"Microsoft's attempts to extend its influence from the desktop to wireless in the shape of its Windows CE, Pocket PC and 'Stinger' platforms as the greatest threat to its future."
MSFT Stinger Smartphones are a thread to Multimedia Mobile Systems (MMS). Note that albeit MSFT had been quiet in the first part of this year due to its problems with the DJ, it will re-start its plans to dominate the wireless landscape. Note that it had launched its Stinger Smartphone earlier this year and then it stopped.
Now with its purchase of 5% of Korea Telecom (and the Korean governerment want it to buy an additional 4.5%) and its alliance with Samsung, MSFT is a credible threat in the mobile data field.
Ben Waldman, MSFT vice president of the Mobile Devices Division, said: "...we fully expect phones to overtake PCs as the way users will access the Internet,"
Besides that MSFT already own content to send over mobile data; MSN, MSNBC and WebTV. Add to that it already has Internet Explorer Mobile, a micro browser adapted for hand terminals. All that is yet to be 'solidified' in the wireless camp.
Add to the above the fact that MSFT is the 'owner' of the Office.
Vodafone and Microsoft have launched Vodafone OfficeLive in the UK, the result of their collaboration in corporate mobile internet services.
OfficeLive will be a platform for Vodafone applications for corporate users, the first being Microsoft Outlook. Users with a WAP phone or PDA, for example, will be able to access e-mail.
The services are accessible via Vodafone’s GSM and GPRS network. The start of UK services this July will act as a testbed for rollout into other countries.
Firms will be charged a monthly fee, plus a GBP5 (E5.84) fee per user per month.
What all that has to say to you? The writing is in the wall for the fixed broadband. WLANs can, significantly drain traffic out of the wired LAN/WAN environment and port it to wireless.
Picture that: MSFT will create a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MNVO), buys excess capacity in bulk from spectrum owners and resell its contents over it. It may not be doing this by itself but jointly with, say, Virgin or Vizzazi, or Vivendi. |
