March 9, 2010 by Matt Thomas
As its war with Apple rages on Microsoft continue to try to lead the market in terms of innovation, at a recent speech at the University of Washington, their chief executive Steve Ballmer explained exactly how they are planning to do it.
The key seems to lie in cloud based computing services which Ballmer claims that he will “bet the company” on its success. He also stated that a massive 70% of Microsoft’s employees are currently working on cloud based project’s, a figure that he is certain will rise to 90% by the end of the year. So it would it seem that Microsoft really are putting all their eggs in one basket, Mr Gates must evidently share Ballmer’s idea that there is a lot “unrealised potential” in the sector.
“The cloud fuels Microsoft, and Microsoft fuels the crowd,” he said. “We’re all in.”
The idea of cloud computing is something that has been floating about for quite sometime, and it does seem the logical progression from what we already have. It refers to the notion that any files, services or software found on a computer are not solely restricted to that one machine but are available and can be accessed anywhere and everywhere on any other machine with the use of the internet.
It is a service that I am sure we will see become increasingly important to most computer technology companies from now on as constant accessibility and connection to ones computer is becoming more and more important and necessary in some cases.
Microsoft simply want to adapt their already highly successful model of operating system (Windows) to the ever expanding, fast moving age of the internet.
As a representation of their intention to really push cloud computing Microsoft have already released Windows Azure which is a platform that allows developers to create applications based on the idea of cloud computing, they have also made online versions of some of their more popular programs such as Microsoft Office.
It is evident from Ballmer’s bullish attitude that Microsoft really do see cloud computing as the future and that they are more than willing to risk it all in the knowledge that they are right, for their sake I hope they are.
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