Computerworld | Microsoft seeks its next cash cow
by John Fontana, Network World
...To the tune of US$1.6 billion in fiscal year 2003, Microsoft bled money from its Business Solutions, Mobile and Embedded Devices, MSN, and Home and Entertainment divisions.
...Despite the losses, Microsoft's competitors recognize these business units as slumbering giants. They are not only coddled by a cash reserve of $51 billion but with a thirst to become Microsoft's new growth business now that traditional cash cows - client operating systems and the Office suite - have matured.
...The rewards, risks and challenges are epitomized in Microsoft's $10 billion dream for its Business Solutions group, which produces ERP, CRM and other applications to automate business functions for small and midsize businesses (SMB), which Microsoft defines as those with 1,000 or less employees.
...Microsoft CRM works with Office's Outlook, and the company is working to marry its "knowledge worker" collaboration products with business-productivity applications.
Also on tap is Project Green, an initiative to replace Great Plains, Navision and Microsoft CRM with applications built on a single code base that depends on Microsoft's dizzying lineup of Longhorn branded clients, servers and development tools slated to start shipping in 2006...
K-Collector Topics: Customer Service cyber brands How to develop software knowledge work Longhorn managed code mobile phones Productivity Social networks Microsoft