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Microsoft Image Not Tarnished - Studies
Bill Pietrucha, Newsbytes
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11/25/97
Newsbytes News Network
(c) Copyright 1997 Newsbytes News Network, LLC. All rights reserved.
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WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1997 NOV 25 (NB). The US Justice Department, Ralph Nader and lawsuits alleging monopolistic practices notwithstanding, Microsoft Corp. [NASDAQ:MSFT] and the free market both appear to be weathering the storms pretty well, according to a pair of recent polls. Microsoft is seen as the most admired company in the US; while the free market, and not government regulation, should be the arbiter of what goes into computer programs, the surveys said.
The most recent poll, conducted by the polling firms of Peter D. Hart and Robert Teeter, found that Microsoft is the most admired company in one of the most admired industries in America. When the public was asked to volunteer, without being prompted, the names of one or two companies they respect and admire, Microsoft was named by 25 percent, Hart-Teeter said. IBM and General Motors were next at 16 percent, followed by AT&T and Wal-Mart at 15 percent.
Although the Hart-Teeter poll, which took place over a three day period between November 7 and 9, was commissioned by Microsoft, the embattled company also can rely on an independent survey taken by Louis Harris and Associates, released October 6, 1997 and conducted by telephone between September 9 and 15, 1997.
The Harris poll came to the same conclusions as the Hart-Teeter study, finding that a random sample of 1,011 adults said that Microsoft is the top dog among Americans.
When asked "if you had to pick two major companies that you think are really good companies, which would you name," Louis Harris Chairman and CEO Humphrey Taylor said the Harris poll respondents pushed Microsoft into first place this year, toppling AT&T to fourth place from its first place standing the last two years. Microsoft placed fourth in 1995 and 1996 and eighth in 1994.
IBM remained in second place in the Harris poll, as it did over the past two years, followed by General Motors.
Other high technology companies placing in the Harris poll top 20 included Intel, which finished out of the top twenty last year, in 9th place; Hewlett Packard in 13th place, making the top 20 for the first time; and Apple, which dropped over the last three years from 9th place to 12th place to 16th place this year. The Harris poll has a margin of error of plus-or-minus three percent.
Microsoft spokesperson Greg Shaw told Newsbytes that "even more relevant" than Microsoft's first place finish is the attitude of consumers toward the marketplace.
Referring to the Hart-Teeter survey, Shaw said, "Most of the discussions about Microsoft have been about our violating the rights of consumers, who appear to support the way the market is working," Shaw told Newsbytes. "The laws are in place to protect the consumers, and not three or four of our competitors."
The Hart-Teeter survey, which could help Microsoft leverage public opinion further in its battle with Justice, also found that by a more than 4-1 ratio, Americans believe the marketplace, not government regulation, should determine what features go into computer software programs.
When asked who is best suited to determine what features should go into a computer software program, 70 percent of Americans surveyed said it's better left to the free market, compared to 15 percent who said government needs to regulate the selection.
Although 62 percent of the Hart-Teeter respondents believe that ensuring consumers have a choice of products is the responsibility of business, and not government, Americans aren't totally ready for a laissez-faire economy. By a 40 percent to 38 percent split, the respondents gave government the edge over the marketplace as to which group should set industry standards for businesses.
And by a five to two margin, or 48 percent to 19 percent, the Hart- teeter respondents said that government regulates too much, rather than too little, with 30 percent finding government regulating "about the right amount."
The survey also found that most Americans believe the software industry is doing an excellent job, both for them individually and for the US economy overall. Some 84 percent of the respondents feel computer software companies contribute to US economic growth, while 61 percent approve of the way computer software companies are doing their job, and only 16 percent disapprove.
"The public has very favorable feelings about Microsoft and is strongly supportive of the way Microsoft and the software industry are performing today," pollster Peter Hart said. "Importantly, Americans who follow this issue and use personal computers themselves are even more supportive of Microsoft and the industry."
"The public is discriminating about where business should be regulated and where business should get a green light from government," Bob Teeter added. "They clearly favor leaving up to software companies decisions about what belongs in software programs."
The poll, in fact, found that only 15 percent of the respondents said that government needs to regulate features of computer software programs, as opposed to 27 percent who want the government to regulate television programming, 40 percent content on the Internet, and 80 percent food safety.
Reported by Newsbytes News Network: newsbytes.com .
Press Contact: Greg Shaw, Microsoft, 425-936-0875 |
