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Microsoft to release Windows for the cloud
But Ballmer wary of revealing detail,
By Jeremy Kirk, IDG news service
Published: 05:37 GMT, 02 October 08
Microsoft is set to introduce a new operating system that will help developers write Internet-based applications.
The company's CEO, Steve Ballmer, speaking in London said the product, which will be unveiled within a month, is being developed under the name of "Windows Cloud." However, Ballmer said that the operating would probably be introduced under a different name.
Cloud computing is a term often applied to programs that are presented in a web browser, but the actual computing is performed at a distant data centre.
Ballmer was short on details, saying more information would spoil the announcement. Windows Cloud is a separate project from Windows 7, the OS Microsoft is developing to succeed Windows Vista.
Companies such as Google and Salesforce.com have embraced the concept of delivering software over the Internet, as it can mean lower costs and less maintenance for those who use the applications.
Microsoft, which has built its fortunes on desktop-based software, has been anxious to show it also has plans for adapting its software for the Internet.
Ballmer was quick to point out that Microsoft doesn't envisage products such as the Office productivity suite to move entirely off desktop PCs and onto the Internet.
But Microsoft is working on a service that would let people do "light editing" of Office documents at places such as a public Internet kiosk, Ballmer said.
"That's all I can say on that," Ballmer said. "Otherwise, we have no drum-roll announcement in a month."
Microsoft is developing online components for many of its products such as its SharePoint collaboration software; the Exchange email server and its Dynamics Customer Relationship Management software, Ballmer said.
Microsoft calls its strategy "software plus services," where its core applications are augmented by web-based functionality.
Microsoft has been facing increasing pressure from Google, which offers a web-based productivity suite called Google Docs and Spreadsheets.
Ballmer was dismissive of Google, saying Docs and Spreadsheets has "relatively low usage" and that users want richer features in an office software package.
"We want software more powerful than software that runs in a browser," Ballmer said.
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Add your commentComments
T Jones | Published: 10:44 GMT, 30 October 2008
So far Microsoft has only been able to gain its position by getting their system onto new computers. To me their systems have always left a lot to be desired. Vista is a disappointment and well I guess we will have to wait and see. My Windows XP was trashed by an update from Microsoft. I am sending this message using Ubuntu and I will never go back. They would have to produce a miracle now to convince me of anything. Terry
Brian Catt | Published: 14:27 GMT, 02 October 2008
"Ballmer Talks Bollocks". No change there then. Most people never wanted and can't remember or use all that functionality. check the formatting on any Word document. Its usually rubbish. Microsoft is wet dream ware for techies who like to be superior. Mass use of IT on the web and corporate networks is mostly filling in forms or adding content to documents already designed by a process wonk elsewhere and the data is extracted to a data base far away on the Interweb. Little creation is needed or offered. That's the 90/10 of pervasive computing, Microsoft was for techies and the birds, still is. The computer will change, actually is morphing into an intelligent consumer device that doesn't need a nerd or constant intervention and updates to keep it running - at last. To see what this will look like try my 2005 spec on: http://www.eurochannel.org/blogs/The_Next_PC/The_Next_PC.html We have the technology, just not the will or effective anti trust enforcers - except Google.