Microsoft IM strategy a "power move"
Microsoft IM strategy a "power move"
The deal struck between Microsoft and Yahoo/AOL to create an instant messaging service inside corporate networks has been perceived as a "power move" by the META Group to become as dominant in IM as it is in enterprise email with Exchange.
It also believes that by building an IM presence inside applications, this will also lead the way to the convergence of collaboration and communications services and the integration of IP telephony and video services in the future.
Mike Gotta, the senior vice president and principal analyst at META Group expects there to be parallels in the market in the real-time client space as has happened with Web browsers and media players. "Microsoft's ultimate goal is to own the end-user experience around real-time collaboration and communications.
"This announcement is just one data point in a longer campaign by Microsoft to triangulate consumer, entertainment, and corporate markets around rich media."
The META Group believes that future versions of the messaging service will allow users to consolidate contacts from the public networks into a single, comprehensive buddy list.
In addition, Matt Cain, the senior vice president of the META Group believes that IBM will cut a similar deal with Yahoo and AOL or will suffer diminished momentum for its IM platforms.
The Microsoft alliance will also put pressure on vendors such as Open Text, Oracle, SAP, and Sun, some of which have plans to also offer connectivity to cellular IM networks.
Cain added: "Organisations will find investments in EIM more compelling if they enable connections to partners, suppliers, and customers to create a real-time, presence-driven collaborative environment that increases organisational productivity and process performance."
The META Group says that IT organisations need to assess how Microsoft's model fits into its enterprise architecture and complies with business requirements, for example, security, identity management, privacy and archival processes.
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