Microsoft 'new phase' strategy leaked

A transcript of Bill Gates and Microsoft Technical Director pointed out that the company is facing great risks from the " online service wave " like Google and Research In Motion.

This note, published in the Wall Street Journal (USA), puts web services on par with trends that threaten to pull down Microsoft's business model. It was the popularity of the web since 1995 and the trend of software development took " Internet-centered " five years ago.

Gates insisted that the new Internet service was capable of knocking Microsoft out of the game and benefiting competitors. " The big change is weighing on our shoulders ," Gates wrote. " Companies are focused on expanding online services, however, the opportunity for us to continue leading is still very clear ."

Internet services have been around for many years and many companies have figured out how to increase revenue through advertising and subscribers. Meanwhile, Microsoft's profits still largely depend on the sale of traditional software licenses. " The new business-based software and service business model supported will be difficult and at the same time the biggest opportunity for us ," wrote Microsoft Technical Director Ray Ozzie. "This type will fundamentally affect the way we and other developers build, distribute and do business ."

Ozzie also outlined some of Microsoft's missed opportunities over the years, including services like Google, Salesforce.com, Skype and Research In Motion (the maker of BlackBerry wireless devices).

" Google has won a hard-to-beat position and some of their programs may shake our product ," Ozzie wrote. " Although MSN Messenger has a VoIP feature, Skype is the one that makes Internet phones popular and opens up a whole new field ." Besides, while Microsoft has projects like Windows Mobile, BlackBerry has always been an annoying " thorn ". The success of PDF (Adobe) format is also a " big loss " to Microsoft. The software company hopes the situation will change with the Metro format, released in next year's Windows Vista version.

PT ( according to TechWorld )