Re:CNN Money: Microsoft is a Dying Consumer Brand
by fragmede on Wednesday October 27, 2010 @01:10PM
(#1839487)
Ubiquitous web means fewer end-user sales of Windows and Office. End-users don't buy Windows, it just happens to come with their computer.
End-user sales of Office may well decline, but if there were a good online version, Microsoft could sell two versions. A cloud-based, subscription version for smaller businesses, hosted by Microsoft. The second version would be a for larger corporations that want to host their own.
For a large corporation, licensing could then be simplified to some fashion of a site-license; the cost of upgrading ALL computers would be simplified.
Note that I'm NOT suggesting that Microsoft give up on a fat client for office, just that there's room for Microsoft needs to pivot if they wanted to, but that's easier said than done.
End-user sales of Office may well decline, but if there were a good online version, Microsoft could sell two versions. A cloud-based, subscription version for smaller businesses, hosted by Microsoft. The second version would be a for larger corporations that want to host their own.
For a large corporation, licensing could then be simplified to some fashion of a site-license; the cost of upgrading ALL computers would be simplified.
Note that I'm NOT suggesting that Microsoft give up on a fat client for office, just that there's room for Microsoft needs to pivot if they wanted to, but that's easier said than done.