Monthly Archives: June 2009

Mobile SaaS

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When IBM tosses down 100,000,000 R&D dollars, we had all better pay attention. IBM has discovered mobile, no doubt dumfounded by the runaway popularity of its media rival Apple. I am sure that Apple’s original 1984 poke at the then-failing IBM left a shoeprint on IBM’s corporate butt. With IT hardware commoditizing and the market for IT services being finite and more competative, it would be unsurprising if IBM was looking for where to grow next. They may be as enamored by iPhones and Apple’s app store as a crazed public. IBM has decided to invest $100M into mobile communications research over a five year period. Though Big Blue is focusing primarily on extending enterprise IT to handies, they are not imune to the notion of enabling B2C and C2C interaction as well. Apple has demonstrated that selling to the masses generates massive muhla. Being an organization driven by numbers … Continue reading →

Desktop Drift

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Seems everyone is aiming for the desktop. Some are drifting slowly, trying to grind away Microsoft’s dominance. Others are planning a full frontal assault. Yes, Larry Ellison is in the latter category. The slow motion mob is of course Linux. Nearly a decade ago I was helping SuSE peddle the first competent Linux desktop distro. The Microsoft hurdle was steeper then than now, and we knew advising CIOs to conduct forced march migrations was folly. But CIOs were interested in researching alternatives, clearly disgruntled at being held captive by Bill Gates and his nerdy desperados. We advised a piece meal approach. Since our study of CIO attitudes concerning Linux showed that they wanted their IT staffs to be Linux literate, we suggested migrating just IT to Linux desktops (sans Microsoft support teams who both needed Windows on their PCs, but would also attempt CIO assassinations if they were forced to … Continue reading →

Black Java

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This year’s JavaOne is a conference stood on its head. A number of elements indicate that Java is thriving, but in odd tangents and with uncertain bearing. I’m sure it was only coincidental that all Sun employees on site were wearing black shirts and near-death experience expressions. Sun staffers looked like people who woke up in a casket at their own funeral. Or in Hell if they believe the rumors about Larry Ellison and his cloven hooves. Exhibit floors are where you find the real pulse of an industry. Forget keynote fairytales which are often more about FUD than fact. When companies drop thousands of dollars on booth space and staff time – when spending shows their intent – that is where you learn how to place your bets in any industry. After touring JavaOne, I’m buying more stock in Apple. No, Apple was not demoing nor did the spirit … Continue reading →