http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2008/oct08/10-29SSTools.mspx
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/29/dell_does_azure_servers/
It finally happened. Microsoft announced it joined the party. At Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference it unveiled Azure, its new cloud O/S and other developer services. Developers will be able to host and build online services. Azure is expected to compete with Amazon's EC2. I can't say that I completely understand how this works but this is ceratinly a change for Microsoft. It also sounds like simple versions of its office suite will also be available for free. Microsoft? Really? I'll have to find out more information about all of this.
It is also interesting to note that Dell was picked as the sole provider of the hardware infrastructure and data services for Microsoft. The unit of Dell that will be providing the service was specifically created in 2006 to "chase the cloud-computing -Web 2.0-utility computing opportunity." This unit is still small with only 200 employees but it is chasing 30 customers (including Google). It sounds like this deal is pretty big for this unit and I'm sure for Dell overall. Is this move sort of like what IBM has done? Piecing out of the personal computer business into corporate network/hardware and business services/consulting? It will be interesting to see what this amounts to for Dell and Microsoft.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Boston to get own social networking website - The Boston Globe
http://gdw1blog.blogspot.com/2008/10/boston-to-get-own-social-networking.html
In response to Greg's blog and the Boston.com article -
I'm really struggling with the idea of another social networking site, especially since Menino endorses it and is chairman of the board. Will it really be a useful tool or is this just Menino setting himself up on a board as a part of his retirement plan? I was impressed he was able to get some high profile business leaders on the staff which should help, but could this be a million dollar goof like Greg alluded to? Notables on the board include the CEO of Boston Properties, Chairman/CEO of State Street, President/CEO of BNY Asset Management, as well as executives from Gillette (P&G) and Fidelity. There are also some high profile education leaders, such as the Presidents of BU and Northeastern and the Dean from Harvard Business School. Notably absent is any representation from The Boston College. Not surprising though as Boston hates that elite school out in Chestnut Hill.
How will this be useful? Don't we already have enough social network sites? How will people connect on this website? I would assume through a larger Boston network (done on Facebook), through schools (done on Facebook/LinkedIn), and through clubs and groups (done on Facebook/LinkedIn). I just feel like this is a gigantic waste of money. All of this can be done through what is out there. Perhaps they could have just created a group called Menino's Mob on Facebook. I am a bit frustrated because I feel that social networking is getting a little crazy. I understand its usefulness for connecting when needed but do I really need to know that Joe is "nervous about tonight's game" or Jen is "giving her daughter a bath." I think I just needed to vent a little bit especially after being at the BC game on Saturday and finding out that my friend's mom was on Facebook (and her daughter suggest that she friend me). Of course on Sunday I was on the site and Facebook suggested I might know my friend's mom. Wait, maybe this new site is the answer. This can be for all of the parents in the Boston area so they can play/network and stay out of their children's way. Good Luck Menino.
In response to Greg's blog and the Boston.com article -
I'm really struggling with the idea of another social networking site, especially since Menino endorses it and is chairman of the board. Will it really be a useful tool or is this just Menino setting himself up on a board as a part of his retirement plan? I was impressed he was able to get some high profile business leaders on the staff which should help, but could this be a million dollar goof like Greg alluded to? Notables on the board include the CEO of Boston Properties, Chairman/CEO of State Street, President/CEO of BNY Asset Management, as well as executives from Gillette (P&G) and Fidelity. There are also some high profile education leaders, such as the Presidents of BU and Northeastern and the Dean from Harvard Business School. Notably absent is any representation from The Boston College. Not surprising though as Boston hates that elite school out in Chestnut Hill.
How will this be useful? Don't we already have enough social network sites? How will people connect on this website? I would assume through a larger Boston network (done on Facebook), through schools (done on Facebook/LinkedIn), and through clubs and groups (done on Facebook/LinkedIn). I just feel like this is a gigantic waste of money. All of this can be done through what is out there. Perhaps they could have just created a group called Menino's Mob on Facebook. I am a bit frustrated because I feel that social networking is getting a little crazy. I understand its usefulness for connecting when needed but do I really need to know that Joe is "nervous about tonight's game" or Jen is "giving her daughter a bath." I think I just needed to vent a little bit especially after being at the BC game on Saturday and finding out that my friend's mom was on Facebook (and her daughter suggest that she friend me). Of course on Sunday I was on the site and Facebook suggested I might know my friend's mom. Wait, maybe this new site is the answer. This can be for all of the parents in the Boston area so they can play/network and stay out of their children's way. Good Luck Menino.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Web 2.0 comes to my company
I was looking on my company intranet site and the top headline was, "MFS extends voice with iTunes, RSS feeds." MFS has actaully joined Web 2.0. My first thought was that I was glad I knew what they were talking about but then I was proud that MFS has stepped in, although probably at the trough of disullusionment. A montth ago, my company starting posting podcasts on iTunes for free. The podcasts are market commentaries and investment outlook pieces that are available to everyone. More recently, MFS began offering RSS feeds from the company website that investments advisors can sign up for. The article even mentions how one can utilize RSS feeds through a reader and mentions GoogleReader. Even my company is pushing Google.
So what does this do for my company? It is another way that it can extend its voice to advisors and to investors, and more importantly in an very difficult time like present. It can launch podcasts that advisors can use to help educate their clients and it also place a face behind the name. To most investors, a mutual fund company is just one of many but if investors see and learn from podcasts, and keep up to date from MFS RSS feeds, perhaps those investors will keep investing with MFS and spread the word to others.
I wonder what Web 2.0 tools my firm will tackle next
So what does this do for my company? It is another way that it can extend its voice to advisors and to investors, and more importantly in an very difficult time like present. It can launch podcasts that advisors can use to help educate their clients and it also place a face behind the name. To most investors, a mutual fund company is just one of many but if investors see and learn from podcasts, and keep up to date from MFS RSS feeds, perhaps those investors will keep investing with MFS and spread the word to others.
I wonder what Web 2.0 tools my firm will tackle next
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