Where to go Microsoft?

From the outsiders view Microsoft is in big trouble. It lost its innovative edge, has  no presence on the mobile market development of windows seems to be a blind alley and the cash machine Office is getting more and more complex without much benefit for the average user. So I expect a slow but steady decline. Could MS turn around its fate?

I think any strategy should be based on the Microsoft culture. And it has some strong point especially in software development or the ability to respond to challenges and learn from the others.

The first concern is Windows. I think the trouble with Windows is not with Windows at the first place. It's rather with the PCs which turn to a total commodity, and lost almost any innovation. As a result not only Microsoft has difficulties but the vendors too which rely strongly on Windows but maybe even Intel. So Windows should make the trick to decommoditizeWindows without losing the commodity market. I would suggest a stronger cooperation with Hardware makers like Dell, Acorn, HP, Sony and alike to develop more innovative and attractive products. And maybe it's time for an open source version of the Windows kernel.

Next is Office. Office must be positioned as an universal tool for content production for all kind of platforms. E.g. why I don't have a service to produce this blog from Word? Or publish a nice algorithm in Excel... To build such a platform is not easy but it could be an excellent springboard for other, more sophisticated services.

And there is the mobile stuff. Windows phone 7 is good. So why the hesitation? Go on and push it like hell! Maybe I'm too isolated but I haven't yet seen a commercial about any flashy new Windows phone 7 gadget.

Naturally it's all defensive. Innovation is still seems to be missing. Microsoft has shown some very interesting products like Surface or Kinect but there are no products around them. Some link is missing between research and product development. It's time fix this link.

Last but not least Microsoft should convince people that it's still at the top of the game and not an aging money hungry corporation.