Re:Microsoft, capitulation and the end of Windows Everywhere
by mythz on Tuesday July 28, 2015 @08:19PM
(#9965512)
The "Big 4" Technology Companies: Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon all have their primary business models around targeting consumers of which the trend is that more of them are turning towards using Internet-capable mobile devices as their preferred computing device. This isn't a hypothetical trend far off into the future, Apple is already the largest company in the world because of its success and focus on non-PC devices.
This is why Devices vs PC Market share is very relevant for gauging Company trajectories, the gateway to consumers is moving "Post-PC" to Internet Devices where those with business models that benefit from a strong mobile presence are set to prosper in future.
With Microsoft's flailing Windows Phone and Surface their grip on consumer mind-share is steadily declining, they've still got Office to target end-users but even this is focused on Business users whilst Xbox and Minecraft targets gamers. Skype's a popular App that they may be able to do something with, but ultimately it's just an App on a much larger Mobile ecosystem.
Their Azure cloud platform does benefit from Companies hosting their Mobile Web Service on Azure and Windows/SQL Server Licenses so they'll have a healthy income for many years to come, but unless they have a prosperous mobile strategy they're going to miss the next lucrative computing platform which will affect their mindshare with Consumers and overall growth vs the Big 4.
This is why Devices vs PC Market share is very relevant for gauging Company trajectories, the gateway to consumers is moving "Post-PC" to Internet Devices where those with business models that benefit from a strong mobile presence are set to prosper in future.
With Microsoft's flailing Windows Phone and Surface their grip on consumer mind-share is steadily declining, they've still got Office to target end-users but even this is focused on Business users whilst Xbox and Minecraft targets gamers. Skype's a popular App that they may be able to do something with, but ultimately it's just an App on a much larger Mobile ecosystem.
Their Azure cloud platform does benefit from Companies hosting their Mobile Web Service on Azure and Windows/SQL Server Licenses so they'll have a healthy income for many years to come, but unless they have a prosperous mobile strategy they're going to miss the next lucrative computing platform which will affect their mindshare with Consumers and overall growth vs the Big 4.