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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.
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor

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.

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