disagree

Your premise is wrong. 95% of the world uses MS products. So just what is the standard? Who is supposed to work with whom? I, too, am a IT professional, my litmus test about what products can be install on my net is, "does it work with MS?" This is not because I have a wierd fixation for MS, it is simply because in order to do business with the rest of the world it has to be MS compatable. Plain and simple. The alternatives that you have listed are fine, for home use. I can't imagine how busy I'd be if I implemented those alternatives in the office. The thing is, I KNOW, that MS will be here 10 yrs. from now. Everyone knows how to use Outlook, Word, Excel(to a point), IE and ect. All I have to do is keep them safe while they do it. Its not a big chore if you do it right. :-)

[Microsoft_Facts]

You couldn't be more wrong.

Microsoft is a criminal entity. I won't even waste bytes elaborating, from the tone of your comment I don't think you could fathom the differences between Microsoft and any respectable IT company.

[Microsoft_Facts]

Ooops, last comment was meant as a reply to Serg_1 re: idols?

D'Oh!