03.08.10
Invaded by Microsoft: Middle East, MOD Systems, NComputing, and Move
Summary: How Microsoft and its executives take positions of power in other companies and countries, which in turn suffer as a result
Microsoft is feeling the pressure [1, 2, 3, 4] and it wants to world to become as dependent as possible on Microsoft’s existence. The company is having some kind of a rally in the Middle East [1, 2, 3], as we have shown and covered on many occasions (with examples) in recent months, including some in Jordan. The government continues to put its arms around Microsoft (also here):
AMMAN – The government will sign a JD14 million agreement with Microsoft Corporation to provide the country’s ministries and public agencies with software and training, a government official said on Wednesday.
This is a big mistake. To embrace Microsoft is to put one’s future in the hands of yet another company/entity; it’s an increased risk, not just an increase in cost. Microsoft has sold many people the illusion that it is not troubled and won’t vanish, but this is totally false and PR agencies help this myth spread itself. In reality, Microsoft kills many of its products and suffers layoffs.
Another problem that we spotted last week is that a former Microsoft executive entered MOD Systems. Here is a press release on the subject.
MOD Systems, Inc. announced today that notable technology industry executives Will Poole and Dan Gerrity have joined the company’s Board of Directors. Poole and Gerrity have spent decades developing early stage companies and building successful organizations in the software, retail and digital entertainment industries. Their support of MOD Systems comes as the company prepares to introduce a broad digital entertainment solution that brings movies, television shows, music and games to consumers through kiosks in retail and other out-of-home environments. Poole and Gerrity join MOD Systems’ existing board members Michael Towers and CEO Anthony Bay, along with board observers from NCR Corporation (NYSE:NCR) and Toshiba Corporation. NCR and Toshiba are MOD Systems’ largest investors.
This is a mistake because Will Poole is loyal to an abusive company; he may have already undermined GNU/Linux at NComputing [1, 2, 3, 4], which slipped into obscurity now that it competes without any distinguishing factor. In the following new article that covers NComputing, the author doesn’t name any platforms other than Windows
Previously, NComputing offered similar setups for schools using a generic PC running a personal version of Windows XP or Vista. But with Microsoft’s new server software, schools will have a fully licensed operating system for their host PCs that is designed for simple installation in education and library settings and is fully supported by Microsoft. In the past, some educators were uneasy about similar setups because of the licensing question and the lack of support from Microsoft for these arrangements.
What about GNU/Linux? And why are NComputing’s GNU/Linux offerings no longer mentioned (at least in the above text)? NComputing grew closer to Microsoft after it had let a Microsoft executive enter its board. And now what? Here is another former Microsoft executive entering Move.
In an effort to reverse its losses, Move last year hired Steve Berkowitz as its CEO. Berkowitz’s background includes stints as CEO of Internet search engine Ask.com and as an executive in Microsoft Corp.’s Internet division.
How can these companies employ people who worked for a convicted monopolist by choice, let alone make them CEOs (like Juniper and VMware)? No wonder they are so troubled. The headline of the report above is “Move’s 4Q loss deepen amid real estate woes”. █
