09.22.08
Quick Mention: Microsoft Launches Anti-VMware Web Site
From the company that brought you ODF slog, GNU/Linux slog, and Java slog…
We wrote some days ago about Microsoft's "Slog" against VMware. This campaign continues and reaches new heights under a new domain which Microsoft now operates. It’s www.vmwarecostswaytoomuch.com (VMware Costs Too Much). Is this how a publicly-traded company should behave?
About a year and a half ago, Microsoft tore down a site called “Linux Persona,” which was an ad hominem attack against GNU/Linux advocates. And it’s just one anti-GNU/Linux site among many more. Anti-ODF campaigns seem to be forgotten by some people as well [1, 2, 3, 4], especially now that Microsoft pretends to be a ‘buddy’ of ODF.
With tactics like these, Microsoft should not be shocked to find critics.
Domain Name: VMWARECOSTSWAYTOOMUCH.COM
Registrant [1472656]:
John Sockwell johns@wexley.com
2218 5th ave
Seattle
WA
98121
US
Administrative Contact [1472656]:
John Sockwell johns@wexley.com
2218 5th ave
Seattle
WA
98121
US
Phone: +1.2064388900
Billing Contact [1472656]:
John Sockwell johns@wexley.com
2218 5th ave
Seattle
WA
98121
US
Phone: +1.2064388900
Technical Contact [1472656]:
John Sockwell johns@wexley.com
2218 5th ave
Seattle
WA
98121
US
Phone: +1.2064388900
Real classy! According to a Microsoft MVP, “Microsoft brought up a new web site where they basically slam VMware for being, what they call, too expensive…”
So, John Sockwell is probably just operating on behalf of Microsoft here. Guerrilla market? No, more like “The Slog,” as Microsoft calls it. █
AlexH said,
September 22, 2008 at 7:40 am
Point of information, the site does say “© 2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved” right at the bottom (below the Microsoft adverts).
Roy Schestowitz said,
September 22, 2008 at 7:49 am
Thanks. I didn’t spot that immediately.
Dan O'Brian said,
September 22, 2008 at 7:49 am
Isn’t this exactly what this site does to Microsoft and Novell?
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
Dan O'Brian said,
September 22, 2008 at 7:51 am
I should mention it’s the same thing Apple does to Microsoft with their TV ads, and the TV ads actually reach a lot more people than some website that few people are likely to visit, especially had you not brought attention to it.
Roy Schestowitz said,
September 22, 2008 at 7:50 am
This site is totally independent. Also, Microsoft and Novell have their own ‘special’ domains to promote SUSE at the expense of GNU/Linux.
Roy Schestowitz said,
September 22, 2008 at 7:52 am
I don’t like Apple, either.
AlexH said,
September 22, 2008 at 7:55 am
@Dan: I’m not sure it’s surprising for a company to be advertising their product as better than the market leader, but yeah.
Can’t say I care for either Microsoft or VMWare, personally. Microsoft have a lot to answer for, but you hear stuff about VMWare’s bits being based on hacked-up Linux kernels…
Roy Schestowitz said,
September 22, 2008 at 7:59 am
Tell me when Red Hat launches a Web site just to point this out.
AlexH said,
September 22, 2008 at 8:15 am
Sorry, what does Red Hat have to do with this discussion?
Roy Schestowitz said,
September 22, 2008 at 8:24 am
It has its own virtualisation technology to promote. Only Microsoft resorts to “Slog” or “guerrilla marketing”.
AlexH said,
September 22, 2008 at 8:33 am
Red Hat don’t have a specific virtualisation product. They offer it, but they don’t really compete in that market.
I’m not sure why you think Microsoft are the only ones who resort to “guerrilla marketing”, and I’m not even sure why you class that as guerrilla – it doesn’t really fit the accepted definition of the term.
Certainly I can think of about ten companies who’ve run similar campaigns off the top of my head without even looking.
mike said,
September 22, 2008 at 6:27 pm
List 10 then, off the top of your head?
Anyway, this site is largely about MS, not nike or coke.
Roy Schestowitz said,
September 22, 2008 at 6:55 pm
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1601
“Burton Research Director Drue Reeves noted that Microsoft representatives were handing out cards with the URL outside VMware’s user conference in Las Vegas last week until they were asked to leave the premises.”
http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10008478o-2000331759b,00.htm?new_comment
“This is not the first time that I’ve seen this kind of behaviour. Back in the late 1990s when the Outlook vs Notes war was raging, Microsoft decided to hold its Outlook conference in Boston, which also happened to be the stopping ground of Lotus, maker of Notes. Lotus hired a fleet of vans embossed with its logo to drive round and around the Microsoft exhibition to show the Redmond boys it wasn’t going to take such provocation lying down. Juvenile but amusing.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6485483.stm
“Microsoft crashes Sony PS3 launch [...] In both London and France Microsoft mounted publicity stunts to rub some of the gloss off Sony’s launch events.”