Redefining Microsoft?

While some things change, at least some things still fundamentally remain the same. In the beginning Microsoft didn’t create the hardware or applications (then called PC Software), it created MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) and, later, Windows to provide the platforms on which software could interface and leverage the hardware for which it was built. Fast-forward nearly 40 years and the Microsoft of today is still very much focused on providing the platforms on which others can innovate and deliver innovation to their organizations and customers. However, instead of operating on iron-sided IBM machines sitting atop desks for word processing, Microsoft now seems to be gearing up to provide the CommIT platform of the future.

Microsoft has been investing heavily in cloud-based technologies to supply enterprises such as COMET service providers (CSPs) with a flexible information technology (IT) infrastructure that increases productivity and drives down traditional management costs. From an IT perspective Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, Dynamics CRM, Azure, and now Skype and Yammer provide mobile, multi-device access to help organizations communicate and work more effectively. Add to this Microsoft’s investment and focus on ecosystem innovation and, for CSPs, it means broader accessibility to customer information, product catalog, billing, and more. Moreover, it means seamless, standards-compliant integration between Microsoft’s IT infrastructure and its OSS/BSS systems.

“We are investing heavily in our technology, partners and development network to provide a common platform so that products and services can be designed once and be delivered over multiple technologies and devices,” said Eric Troup, CTO of Worldwide Communications and Media Industries at Microsoft.

In response to a recent paper written by Troup on Multi-Cloud Delivery and End-to-End Management, TM Forum Chairman Keith Willetts was quoted as saying, "Although the industry does not yet fully appreciate the challenges and costs of operating in a multi-cloud environment, minimizing integration and operating costs will be a critical success factor.” He went on to applaud Troup’s paper and Microsoft’s initiative in this area.

Microsoft was the founding member of the TM Forum Service Delivery Framework (SDF) initiative and continues to work on the project’s current iteration, called Software Enabled Services (SES) Management, to further drive the standards that provide interoperability and multi-device and multi-technology service delivery.

“Cloud is really taking a driving seat in a lot of these technologies, such as BSS systems,” added Rick Lievano, Industry Technology Strategist, Communications & Media Sector, at Microsoft. “But the standards that exist today really don’t lend themselves to delivering all systems, from on-premise to the cloud. That’s part of the work we are doing with TM Forum, to help propose a solution to help them mobilize on-premise solutions to the cloud.”

What’s Next for Microsoft?

While the future may be somewhat uncertain, Microsoft is betting big on the cloud by building massive, top-tier data centers and embracing a unified approach to on-premise and off-premise applications. It’s investing heavily in social enterprise networking and integrating the power of social networking into its solutions. It’s also betting on innovation with its partners by empowering the ecosystem to innovate on Microsoft platform products, and betting on its customers, helping them transform by leveraging the latest CommIT technologies. Microsoft is betting on standards by driving forward those that provide interoperability and ease of development for multi-device and multi-technology COMET services, and it’s continuing to bet on its device strategy and capitalize on momentum there. If you look at the whole picture the only thing that may be certain is that Microsoft is going to continue to make waves.