'Danger, Will Robinson!'
 Joe Wilcox
News Brief. How many more companies is Microsoft going to buy? Next up: Danger. |
Microsoft announced the acquisition today.
Danger is best known for its mobile software and services for the T-Mobile Sidekick. What would Microsoft possibly want from Danger, which has a focus that is decidedly the consumer market?
On Feb. 8, Scott Rockfeld, the group product manager for Microsoft's Mobile Communications group, and I discussed the company's emerging cell phone strategy. After years catering primarily businesses, Microsoft is shifting its cell phone focus to consumers—and furthering the blurry line between personal and professional mobile usage.
As I explained last night, Microsoft recognizes that people increasingly commingle data and behavior around cell phones, perhaps more than any other device that they use. Rockfeld spoke about a strategy where there is "one phone for your entire life."
When I think QWERTY keyboards, slider phones and thumbs in action, I think HTC for business and Sidekick for consumers. Danger will fill a Windows Mobile niche between them, with early focus primarily on consumers.
But there is something more fundamental that too many mobile manufacturers, carriers or service providers have ignored: A phone is fundamentally about communication. And who do people communicate with? D'oh, other people. Danger's services are all about communications—socializing with people most important to you.
Danger's social networking focus resonates well with communication market trends and Microsoft's larger Windows Live objectives.
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Comments (5)
Hey I-Man you stupid bonehead tool. You link to your own stupid drivel you post on Yahoo finance. You are a dung-for-brains idiot. All anybody has to do is read dung-stock vcsy's financials. DUH! It is a dog, loser, dead-for-years stock (look at their historical prices). Anybody who would buy that piece of dung stock, gets what they deserve: NOTHING. Someone stated that buying vcsy stock was like going to the casino. That is not true. At the casino you have SOME chance of making money. buying or keeping vcsy is throwing away your money. You will get more value out of burning any of the paperwork you have from vcsy and using it for heat. Worth more than the dung-stock. Heck, it isn't worthy of being called dung-stock. Dung has more value!
Posted by Ayeman | February 11, 2008 1:28 PM
What about channel conflict? Doesn't Microsoft rely on handset manufacturers (Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Palm, etc.) to push the Windows Mobile platform? With Danger, doesn't Microsoft compete with these partners? Of course, there isn't much alternative - the other platforms (iPhone, RIM, PalmOS) are linked to the hardware vendors.
Posted by Greg Glockner | February 11, 2008 2:04 PM
Microsoft has to buy up as many companies as they can, they need to provide a smokescreen to what is actually taking place. Microsoft knows that they showed the market just how weak they are by the unsuccessful Yahoo bid, poor babies!
I guess these paid shills aren't feeling to successful against the info i've been posting are they Joe?
March 7th just keeps getting closer! lol
Posted by I-Man | February 11, 2008 2:05 PM
"Danger's social networking focus resonates well"........just like Zune Social.. Now they can make a Zune Phone!!!!!
Posted by mailbox01 | February 11, 2008 2:15 PM
Danger is to be part of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division.
I suspect that a Sidekick ZunePhone with Xbox games will be available in the future.
Posted by JohnJ | February 11, 2008 3:48 PM