Microsoft grows up

Developers within enterprise and independent software vendors (ISVs) are now much smarter, more deeply engaged with the wider developer community, and expect major development platform vendors to take cognisance of their feedback.

This is the view of Vic Gundotra, GM for platform strategy at Microsoft. US-based Gundotra said during a recent visit to SA that Microsoft is being forced to respond earlier than ever before to input from the developer community concerning new platforms and products.

"Enterprises that have internal applications they are considering moving to new development tools or platforms, want training and early access to Microsoft technology," says Gundotra.

He says there is a new wave of developer activity on the Microsoft developer platform now that the initial enthusiasm for open source has passed and developers are beginning to realise the business need for intellectual property protection and a real economic model.

"Gone are the days of a decade ago where the market just waited for Microsoft to release a product before working with it, but nowadays Microsoft has special early adopter programmes," says Gundotra.

"Microsoft has come to see the benefit of having an accurate sense of where a product will stand in the market by the time it is released through deep engagement with enterprise and ISVs."

Gundotra says this new kind of openness has emerged from a growing realisation that Microsoft`s role has changed as it has evolved from a start-up company to a world corporation with leadership responsibilities. "It`s a position we are trying to mature into. Admittedly, we have had missteps at times, but the desire is there to be a mature, responsible word leader," affirms Gundotra.

Microsoft selects customers and partners to join the early adopter programmes between 36 and 12 months ahead of release based on set criteria to determine at which stage particular players should become involved.

"There may have been a period in the mid-90s after the success with Netscape that Microsoft may have lost focus briefly, but that is no longer true," says Gundotra. "Microsoft now deeply understands that our success is dependent on others and we are more structured to engage with the market," he concludes.