04.12.10
Microsoft’s Media Incursion and Latest FUD Against Google
“The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity.”
–Andre Gide
Summary: Microsoft staff enters media companies and a new marketing blitz is focused on daemonising Google based on “privacy” (which Microsoft itself does not honour)
Back in February, Microsoft was reportedly going to acquire CrowdStar, but a new report that’s cited elsewhere suggests that this would not happen.
Back in February, we reported on the growing rumors surrounding a potential purchase of Facebook game developer CrowdStar by Microsoft. Then, the rumors had a deal coming perhaps just a few short weeks into the future. Now almost two months later, the news on the deal has turned sour.
As we pointed out before, the danger here is that Microsoft would exclude GNU/Linux from online gaming, mostly using Silver Lie (Windows and Mac OS X only).
So Microsoft is not acquiring this one company but what we do find is that former Microsoft executives enter a variety of marketing/media companies. Here is Market Leader’s board of directors picking a Microsoft chief:
Market Leader (NASDAQ: LEDR) ( www.MarketLeader.com : www.MarketLeader.com ), an innovator in online marketing and technology solutions for real estate professionals, today announced that Mike Galgon has joined its Board of Directors effective immediately. Galgon, co-founder of aQuantive and most recently Chief Advertising Strategist for Microsoft Corp, brings decades of software and advertising experience to the Market Leader board.
We also gave quite a few other examples of top executives from aQuantive, who left Microsoft only to join other companies (mostly in advertising). Then there is the issue with Juniper [1, 2, 3], which provides Windows services after its management positions were inherited by Microsoft executives. Juniper is now acquiring Ankeena Networks:
Also, Juniper this week said it is acquiring partner Ankeena Networks, a privately held maker of software for optimizing media content delivery, for no more than $100 million.
The danger here is that Microsoft software will be pushed into these products. Microsoft employees tend to favour Microsoft’s way of doing things.
Google FUD Changes Gears
Based on some new reports [1, 2], Microsoft is sliming Google on the Web. As Microsoft’s booster Gavin Clarke put it:
Signs are emerging that Microsoft has realized it can exploit concerns over what Google does with information involving where you’ve surfed and what you’ve searched for.
The same tactics are being used by Microsoft executives who are also BBC 'moles'. Meanwhile, over in China, Microsoft expresses its commitment to the Chinese regime. Microsoft is being accused of “enabling tyranny” [1, 2], but it is accusing Google of tracking keystrokes, compromising privacy in the same way Microsoft does. These hypocritical propaganda campaigns were dissected here before [1, 2].
It is really quite a marketing campaign:
In an apparent offensive move against Google, Microsoft released an online video this week on its TechNet Edge blog, claiming that Google’s Chrome web browser “is stealing your privacy.”
Another new campaign is a “pledge” not to read E-mails, which evokes memories of the following video. █
