NEWS ANALYSIS: Microsoft had a rough 2011 when all things are taken into account. The software giant should have done several things to fix what has been a difficult 12 months.
Microsoft had
a rather interesting 2011. On one hand, the company did a fine job of appealing
to consumers with products like its Xbox 360, which continued to see
skyrocketing sales. But on the other hand, it lost the tablet space to Google
and Apple, and handset makers have largely balked at providing the company with
their top smartphones for Windows Phone 7. Most device makers focused their
efforts on Android, instead.
In other
words, this year was a bit of a mixed bag for Microsoft.
But as one
looks back at the past year and what could have been, it's clear that
Microsoft's management, including Steve Ballmer, could have done a much better
job of handling some of the many issues the company faced. From making
strategic acquisitions to maybe even getting rid of its top executive,
Microsoft had several more options at its disposal that, for one reason or
another, it failed to see. And that led to the company's troubles this year.
Read on to
find out what Microsoft should have done in 2011:
1. Acquire RIM
Let's face it:
The quickest way for Microsoft to regain its lost mobile market share is to
acquire a company. And perhaps the best acquisition option out there would have
been Research in Motion. The BlackBerry maker has watched its market cap fall,
making it cheaper and cheaper for any company to acquire it.
With RIM's help, Microsoft could have gone a long way in
establishing itself in the mobile space.
2. Maybe even acquire Nokia
Microsoft should have also considered acquiring Nokia. Although that company, like RIM, is
watching its market share fall, it has the emerging markets around the world
totally controlled. And those markets could be huge for Microsoft's Windows in
the coming years. Plus, with Nokia's help, Microsoft could have the
hardware-development apparatus it needs to get serious about the mobile market.
3. Get into the tablet hardware business
Following
that, why didn't Microsoft try getting into the tablet hardware business this
year? After all, as all the device makers went elsewhere to offer their
products, Microsoft could have delivered its own Windows 7-based tablet and
proven that it could actually work. The smart move would have been to launch
the tablet in the enterprise, since that would have been the market most likely
to find value in such a device.
4. Made Mango the first Windows Phone 7 version
When
Microsoft finally released the Mango version of Windows Phone 7 earlier this year, the company proved
that it really does know how to deliver a high-quality mobile platform. The
only issue is, Mango was the second iteration of the software. Microsoft should
have waited on Windows Phone 7 and given customers the full Mango experience
this year, rather than waste its time with sub-par Windows Phone 7
installations.
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