Entry Archive
Wednesday, March 03, 2010 4:50 PM/EST
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer seemed noncommittal at the Search Marketing Expo in Santa Clara, Calif., over whether his company would consider purchasing microblogging service Twitter, with which it has an agreement to incorporate results onto Bing. But as Microsoft's recent dealings with Yahoo have shown, sometimes a simple partnership with a company can extend at least some of the benefits of an acquisition without the drain on cash and energy.
Monday, March 01, 2010 1:22 PM/EST
Microsoft showed off the prototype for its first Windows Phone 7 Series device, manufactured by LG and featuring a sliding physical keyboard, at The Engadget Show on Feb. 27. The phone apparently includes a 5-megapixel camera with flash, a headphone...
Saturday, February 27, 2010 1:49 PM/EST
A group of technology journalists talked about Windows Phone 7 Series during a spot on the Fox News show "Gadgets and Games" on Feb. 26. Among the discussion points was how Microsoft is attempting to create a serious differentiator in the smartphone OS space, and the potential obstacles that Windows Phone 7 Series faces as it heads toward launch.
Thursday, February 25, 2010 4:48 PM/EST
A leaked Microsoft document details the user information that Microsoft retains from its various online services, as well as what the company is willing to share with law enforcement and under what circumstances. While it says Microsoft retains IP connection history from Hotmail and MSN Groups and personal information from Xbox Live, the document is less clear on what information is retained and accessible from Windows Live SkyDrive and Office Live.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 4:34 PM/EST
Reports indicate that Windows Phone 7 Series could come in a limited number of form factors upon its release at the end of 2010, including one with a full touch screen, another with a sliding keyboard and a third with a "candy-bar"-style configuration. Limiting hardware configurations could help Microsoft with branding its new line of devices, which it hopes will allow it to regain market share in the smartphone OS arena.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 3:59 PM/EST
Microsoft announced a cross-licensing agreement with Amazon.com to open at least a percentage of their patent portfolios to each other. While terms of the deal were not disclosed, patents from Microsoft could potentially help Amazon.com build more robust e-readers, as both companies position themselves to compete against Apple's upcoming iPad tablet PC.
Monday, February 22, 2010 4:19 PM/EST
Tech blogger Randall Kennedy told Microsoft Watch in a Feb. 22 phone conversation that there was no malice behind his posing as CTO "Craig Barth" of software company Devil Mountain Software, and that he was merely tying to keep his worlds as software entrepreneur and blogger separate. However, the controversy has made several journalists question the legitimacy of Kennedy's work, particularly with regard to Microsoft.
Friday, February 19, 2010 5:12 PM/EST
Microsoft may introduce a branded smartphone in 2011, according to an analyst. By doing so, Microsoft would follow Google in trying to place mobile devices directly in customers' hands through its own channel. However, Microsoft's rollout of its new Windows Phone 7 Series operating system may demand that the company concentrate on more pressing issues such as attracting developers and convincing businesses that the new smartphone OS will serve their needs.
Thursday, February 18, 2010 3:42 PM/EST
Microsoft and Yahoo received clearance from both the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice to enact their 10-year search and advertising agreement, setting up Bing to become Yahoo's underlying search engine. However, with Yahoo's U.S. search engine market share falling, the deal could have fewer long-term benefits for Microsoft than originally anticipated.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 5:02 PM/EST
Microsoft used its YouTube channel to launch a handful of videos attacking Google Apps and other competitors in the productivity space, as it prepares to ship the final desktop- and cloud-based versions of Office 2010. The move may indicate that Microsoft is concerned about Google Apps taking additional market share in the productivity space after racking up a number of government bodies and businesses as clients.
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