Microsoft Shares the Love
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News Brief. I'm a huge fan of guerrilla marketing. Two excellent examples: Silverlight valentines and the Martin Luther King Jr. virtual tour. |
The first is a collaborative effort by Microsoft's Windows Live and Silverlight teams: Valentine's Day e-cards, created using Silverlight. PC users can send their love using photos from Flickr or Windows Live Spaces. I can't verify that Flickr really works. The valentines site said my Flickr user name doesn't exist. For shame!
Gimmicks like this one can raise product and service awareness, and the valentines site is foreshadowing. Silverlight and Windows Live will share a common destiny. It's not even a matter of when Microsoft will make Silverlight more a part of the Windows Live experience, but how soon.
Silverlight still lags way behind Adobe Flash, in terms of developer support and business or consumer adoption. Microsoft's bundling strategy is, in some ways, bigger than Windows. Another way to look at Windows Live services: as Microsoft's operating system in the sky. I would watch for lots of developer tool and other desktop software bundling around Live services—and, when available, from Microsoft's services platform, which will cater to businesses, too.
Live bundling is bidirectional: In some ways, Microsoft is using Live to, get this, bundle the Internet into Windows. But Live also is its own platform around which Microsoft will bundle other stuff.
About Dr. King: I'm not sure the author is, but a post on Microsoft's Virtual Earth/Live Maps blog leads to a cool, three-dimensional Martin Luther King Jr. tour. This window into historic places in King's life requires Windows for 3-D, and there is a plug-in download. A 2-D tour is available for everyone else.
The 3-D tour is a wonderful showcase of Microsoft mapping technologies. The experience feels very desktop-like, even though it's a service.
Comments (7)
That is so cool. I cannot wait to make a Valentine using Silverlight. Microsoft really has something here with Silverlight 2.0. It is a cool and awesome technology that I am sure will be a worthy competitor to Adobe Flash.
Posted by Tom Berber | January 22, 2008 7:40 PM
So Tom, are you gonna start crying like a baby again if I comment on how Microsoft is scheduled to release Silverlight 2.0 to the public at their 08 MIX on March 5th-7th and coincidentally Microsoft, VCSY and the mediator are scheduled to go before the judge on March 7th. Did I mention that Silverlight 2.0 claims to do many of the things that are covered in VCSY's XML Enabler patent.
That's not even the same patent that VCSY is currently suing Microsoft over. The lawsuit is over the illegal use of SiteFlash in the Microsoft .Net Framework products.
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http://www.vcsy.com/press/releases.php?year=2007&month=04&day=20&num=00
FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2007
Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Microsoft Corporation
Fort Worth, TX, April 20, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE)? Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: VCSY)(www.vcsy.com) announced today that on April 18, 2007, Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. filed suit for patent infringement against Microsoft Corp. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. VCSY claims that the Microsoft .Net System infringes U.S. Patent No. 6,826,744.
Posted by I-Man | January 22, 2008 9:53 PM
ENOUGH with the VCSY spam. WE DONT CARE!
Posted by enough | January 22, 2008 11:21 PM
VCSY is nothing but a patent shill. You know it. I know it. You know I know you know it. Your hyping of VCSY stock doesn't seem to be working by the way. Down over 14% yesterday.
VCSY stock is in danger of becoming worth less than a penny a share.
You better take the penny a post rather than share of worthless VCSY stock.
Posted by Tom Berber | January 23, 2008 8:25 AM
For those that missed it. I will repeat. Notice that I-Menst cannot dispute it!
Most of what's worth reporting about VCSY is contained in its latest 10-Q. You can find it at:
http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/fetc...
This is the report where VCSY talks about its negative cash flow and how its debts are many times its assets. That report also offers choice tidbits like:
The Company has suffered significant recurring operating losses, used substantial funds in its operations, and needs to raise additional funds to accomplish its objectives. Negative stockholders’ equity at September 30, 2007 was approximately $19 million. Additionally, at September 30, 2007 , the Company had negative working capital of approximately $12.4 million (although it includes deferred revenue of approximately $2.1 million) and has defaulted or is delinquent on several of its debt obligations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
...
Management of the Company is continuing its efforts to attempt to secure funds through equity and/or debt instruments for its operations, expansion and possible acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, and/or other business combinations. The Company will require additional funds for its operations and to pay down its liabilities, as well as finance its expansion plans consistent with the Company’s anticipated changes in operations and infrastructure. >>
also
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In summary, the company has been losing money consistently. It has not paid its payroll taxes. The 10-Q also shows that the company is in default on many loans. Read it carefully. It shows in exceuciating detail why I-Man is so desperate.
Posted by Tom Berber | January 23, 2008 8:30 AM
May this is to combat a little damage from the Mac commercials?
Competition is good. If Microsoft forces Adobe to make their product better, that's good. These valentines remind me of the elf videos around christmas.
Posted by Sam Carrara | January 29, 2008 3:12 PM
I just have to say it again. This Silverlight 2.0 thing is way cool. My company is going for this product full force. You can make such awesome animations on it. They say it is so easy and such high quality. It is going to rock!
Posted by Tom Berber | January 30, 2008 3:29 PM