In what can only be described as a rather flattering move, Microsoft’s latest version of its Office suite incorporates versions of Google’s own applications.
I’m not sure what to make of this as Microsoft, in the past, has been scathing over web-based email and other software. Yet, the company had to relent and develop its own cloud suite – Office 365. Unfortunately, the latter has so far found little positive response from businesses. Worse, companies and organisations that would naturally move to Microsoft have switched to Google.
So, while Google will be cock-a-hoop over this announcement by Microsoft, I’m not sure that it will stem the tide. Moreover, if Microsoft Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Turner’s, recent comment to foxnews.com and vendors in Toronto is anything to go by, the software giant is rattled. Referring to Office 365, Kevin Turner said this “is our collective future and make no mistake Google is out there pitching our customers.”
In fact, Microsoft has also accused Google of stealing its customers. While publicly, the giant is dismissive of Google’s pretensions to be the dominant cloud company, management at Microsoft are angry. What’s more, they appear to be so angry they have resorted to using cut-price strategies to keep their current customers and stop them from switching. They have even increased commissions to its own resellers.
Furthermore, the company has instituted what’s been called a “Google Complete Team,” the aim of which is to persuade people to avoid Google at all costs.
Is all this simply a sign of desperation?
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