Ex-Softie weighs in on how to avoid the dancing Microsoft elephant
Speaking of Microsoft's unified-communications strategy, former Softie Alec Saunders has an interesting post on how to "avoid becoming (Microsoft) roadkill" in the converging VOIP/conferencing/phone market.
(Saunders spent nine years at Microsoft in a variety of product management and marketing roles, including the initial launch of Microsoft Internet Explorer. He currently is CEO of iotum, a software firm with technologies in the "presence" space.
"Aikido, Retreat or War. What's Your Microsoft Strategy?" asks Saunders. His taxonomy:
* Aikido: use Microsoft's momentum to launch complementary businesses;
* Retreat: build vertical market applications instead of competing head-to-head in the platform space;
* War: bite the bullet and take on the Redmond bull by the horns. A good read for anyone trying to avoid the dancing Microsoft elephant in any sector, not just unified communications.