Another Microsoft watcher joins Microsoft

IT market watcher Peter O'Kelly has joined a number of other former industry analysts who've taken the Red Pill and joined Microsoft over the past few years.

O'Kelly -- a former Burton Group analyst who, more recently, was a self-employed IT watcher -- announced on his blog on January 5 that he had decided to become a Microsoft employee. According to O'Kelly, whose first day on the new job was yesterday:

"I have joined a new Microsoft team focused on enterprise collaboration optimization (i.e., communication, collaboration, and information architecture, for large organizations)."

O'Kelly is part of the Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS) organization, according to company officials. It sounds from his description like SharePoint will figure into his new responsibilities in some way.

O'Kelly hinted in his blog post that some of his former IT analyst colleagues also  are part of his new collaboration team. O'Kelly didn't name any names or provide further details on exactly what the new team will do.

Looks like the Softies are still hiring, in spite of predictions of mass firings... at least for now.