Ray Ozzie has been championed as the techie that will drive Microsoft to the always on nirvana where Google is ensconced and growing.Ray Ozzie was hailed as the oracle of the Web when he was named chief software architect
last June, a title that had been held by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. A favorite of Bill Gates, Ozzie was championed as the techie that would drive Microsoft to the always on nirvana where Google was ensconced and growing.
But Ozzie, after an initial flurry of blog postings and memos, has been largely unseen and unheard. That will end tomorrow when he speaks at the Goldman Sachs Technology Investment conference in Las Vegas.
Here are the ten questions he needs to answer:
1. How do the Microsoft online (Live) offerings play with the MS applications sold in a box? This is especially significant with Google starting to offer what it claims are enterprise-level office applications.
2. If the Internet is everything, shouldnt developers be creating applications based on browsers instead of a new personal computer operating system? Shouldnt developers be thinking about mashed-up enterprise applications running on systems operating within the Internet cloud instead of tuning new apps to Vista?
3. Ray Ozzie probably understands more about replicating applications and data between online and offline systems than any techie around. The online/offline data dance should be viewed as a Microsoft strength and a Google weakness, but Ozzie needs to explain why Google cant catch up this year in the race.
4. Security, security, security. Cmon Ray, explain how the Microsoft Live business will not be saddled with the historical security woes of Microsoft.
5. Identity. See security. Why should developers embrace the Microsoft version of the Internet cloud over other identity offerings?
6. Playing nice with others. The Web is all about standards and equal ecumenical interaction between applications. How does playing nice with others co-exist with Microsofts long held proposition of their applications working best in a Microsoft only environment.
7. Playing nice with your brothers and sisters. Ray, how about an organizational chart showing how Microsoft is embracing the Live offerings not only in marketing but in deep organizational and dollar commitment.
8. Living the Live life. What is the future for Live applications and services? Are the Live offerings only meant to be for consumers or very small companies? How about a product roadmap?
9. Timelines. Microsofts ability to deliver products on a timeline has been an embarrassment to Redmond. Trying to balance compatibility with past applications and also offer users reasons to upgrade too often results in timelines that slip off the cliff. Put a stake in the ground and give users some milestones to measure progress.
10. Where is your general staff? Sorry, but one general does make an army. Who are your five top strategists in infusing Live throughout Microsoft?
