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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DownSouth who wrote (12802)	11/30/1998 9:33:00 AM
From: ToySoldier	Respond to of 74651

Downsouth, I wont argue your point at all that IBM does install MSFT products. They sure do! IBM's services group will install whatever it takes - as long as the customer is happy and IBM makes money in putting it in. If they can promote and influence the sale of any other IBM product or service - they will, but they will also install their competitor's products. In fact, I cant think of a competitor's product that they either haven't installed, configured, or supported. Toy

To: DownSouth who wrote (12802)	11/30/1998 8:04:00 PM
From: t2	Respond to of 74651

The very nature of a services company is that it remain objective and product neutral. IBM implements MSFT product very often. The services company has one goal in mind--profitability from providing services. You are right they should be product neutral. If for example company ABC in the service business has a choice between two very similiar products (price and functionality), one from IBM and another from MSFT, unless the customer specifies IBM, would you not recommend the MSFT product. If you select IBM, are you not setting yourself up for lost revenue in the future, as the customer could go directly to IBM. IBM wants to get as much business as possible and who knows how big they want to be in the service business. I think they want it all. I am certain that if IBM was given the choice between IBM or MSFt software, they would pick their own. They would select MSFT software if their customer wants it. It is not only a matter of profit on the software selection, it is also wanting to create the standard or norm. Just look at MS OFFICE -- it is the standard. Let us see if anyone would even try to compete in this area. You had asked what I do. --I was an engineer and am now a bean counter.