Microsoft: Cloud revenue to hit in a couple years

Microsoft plans to invest heavily in its cloud platform but expects to see little revenue for two to three years, Bob Muglia, the president of the server and tools business, said Tuesday.

By John Fontana | 24 February, 2010 08:39

Tags: microsoft azure, windows server, sql server, cloud computing, VMware

Computer hacking charge leveled against disgraced Tour de France cyclist

Cyclist Floyd Landis, stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after a positive drug test, is now being labeled a computer hacker by France, which has issued a warrant for his arrest.

By John Fontana | 17 February, 2010 09:36

Tags: hackers, Tour de France, cycling, data breach, Floyd Landis, France

Microsoft juices Visual Studio with secure coding tools

Microsoft Tuesday said it will deepen ties between its Visual Studio development tools and the secure applications development processes first developed inside the company and now available to outsiders.

By John Fontana | 03 February, 2010 08:46

Tags: visual studio, Microsoft, agile

Microsoft exceeds goal of 5000 layoffs

Microsoft has more than made good on its plan from a year ago to eliminate 5,000 positions by the middle of June 2010, the company reported as part of its quarterly 10Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

By John Fontana | 02 February, 2010 03:03

Tags: Microsoft, layoffs

Free not such a bad description of software, CIOs say

Free is becoming a popular form of software for CIOs, with nearly two-thirds of companies using it on their desktops and with applications, according to a new survey.

By John Fontana | 28 January, 2010 10:45

Tags: software, business

SharePoint 2010 overkill for some, Forrester says

Despite platform improvements coming in Microsoft's SharePoint 2010 server, the software is likely to be overkill for users seeking to meet isolated and specific requirements, according to a study by Forrester Research.

By John Fontana | 28 January, 2010 03:53

Tags: Microsoft, social networking, microsoft sharepoint, Forrester Research

Lotus sets off on 'Vulcanizing' next-gen collaboration

IBM/Lotus Monday hinted at its collaboration future by unveiling an ambitious plan called Project Vulcan that exists in concept only but is aimed at a wholesale integration of collaboration tools regardless of whether they run in the cloud or on corporate networks.

By John Fontana | 20 January, 2010 03:51

Tags: Lotus, lotusphere 2010

Microsoft's Ballmer: We’re staying in China

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said the company is staying in China even though rival Google is talking about pulling out following a cyber attack on its systems.

By John Fontana | 15 January, 2010 14:44

Tags: Microsoft, security, China, business, ballmer

Lotus gets open source infusion from Alfresco

Alfresco Wednesday said it would ship this spring software to integrate its content management software with the lineup of IBM Lotus software, notably Lotus Quickr.

Ballmer's 10 years with Microsoft and the Internet

Ten years ago on Jan. 13, 2000, Microsoft's Bill Gates turned over the CEO reins to Steve Ballmer, who emphasized then that the Internet would be the target for much of the company's new software development efforts.

By John Fontana | 14 January, 2010 09:01

Tags: Windows Azure, Apple, Microsoft, steve ballmer, Android, web-based apps

Facebook joins Apache foundation

Facebook Tuesday joined the Apache Software Foundation as a Gold sponsor, looking to cement its commitment to open source and pledging to help drive the group into the future.

By John Fontana | 13 January, 2010 09:47

Tags: apache, Facebook

VMware to buy Zimbra to bolster cloud computing push

VMware is poised Tuesday to further redefine its cloud strategy by buying Yahoo's Zimbra open source messaging business in order to expand its stake in the platform-as-a-service market.

By John Fontana | 13 January, 2010 05:30

Tags: zimbra, Yahoo, virtualization, mergers & acquisitions, Google, cloud computing, VMware

Microsoft's 2010 task: Make the cloud clear

For Microsoft, 2010 is a platform building and marketing year with no less than the future success of its cloud strategy hanging in the balance, according to observers.

By John Fontana | 21 December, 2009 17:34

Tags: Microsoft, Cloud

Microsoft admits mobile missteps, but fights on

Microsoft doesn't have a business model problem in the mobile market, but its phones are skewed toward business users at the expense of consumers and are not as modern as they need to be, Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, told financial analysts Thursday at the Consumer Electronics Show.

By John Fontana | 09 January, 2010 07:59

Tags: Google, Microsoft, smartphones, Windows 7

Microsoft's history with the Tablet PC

Microsoft's demonstration Wednesday of "Slate PCs" made by HP, Pegatron, and Archos is by no means its first attempt to help develop such a form factor. The Slate PC seems to be identical to a Tablet with only the name changed. In fact, the Tablet PC has long been a pet project for Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who showed the first Tablet PC prototype in 2000 at the now-defunct Comdex trade show in Las Vegas.

By John Fontana | 08 January, 2010 12:10

Tags: Microsoft, tablet PCs, ces 2010