April 2007 - Posts
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117737738757279866.html?mod=mm_main_promo_left
Microsoft Embeds Sleeper in Business Software
By ROBERT A. GUTH
April 24, 2007; Page B1
When the Miami-Dade County Public Schools set out to build a way for its teachers, students and parents to collaborate online, it was surprised to discover it already had Microsoft Corp. software that could help do the job.
Included with software the school district had previously bought was something called SharePoint Services, which Miami-Dade used as the first step in creating a system for planning school programs and classes, posting notices, and handling other tasks that require its teachers and students to collaborate.
"We kind of unintentionally fell into it," says Deborah Karcher, executive officer at Miami-Dade's information-technology group. The school system considered an alternative from International Business Machines Corp., but with the Microsoft software already in place, "it just seemed like a very low risk."
COLLABORATION SOFTWARE
![[Collaboration Software]](http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/images/it_mouse09142004171604.gif)
The Situation: Over the past few years, Microsoft has quietly established itself in the emerging market for collaboration software with a product called SharePoint.
Why It Matters: Collaboration software -- which allows workers to share and work together -- is a new strategic foothold for technology makers trying to gain a broader hold on corporate customers.
What's Next: Expect a fierce fight among technology giants -- Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Adobe and others -- as each tries to become the central player in collaboration.
What Miami-Dade wanted to do is part of a broad trend in how corporations and institutions are beginning to use their computers. Historically, using most PC programs has been a solitary thing -- workers used ad hoc methods to work together, say by emailing a spreadsheet among different team members, one by one. Now a host of new "collaboration" software is letting them use corporate networks to more easily work on the same documents at the same time and accomplish any number of tasks that groups or teams do together. Workers using collaboration software, for instance, could have a particular document like a spreadsheet on their respective screens simultaneously, with all having access to the material while talking to one another over a videoconference.
To do that, companies need to install a mix of software running behind the scenes that ties together PCs, databases, email systems and other programs businesses use. Many businesses, to their surprise, are finding that Microsoft anticipated that demand and has already sold them SharePoint before they even knew they needed it.
SharePoint is now Microsoft's contender in an emerging battle over collaboration software with companies from a cross section of the technology industry including Oracle Corp., Adobe Systems Inc., IBM, EMC Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., Google Inc. and lesser-known players such as Zimbra Inc., Alfresco Software Inc., the Plone Foundation and Socialtext Inc. Each company has its own approach to collaborative software market, but "all want to be central to it," says Peter O'Kelly, an analyst at researcher Burton Group.
For Microsoft, SharePoint is a critical engine to increase sales of a broad array of its other software. In 2003 the company made a basic form of SharePoint available as a free download with Windows Server, a version of Windows for the large corporate computers of customers like Miami-Dade schools. The hope was that the customers would seek -- and pay for -- a newer version of the program with more collaboration features and would then go on to buy other Microsoft software.
To date, largely unheralded, Microsoft has sold 85 million licenses to the enhanced version of SharePoint across 17,000 companies. No marketing campaigns are in the works. "When we get SharePoint in there, it sells itself," says Jeff Teper, vice president of Microsoft's SharePoint Server group.
The free version of SharePoint is a separate download because including extra software with versions of Windows is a touchy subject with regulators. Bundling got Microsoft into trouble when it used Windows to boost its Web browser and crush rival browser maker Netscape, which prompted the company's landmark antitrust battle with the U.S. government. In the case of SharePoint, Windows Server customers have to make the decision to buy SharePoint Server, which is the full-blown collaboration software. The government has routinely monitored Microsoft's compliance with the antitrust settlement, while Microsoft has internal controls to keep its products within bounds of the settlement.
Hawaiian Airlines wants to add collaboration features to its Web site to allow, say, frequent-flier customers to share travel tips and stories, says David Osborne, chief information officer at the airline. Already standardized on Microsoft products, the airline decided to license the enhanced SharePoint software, which it has been using since last month. "It wasn't particularly difficult," Mr. Osborne says. "The thing was already part of your infrastructure."
Salespeople at American Bible Society use SharePoint from the field when they sell Bibles, take donations or sell financial instruments. If a salesperson sells a retirement package, he or she can use SharePoint to securely enter customer information that then can be accessed by American Bible Society workers who process the order. Outside partners such as financial institutions can also securely access the data, says Nick Garbidakis, chief information officer at American Bible Society.
In the past, salespeople might use a fax and/or email to submit the information, methods that were insecure and slow, says Mr. Garbidakis. "It would take days or weeks to exchange the data," he says. The society upgraded to the enhanced version of SharePoint and is now rolling it out more broadly in the organization, he said.
Microsoft's rivals, too, are profiting from collaboration software of their own. IBM's Notes software is the pioneer product in the collaboration market and despite years of losing market share, is now resurgent as IBM rolls out related products, including new software for sharing content called Quickr, that help it compete better with SharePoint, says Mr. O'Kelly, the Burton Group analyst.
Oracle, meanwhile, has built collaboration products around its core database products, most recently rolling out WebCenter Suite, a SharePoint competitor.
The collaboration battle could have long-term strategic benefits for the companies. Once a given software maker's collaboration programs are in place, a company using them will start filling them with valuable company data, from documents to videos.
After all that company data is in the system, it's hard to move to a competing system, say some industry executives, who compare the emerging collaboration battle to an earlier era when Oracle became the market leader in databases after a mass of companies committed their information to Oracle databases. Once companies were on an Oracle database it became easier for the software maker to sell upgrades and other software -- and harder for competitors to woo away the customer.
"Owning the data is owning the customer in perpetuity," says Matt Asay, vice president at Alfresco, which makes software for managing content.
"Our vision, much like Office, was to build an integrated set of compatibility that is relative low cost and easy to use," says Microsoft's Mr. Teper.
The catch: To squeeze all of the functionality out of SharePoint, Microsoft customers need to buy extra software from the company if they don't already have it. For instance, features in the latest version of SharePoint will work only with Microsoft's Office 2007, the newest version of the business software suite. That could be a beneficial connection for Office, as Microsoft struggles to convince some business to upgrade to Office 2007 when their current Office setup works fine.
SharePoint is also starting to lift weaker Microsoft products. Alan Kahn, chief executive of InterDyn AKA, a company that resells Microsoft products, says that SharePoint is helping to spur sales of Microsoft Dynamics software, which has been a perennial laggard. That strategy extends to the range of already-strong Microsoft products that work with SharePoint, from its SQL Server database to corporate search technologies.
Within two months of rolling out the basic version of SharePoint last summer, Miami-Dade was surprised to find over 50,000 students accessed the system, prompting the school system to upgrade to the enhanced version of SharePoint. Those licenses, combined with security software and other Microsoft software and services cost it an additional $2.2 million, says Ms. Karcher, the executive officer.
Uses of SharePoint contemplated by Miami-Dade teachers include sharing research materials, posting and discussing assignments, and creating a homework "drop-off" box for students to submit their assignments.
Yesterday, Miami-Dade opened the system to 30,000 school administrators. By the end of this summer, Ms. Karcher says, SharePoint will be available to one million students and their families, teachers and employees in the school district.
Write to Robert A. Guth at rob.guth@wsj.com
Microsoft’s charitable Vista: Co. donates $40M to area job training programs
By Jay Fitzgerald
Boston Herald General Economics Reporter
Monday, April 16, 2007
Even as Microsoft Corp. looks to expand its work force in Cambridge, the giant software company has also been quietly investing in its potential workers in Boston.
The software powerhouse has contributed tens of millions of dollars over the past four years to area tech centers that introduce youths to computers and prepare them for skilled jobs down the road.
“We need these workers, but our customers and partners also need them,” said Pamela Passman, executive vice president of global corporate affairs for Microsoft.
Since 2003, Microsoft has contributed about $250 million in cash or in-kind software to non-profit organizations that emphasize technology education and training. The donations are part of the company’s “unlimited potential” program that marks a recent shift in Microsoft’s philanthropic emphasis toward work-force training.
The Boston area, considered a high-tech stronghold, has been a big beneficiary of Microsoft’s new philanthropic strategy, netting nearly $40 million in various donations since 2003, according to a company spokesman.
The Herald recently reported that Microsoft has inked a deal to lease space in Cambridge, in what some expect will be the beginning of even greater expansion in the area for the software giant.
Today, Passman will be visiting Timothy Smith Network centers in Roxbury. Timothy Smith Networks, a nonprofit umbrella group that funds about 40 tech centers in Roxbury, has received more than $1 million from Microsoft, in the form of free software that young people and other residents can use for free.
“Ultimately, it is work-force development,” said Susan O’Connor, executive director of Timothy Smith Networks, referring to the various centers that have “state of the art” computers available for residents.
One of those tech centers is at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries on Harrison Avenue, where computer classes and programs are conducted.
“Today, you can’t even apply for a job without going online,” said Joanne Hilferty, chief executive of the nonprofit outfit.
Whether someone works in banking or in a warehouse, employees need to know how to use computers and other technologies, Hilferty said.
In recent years, a number of tech firms have stepped up efforts to improve technology skills of Americans.
In particular, Waltham-based Raytheon Co. has launched a major campaign to promote math and science in schools. Like Microsoft, Raytheon has acknowledged its campaign is part business planning: America needs more engineers, scientists and other tech savvy employees.
“There is a shortage of skilled workers,” said Microsoft’s Passman. “This (technology effort) helps people get going.”
Groove Solutions
Event Date:
4/11/2007
Presenter:
Neal Wadhwani & Peter Duffey
Event Time:
12:00 PM Pacific, USA & Canada (DST) = GMT - 08:00
Duration:
60 minutes
Course Level:
200
Description:
Groove: Groove is now part of Office and Office Live.
What exactly is Groove and what solutions are provided to the Mid-Market?
There is some Groove overlap with other Microsoft capabilities and interesting integration points. There will be discussion around when Groove provides the perfect solution to certain requirements.
==========================================
You are probably familiar with Remote Web Workplace, and have used or heard about Terminal Services, but if you want to learn more about hosting applications or offering your users the ability to work remotely, you’ll definitely want to check out these TS2 hosted webcasts. Along with a TS2 Presenter, you will hear directly from Augie Gonzalez who is the Senior Manager for Product Marketing at Citrix!
Citrix Access Essentials can enhance Terminal Services experience in many ways that your customers will find beneficial.
If you are a Microsoft Partner interested in learning how to position and sell Citrix Access Essentials with a Microsoft Solution, you’ll definitely want to check out the events entitled: Web-enable Line of Business Applications Automatically with Small Business Server and Citrix Access Essentials
After you’ve learned all the benefits and features of Citrix Access Essentials, I’m sure you’ll want to know all of the technical details of putting together a Citrix Access Essentials and Small Business Server solution. You’ll learn all you want to know in the events entitled: Citrix Access Essentials and Small Business Server – Behind the Scenes
When you attend, you will be entered in a raffle for a copy of a full copy Office 2007 Professional!
Follow this link and register now!
http://www.ts2seminars.com/main.aspx?cat=events&p=webSeminars
=================
By Stephen Shankland
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Published: April 8, 2007, 6:00 AM PDT
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Microsoft is showing some early signs of success with a version of Windows geared for a technical computing market that Linux dominates today.
Windows Compute Cluster Server (CCS) runs on a group of interconnected computers that collectively tackle calculation chores. These high-performance computing clusters have swept the list of the top 500 supercomputers--but they typically run Linux, not Windows.
But when Microsoft released Windows CCS less than a year ago, the company tried to find a new niche in the market rather than go up against Linux directly. The software giant is trying to win over customers with small clusters, often integrated with the work customers are doing on their Windows PCs.
"We think that's fertile ground that nobody else has hoed yet."
--John Enck
Gartner analyst
"We think that's fertile ground that nobody else has hoed yet," said Gartner analyst John Enck. "We were pretty skeptical when they came to market with this, but they're doing much better than we anticipated."
Microsoft has had some successes moving from a market in which it's strong into an adjacent market where it's not. For example, Microsoft moved from operating system software to desktop software, and from Windows on PCs to Windows on servers.
Lateral move
That's exactly what happened in the case of the South Florida Water Management District, which is using Windows CCS to power a modest-size five-server cluster that computes water flow to as part of a multibillion-dollar habitat restoration project in the Everglades National Park. The group also has a much larger Linux cluster, but the group also had Windows-based modeling tools that they moved easily to the cluster, said Akin Owosina, program manager for the district's Interagency Modeling Center.
Another reason the Windows cluster is appropriate is because outside stakeholders--everyone from the federal Fish and Wildlife Department to environmental activists--want to check model results and in some cases run those models themselves to verify the results, Owosina said.
"We want to be used by as many stakeholders and customers as we can. For many of them, the environment is Windows," Owosina said.
And for Saifur Rahman, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, using Linux would have required new expertise. His organization is running Windows CCS on a 16-server cluster for research in transportation and in cancer-related molecular modeling.
"We wanted to remain within the Windows environment so that we could use our existing applications and did not have to retrain our graduate students who have been working in this environment for several years with data from end users," Rahman said.
In particular, his students use the Matlab mathematical calculation and data-processing software on Windows. Matlab on the desktop can tap into Matlab on the cluster for heavy lifting.
Microsoft gives itself high marks for its results so far. "We acknowledge we have more work to do here, but we've made good progress in the first year," said Shawn Hansen, Microsoft's director of HPC (high-performance computing) marketing. "We've been very pleased with the results and the uptake."
But when it comes to the Linux-dominated cluster market, though, familiarity with Microsoft can be a burden as well as an asset.
For example, SGI, a high-performance computing specialist with ties to Linux, got a frosty reception on a compute cluster mailing list when it announced support for Windows CCS earlier this year.
"I don't hate Microsoft," said Robert Brown, a professor and compute cluster expert in Duke University's physics department, in a posting to the mailing list. "If anything, I fear it...Microsoft is for all practical purposes completely unregulated, it faces no serious competition, it routinely engages in business practices that make it very difficult for serious competition to ever arise, and it extends all over the world, not just in the United States."
When it comes to HPC, Windows is not the incumbent. "The HPC community has been Unix- and Linux-based for decades," said Gartner analyst Carl Claunch. "The university environments in which most have trained are heavily Linux-centric. The domination of Linux in HPC and in clusters is quite strong."
Among technical advantages of Linux clusters is better maturity, better software choices, broader abilities and a proven ability to run at large scale, Claunch said.
New features
Windows CCS isn't Microsoft's last crack at the market, though. It just released Service Pack 1, which is based on Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2. That new version makes it possible to bring up a cluster in one fell swoop rather than installing software on each machine individually.
More significant changes will come with CCS version 2, Hansen said, which will be based on the "Longhorn Server" successor to Windows Server 2003. Longhorn Server is due to ship this year, but Hansen declined to say when the CCS revamp will emerge.
Version 2 will feature "simplified development, deployment, operation and integration," Hansen said. Specific improvements will help networking--in particular TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) software and support for larger networks, he said.
For development, Microsoft touts its Visual Studio programming tools. Version 2 will feature better support for software that executes in parallel on a number of machines, he said. Building that parallelism into software is a decades-old challenge in the computer industry.
Microsoft also has struck partnerships with IBM, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and SGI to make it easier for customers to purchase clusters with software already set up. SGI likes having Windows CCS as an option for customers working on animation, for example. "There are a lot of shops that run a lot of Windows applications," and they can use a Windows cluster to speed up work, said Louise Ledeen, a manager for digital content management marketing at SGI.
And even in a market with cultural barriers, pragmatism can win the day. That was the case for Matt Wortman, director of computational biology and information technology at the University of Cincinnati's Genome Research Institute. His group already has Linux clusters, but picked Windows CCS for a 14-node cluster that runs simulation software to analyze drugs' molecular behavior. It integrated easily with researchers' computers, 95 percent of which run Windows, he said.
"I don't care if it's Microsoft or Scyld, (Linux cluster software from Penguin Computing)," Wortman said. "I want to make it easier for the average biologist to find new drugs."