Microsoft tries new tack with small firms
Microsoft tries new tack with small firms | Tech News on ZDNet: "Microsoft is expected to announce on Wednesday a renewed effort to target midsize companies with a specially tailored package of server software.
Code-named Centro, the midmarket server software will combine the Windows Server operating system, Exchange e-mail server as well as management tools. The package, based on the company's Longhorn version of Windows Server as well as the next release of its Exchange, code-named Exchange 12, isn't expected to arrive until 2007.
Microsoft will detail the new software at a conference for midsize firms being held at its Redmond, Wash., headquarters. Also at the event, Microsoft will launch a new online resource center and rebrand several of its Microsoft Business Solutions products under a new 'Dynamics' moniker.
Microsoft has been down this road before. The company has in the past attempted to crack into the software market populated by companies employing between 50 and 1,000 workers. The software giant's interest is understandable: There are roughly 1.4 million such firms worldwide, according to AMI-Partners, that are potential customers for Microsoft's new products. However, past efforts by Microsoft have not gone far enough, said Orlando Ayala, senior vice president of Microsoft's Small and Midmarket Solutions & Partner Group. He acknowledged that although the company has profited from small and midsize customers, it has not done enough work to get to know the needs of such businesses so that it can create more products tailored for them."
Code-named Centro, the midmarket server software will combine the Windows Server operating system, Exchange e-mail server as well as management tools. The package, based on the company's Longhorn version of Windows Server as well as the next release of its Exchange, code-named Exchange 12, isn't expected to arrive until 2007.
Microsoft will detail the new software at a conference for midsize firms being held at its Redmond, Wash., headquarters. Also at the event, Microsoft will launch a new online resource center and rebrand several of its Microsoft Business Solutions products under a new 'Dynamics' moniker.
Microsoft has been down this road before. The company has in the past attempted to crack into the software market populated by companies employing between 50 and 1,000 workers. The software giant's interest is understandable: There are roughly 1.4 million such firms worldwide, according to AMI-Partners, that are potential customers for Microsoft's new products. However, past efforts by Microsoft have not gone far enough, said Orlando Ayala, senior vice president of Microsoft's Small and Midmarket Solutions & Partner Group. He acknowledged that although the company has profited from small and midsize customers, it has not done enough work to get to know the needs of such businesses so that it can create more products tailored for them."
posted by Ben | 
|
<< Home