Jason asks what I think of Microsoft jumping into the hosted application space

October 29, 2005 By

Jason Fried, founder of 37 Signals, asks me what I think of the news that Microsoft is jumping into the hosted application space.

I say that’s cool, but Google is building both Web Monetization Gadgets and Web Buzz and Brand Building Gadgets. They are building an advertising platform that’s very interesting. Google is no longer a search company.

Personally, I share Jason’s skepticism. I wanna see shipping services and gadgets. Enough talk. More action needed. Google has their stuff out there (even if they do call it all “beta”). Yahoo, in many ways, is further along than Google (but not in advertising model, which is why their stock price isn’t going nutty like Google’s is).

I want to get a more complete look at what we’re doing first, though, before I mouth off. I hope to sit down with Ray in the coming weeks and get a good look at what we’re doing.

Filed Under: Blog Tips, development, Microsoft Office, music, Web
  • http://www.bynkii.com/ John C. Welch

    So, other than “Google’s doing it, therefore we have to”, why is MS doing this?

    Is MS capable of a business strategy other than “Do what THEY did?”

  • http://www.bynkii.com/ John C. Welch

    So, other than “Google’s doing it, therefore we have to”, why is MS doing this?

    Is MS capable of a business strategy other than “Do what THEY did?”

  • Matt Rolak

    ‘Is MS capabale…’

    Before we are so quick to judge, follow Robert’s advice and wait to see what this speculated ‘hosting services’ stuff really is…

  • Matt Rolak

    ‘Is MS capabale…’

    Before we are so quick to judge, follow Robert’s advice and wait to see what this speculated ‘hosting services’ stuff really is…

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ scobleizer

    John: I didn’t realize Google had a CRM app.

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ scobleizer

    John: I didn’t realize Google had a CRM app.

  • Mujibur

    No Scoble — in the CRM space salesforce.com got there first.

    When is MSN going to take a leadership role in *anything*? Why can’t you innovate your way out of a paperbag? Why is everything a reaction to other firms?

  • Mujibur

    No Scoble — in the CRM space salesforce.com got there first.

    When is MSN going to take a leadership role in *anything*? Why can’t you innovate your way out of a paperbag? Why is everything a reaction to other firms?

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ scobleizer

    Mujibur: cause when we take a leadership role, say, in Media Center, TabletPC, Spot watch, you all make fun of us.

    Seriously, though. It’s easier and more profitable to be a follower. You get to watch where the leader stumbles and you get to learn from their mistakes. Look at Apple with the iPod. It wasn’t the first MP3 player on the market. In fact, it wasn’t even the 10th one, if I remember right.

    By the way, you think we’re not first in things? Check out our IPTV. It is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

    Or, watch over the next 30 days. Let’s meet again on December 1 and see if you still think we only follow others.

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ scobleizer

    Mujibur: cause when we take a leadership role, say, in Media Center, TabletPC, Spot watch, you all make fun of us.

    Seriously, though. It’s easier and more profitable to be a follower. You get to watch where the leader stumbles and you get to learn from their mistakes. Look at Apple with the iPod. It wasn’t the first MP3 player on the market. In fact, it wasn’t even the 10th one, if I remember right.

    By the way, you think we’re not first in things? Check out our IPTV. It is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

    Or, watch over the next 30 days. Let’s meet again on December 1 and see if you still think we only follow others.

  • http://www.bynkii.com/ John C. Welch

    Media Center…um…a computer that talks to your AV rig…wow…that’s really innovative and new…oh wait, no, not really. Tablet PC…Microsoft only makes the OS. Again, you don’t make Tablet PCs and NEVER HAVE. You make YAVOW that runs on someone else’s hardware. Do try to remember your company’s actual product line.

    Apple didn’t innovate with the idea of the MP3 player, they innovated by making one that everyone could use without a manual and that was *dead* simple to get music on to. the iTMS and the Dock connecter just improved on that.

    IPTV…Streaming Video on the Intarweb…you’re joking.

  • http://www.bynkii.com/ John C. Welch

    Media Center…um…a computer that talks to your AV rig…wow…that’s really innovative and new…oh wait, no, not really. Tablet PC…Microsoft only makes the OS. Again, you don’t make Tablet PCs and NEVER HAVE. You make YAVOW that runs on someone else’s hardware. Do try to remember your company’s actual product line.

    Apple didn’t innovate with the idea of the MP3 player, they innovated by making one that everyone could use without a manual and that was *dead* simple to get music on to. the iTMS and the Dock connecter just improved on that.

    IPTV…Streaming Video on the Intarweb…you’re joking.

  • http://edico.blogspot.com/ Stefan Constantinescu

    John: Your post is highly hypocritical. Apples mp3 player was easy to use because of… you guessed it the software! Microsoft didn’t invent the tablet PC, but they made the software for it that made it such into a platform, albit weak now, but growing rapidly. IPTV, what’s not to like? 1500 channels, each one of them hoping to catch your attention?! Screw that, I want to pick whichh shows I want to watch, watch them when I want to, and get an Amazon/Netflix way of having recommendations for shows/movies that might be of interest.

    Software makes all this possible. The Tivo is just a linux box, but it’s done very well. I don’t know what you have against Microsoft, they are just trying to innovate.

    Scoble: Are you saying within the next 30 some odd days, MS will show off a lot of nice goodies?

  • http://edico.blogspot.com/ Stefan Constantinescu

    John: Your post is highly hypocritical. Apples mp3 player was easy to use because of… you guessed it the software! Microsoft didn’t invent the tablet PC, but they made the software for it that made it such into a platform, albit weak now, but growing rapidly. IPTV, what’s not to like? 1500 channels, each one of them hoping to catch your attention?! Screw that, I want to pick whichh shows I want to watch, watch them when I want to, and get an Amazon/Netflix way of having recommendations for shows/movies that might be of interest.

    Software makes all this possible. The Tivo is just a linux box, but it’s done very well. I don’t know what you have against Microsoft, they are just trying to innovate.

    Scoble: Are you saying within the next 30 some odd days, MS will show off a lot of nice goodies?

  • Mujibur

    Scoble,

    I’m specifically referring to MSN. When has MSN innovated? When has MSN led? If that’s not the strategy at MSN, when has MSN followed quickly and delivered a product that is clearly superior (like your iPod example).

    Sadly, MSN isn’t doing any of those things.

  • Mujibur

    Scoble,

    I’m specifically referring to MSN. When has MSN innovated? When has MSN led? If that’s not the strategy at MSN, when has MSN followed quickly and delivered a product that is clearly superior (like your iPod example).

    Sadly, MSN isn’t doing any of those things.

  • http://edico.blogspot.com/ Stefan Constantinescu

    I agree Mujibur, MSN really hasn’t been all that hot. I hope they aquire AOL, that would make the war against google be a fighting chance. This is an uphill battle as google grows more and more everyday and builds their internet platform.

  • http://edico.blogspot.com/ Stefan Constantinescu

    I agree Mujibur, MSN really hasn’t been all that hot. I hope they aquire AOL, that would make the war against google be a fighting chance. This is an uphill battle as google grows more and more everyday and builds their internet platform.

  • Christopher Coulter

    Another trainwreck in the making…as it demands Services, and that’s the greatest blind and weakest spot of MFST — they are software, stick to that, leave Services to others that actually have a customer-focused thrust. Big box software makers will fumble in content generation and service industries, and MFST has proven that time and time again. And will do so again.

  • Christopher Coulter

    Another trainwreck in the making…as it demands Services, and that’s the greatest blind and weakest spot of MFST — they are software, stick to that, leave Services to others that actually have a customer-focused thrust. Big box software makers will fumble in content generation and service industries, and MFST has proven that time and time again. And will do so again.