Following a most amazing pre-keynote performance by Vince Mira, a 15-year-old with the voice of Johnny Cash without the gravel, Microsoft Chief Software Architect took the stage to update the software and services strategy, in the context of content, commerce and community, for company.
Vince Mira, the 15-year-old reincarnation of Johnny Cash
(Credit: Dan Farber)As News.com's Ina Fried chronicled in her play-by-play of the keynote, Ozzie offered carefully orchestrated nod to the bid for Yahoo. "I can say its [Yahoo] already added some interesting twists to what promises to be a really, really exciting year," he said.
He noted the huge growth coming in search and advertising (which Yahoo can help Microsoft could intercept) and reference the talented engineering resources that Yahoo would bring to Microsoft.
After getting the Yahoo question out of the way, he outlined the various initiatives across Microsoft to embrace the cloud via connected devices, entertainment, productivity, business and development. He didn't add much to what has already been said about Microsoft's quest to embrace and extend the cloud with its technologies as well as the standard protocols that enable the Web to be useful.
Ozzie did hint at a technology that will create a seamless mesh out of PCs and connected services via the Web. Ozzie said:
Just imagine the possibilities of unified application management across the device mesh, centralized, Web-based deployment of device-based applications. Imagine an app platform that's cognizant of all of your devices. Now, as it so happens, we've had a team at Microsoft working on this specific scenario for some time now, starting with the PC and focused on the question of how we might make life so much easier for individuals if we just brought together all your PCs into a seamless mesh, for users, for developers, using the Web as a hub.
Erick Schonfeld of TechCrunch found that Microsoft owns the Mesh.com URL, and it leads to a Windows Live ID sign-in page for a site that isn't Live.
Ray Ozzie on stage at Mix 2008
(Credit: Dan Farber)In the world of cloud and utility computing applications and the back end will need to be "refactored." for this new world. Apps will take advantage of the unique strengths of each device. New front end development skills will be required, Ozzie says, along with back-end technologies.
In closing he told the crowd of developers, "I'd like you to bet on us, and on the power of Internet and the magic of software across a world of devices." In other words, join the Silverlight, XAML revolution and become part of the Microsoft cloud.
Coming up this week, Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie will make one of his rare public appearances to give developers the latest word on the future of the Web and Microsoft software at the Mix '08 conference in Las Vegas.
Ozzie is heading up Microsoft's effort to embrace the Web as a platform, which started in October 2005, when Bill Gates fired off a memo to his executive staff and distinguished engineers with the following call to action:
"The next sea change is upon us. We must recognize this change as an opportunity to take our offerings to the next level, compete in a manner commensurate with our industry responsibilities, and utilize our assets and our broad reach to reshape our business for the benefit of the users of our products, our customers, our partners and ourselves."
More recently, in July 2007, Ozzie touted Microsoft's advantages versus others trying to harness the cloud for applications, namely Google:
"We are the only company with a platform DNA to viably delivery this kind of highly leveraged platform approach to services and we're certainly one of the few companies that has the financial capacity to capitalize on this sea change."
Microsoft is extremely focused on this sea change, but that doesn't mean that the company will unveil a set of Web applications that duplicate the functionality in the Microsoft Office cash cow as a way to compete with upstart Google Apps, as some have predicted.
At the Mix '07 event in April, Ozzie explained the thinking around a cloud-based Office suite:
"[Office Live] will progressively broaden...we have no specific announcements today. In my opening remarks, I laid out a design pattern and you will see it replicated through the offerings we do. You use a PC for what a PC is good for and look at the overall scenario, what is best for the PC and what in services as standalone or in conjunction with a PC or mobile device. In all of our products can use that pattern to extrapolate."
PC client software still plays a crucial role for Microsoft, and accounts for billions in revenue. As example of how Microsoft thinks about services, the company recently refreshed Office Live Workspace, which isn't a Web-based Office but a service that allows users to access, manage and share documents via a browser. Live Workspace does include a rudimentary Web-based word processor, Web Notes.
(Credit:
Microsoft)
Last time I checked in with Jeff Raikes, president of Microsoft's Business Division, he told me that the browser-based application space is extremely important to watch, but that there hasn't been a lot of demand for Microsoft Office in the cloud. That conversation was about a year ago.
What's clear is that Microsoft is taking a measured approach to moving into cloud, cognizant that client/server Office franchise is at stake. On the enterprise software front, Microsoft has deployed a multitenant "Dynamics CRM Live" service for customers.
As CNET News.com reporter Martin LaMonica and ZDNet blogger Mary Jo Foley reported, Microsoft plans to debut at the Mix conference some new hosted services, frameworks, protocols, and tools, as well as a Windows Live Quick Applications update, including a Windows Live Messenger Library that will let third-party software interoperate with Microsoft's IM network. In addition, Silverlight 2 will be a major highlight at the event.
Stay tuned for Mix coverage this week. Ina Fried and I will be on the scene.
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