GMGC movement continued
This seems a more likely reason for the gain, Microsoft has put a lot of money into General Magic.
Gates will kick off the CES show Wednesday night
Gates is expected to introduce a new version of The Microsoft Network's mobile operating system, which will allow users to get e-mail from cell phones. Gates' primary
focus, though, will be on trying to sell electronics manufacturers on his vision of interconnected VCRs, stereos, cell phones and appliances - all connected to the Internet and managed through the PC.
"This is a new class of software and a new way of connecting people to the information they need," said Craig Mundie, group vice president for consumer strategy at Microsoft.
"The Microsoft home, which Bill will discuss, is basically how a home would look with all
of these interconnected devices."
The rhetoric isn't new, but the approach is far different from Microsoft's past efforts.
Microsoft's consumer electronics software, running on the Windows CE operating system,
was considered too bulky and required too much battery power on portable devices.
Critics said Windows CE, which looked and felt like Microsoft's larger PC operating
systems, tried to do too much, but accomplished little. Sales of handheld computers
running CE lag far behind those of the leading manufacturer, Palm Computing.
The company's consumer Web strategy was even less successful. The Microsoft Network
was originally designed as a competitor to America Online. But while AOL has 20 million
members today, MSN has a little less than 3 million. Meanwhile, only a few of MSN's
multitude of Web sites, such as Expedia.com's travel service and the MSNBC news site,
have prospered.
Today, MSN is designed to provide Internet access not just to PC users, but to users of
interactive TV set-top boxes, to cell phone users, to voice-activated computers inside cars
- the list goes on. By linking a wide variety of devices to MSN, they will have a common
communications channel, Chase said. Through instant messaging and e-mail, they will have
a common language.
The latest MSN Mobile software will allow users to send e-mail, get news and even trade
stocks from their cell phone. While other cell phones have that capability, MSN's system
features a connection to the Hotmail e-mail system, which lets users check a single e-mail
account for all of their devices.
For example, instructions could be sent from a cell phone, through the PC, to an appliance
in the home. Stocks could be traded from an AutoPC, Microsoft's entry into the
automotive market, and the results could be read at home on an easy-to-use "Web
companion" device.
Gates will kick off the CES show Wednesday night, while Mundie will speak Thursday to
outline how Microsoft and its partners plan to launch this new strategy.
news.excite.com
GMGC's mytalk is perfect for this system:
The myTalk service makes it easy for anyone to stay connected with family, friends and colleagues. The free email, voicemail and ``quick call' feature -- free two-minute calls anywhere in the U.S. are accessed from a toll-free number. When a computer is available, email and voicemail messages can be checked from the www.mytalk.com Web site. The service also offers pager alerts for important messages and the ability to forward email from compatible email accounts into myTalk so those messages can also be heard over the phone.
Members don't have to push buttons or memorize commands while on the phone with myTalk; they just have to talk. Because of General Magic's unique voice technology, called magicTalk(TM), members are able to interact with the service as if they were speaking with a friend. The service's intelligent voice personality listens, responds back, and follows members' commands, all with a pleasant and helpful attitude.
To perform tasks while on the phone with myTalk, for example, members can say, ``Play it, please,' ``Send a reply,' or ``Dial a number.' The service responds back with comments such as ``Got it. Your message has been sent.' To hear a myTalk audio demo, click on generalmagic.com;
Long GMGC Sye |
