“In the past five years Microsoft has seen the mobile market take off without being part of the ride. It is not likely that Microsoft will sit idly by and watch the corporate desktop/laptop space be replaced, in large part, by iOS devices. One possible Microsoft response is to make Microsoft’s server and networking products only work with their Windows 7x and 8 devices,” E. Werner Reschke writes for T-GAAP. “While this may seem like a backwards move, it may be what ends up happening. When an animal is in trapped in the corner, that is when they are most dangerous and most irrational. Microsoft will do anything to protect their corporate market share and revenue stream. It’s clear Microsoft’s mobile offerings are no where near Apple, so the next move is to try to cut Apple and others off at the knees.”
Reschke writes, “If Microsoft does take protective action, many IT departments will start to look elsewhere for networking and groupware services. But it’s highly unlikely that IT departments will be successful in switching out iOS devices for Windows 7 products, due to IT teams giving their user choices. To reign in choice sets up ugly fight, one where the VP with an iPad typically wins. One such company that IT departments may look to is Google. Google provides groupware (scheduling and email) as well as Google Docs (office-like products). While iOS devices work with Google’s cloud applications, this trend wouldn’t be something Apple would necessarily cheer. Google could take advantage of this move by making its cloud services work best with Android devices, and in this scenario Apple becomes the odd man out.”
Read more in the full article here.
You’re serious? I have to log in with a security fob TWICE to get to my servers. Then I have to log in with Windows AD again to run apps, move files, etc. If I leave my desk for 10 minutes I have to start all over again. You really think that the typical paranoid corporation is going to trust data to GOOGLE?!!! Really?!!!
Good point. Even in small businesses people are leery of Google.
Ahh, but in the world of journalistic prognostication, small realities like corporate security don’t matter. Sure, just use Google … or iCloud for that matter! LOL.
Truth is, MS is very much in the game, albeit late. The world runs on MSOffice and only MS can assure 100% interoperability with it on their devices. They can be late and still win.
Exactly what I was thinking, Thanks! and again SERIOUSLY?????
This is one way of looking at it. I suspect a 3rd party MDM (Mobile Device Management) market segment to flourish also. These products will bring full mobile integration and management to existing server platforms notwithstanding Microsoft’s desperation and irrationality. I would however like to see Apple not toss the *real* enterprise market away becoming just a consumer electronics company. I’m already feeling clients looking askance at Apple’s server offering, and eyeballing LINUX and Windows Server again. Only the smallest customers, 20 people or less are interested in the MacMini Server.
Never met an IT person who was not rabidly in love with Microsoft. The more Dells that are piled sky high in the server room, the dirtier in hog heaven the IT administrator is. That’s my impression anyway.
I don’t work in IT but I do meet with and speak to the IT staff in the company I work in and without exception they seem to adore Microsoft and for some weird reason Oracle and IBM. HP too come to think of it. Nary a whisper of Apple in the backend.
I think Apple’s doomed anyway no matter what they do – whether they bring out a new Xserve or not won’t make any difference. IT people hate Apple.
But Linux seems to be gaining ground. Probably because it’s cheap. Anything with the monicker cheap on it will prick up the CIO & CFO’s ears. The cheaper the better!
I was an IT person for some 25 years but was *never* in love with Microsoft. Then again, I started my professional work supporting UNIX systems. I used to joke that UNIX was created by Ph.D. computer scientists while Windows was created by college dropouts. (Of course, Steve Jobs was also a college dropout, but he was sui generis.) After some time doing network support, I ended up assigned to do desktop and server support (mostly Windows – yuk!). I did support a small community of Mac users and helped a research group buy and setup an Xserve/Xraid system. I’ve hardly touched Windows since.
The same holds true for my husband and I , he has a similar job and since we’ve used our first Mac’s, we don’t touch Windows either, he has to at work, however the boss bought them all Ipads and is looking into Imacs as is my doctors office which struck me as funny until I saw how the nurses and staff were using it to contact the doctor and take complete notes of my visits, update my record, photos included. That was very cool.
Yehhh. IT people are obviously SO important in tech decisions these days. I just love all those articles about the Windows and Android tablets being used for airline navigations, hospital functions, education and more. And then there are all the Linux tablets. Yep, those IT folks will obviously keep Apple sidelined.
I worked with IT people for years. They simply use what is the biggest and best. MSFT has been the leader forever. That’s just a fact. I didn’t say it worked flawlessly but it was the best available. AAPL could really make headway here currently with the rise in popularity in iPhones and iPads but maybe they don’t want to? Perhaps they know that they can’t win in everything (sorry fanboys) and are concentrating on areas they can dominate? AAPL was never a consideration in IT departments because they offered nothing. It’s not that IT people loved MSFT it’s simply all that was available realistically. Plus MSFT was aggressive like a rabid dog. AAPL didn’t even show up on the radar. Now, who knows?
Saying Apple offered nothing is far from the truth the IT department just never bothered to look. I ran a fairly large full directory based network and the only hardware that wasn’t apple was the switches. And the best part my annual operational cost were a fraction of my friends running MSFT networks. No licensing fees, very low EFF less support staff needed ( the real reason IT stays away).
People seem to be missing what I take to be the point of the article – or the situation at least – Apple’s enterprise strategy doesn’t revolve around servers anymore at all. Or PC’s for that matter.
Apple’s route into Enterprise IS in the exploding markets iDevices – in the 10’s of millions and more in time. And IT will be supporting them – likely mostly on MS servers.
MS partly recognizes this in the iOS offerings they’re starting to increase fairly rapidly – and now Office Live is on the iPad (if memory serves). And that this app or another recent release brings much of the “Metro experience” to the iPad.
I’m also expecting downloadable Office iOS apps soon as well – given that as work moves to non-PC devices, it will hurt MS to not be the default word processor, spreadsheet, etc. on them. Just as those programs are quite profitable for MS on the Mac. And meanwhile, – and plenty of work-alikes are emerging.
It’s not going to be a one company Enterprise world – and embracing is likely to be more profitable to Microsoft in the short to mid-term run, as Apple has such a huge head start on the still unreleased MS tablets, and barely noticed Win Phone 7.
Actually, there may be further disruption around the corner.
I hear from some friends I have in IT depts (for med insurance companies, no less!) that they are looking at and modeling the idea of “bring your own device/computer” plans where they pay you a yearly stipend, and you bring your own computer/phone/tablet, which they will support.
There would be limits and parameters put around that in terms of OEMs and OSs, of course. But if that saves IT tons of $$$ per year, it will have a profound effect on the business landscape once such a model is adopted by a certain percentage of big firms. Then — no matter who you are — you have to design, build and market to the consumer market.
CEO trumps CIO / CFO & IT dude in the “back of house”… If the CEO & Board members bring their new iPhones & iPads to work & want it “to just work” like Apple says, the IT Department will make it happen or will be unemployed. They do NOT want to hear that they just bought a “mistake” or “wasted money” on their iDevices that all their CEO friends have. They want results, not excuses or you’re escorted from “back of house” to become “out of house” on the curb.
Uh IT people hate Apple? References please,
An article this week said Apple will be the company to be picked on now, as Microsoft was, or whomever is at the top, good thoughts
GMAIL LOL never for business. Just two days ago my friend lost everything on GMAIL. GONE! Plus Google Docs it isn’t really free is it? I mean they use that data pool to either market crap to you or find more about you for their marketing profit machine. Why anyone would use them in business is beyond me.
Stupidity. Small mindedness. Lack of common sense. No appreciation of the difference between price and value. Ignorance of the central importance of multiple backups. Blind allegiance to the freetard faith. To name a few.
I think just the opposite. Microsoft hates Google MUCH more than Apple, so Microsoft would close access to its server software to Android devices and actively market that it works with Windows Phone and iOS devices. That would be a big blow to Android, which is what Microsoft really wants. Google is much more a threat to Microsoft than Apple.
OceApple and EastMicrosoft have always been at war with EurGoogle….
A 1984 take! Wonderful! +∞!
Yes, yes: not just a “good” reference, but DOUBLE-PLUS GOOD!
I doubt it. It would violate antitrust rules, and DOJ has taken Microsoft down that road before.
It looks like Apple is finished with the business server market. Let’s see how Apple is going to build on iCloud.
As a former IT manager I can tell you that purchasing decisions are often made by business owners who have no idea what they are buying, what the support ramifications are, or even if the product will work at all. Then they blame the IT person if it doesn’t workout. Very happy to be out of the business.