Microsoft, Salesforce Battle in CRM Cloud Space
In June, Salesforce claimed that Microsoft violated five Salesforce.com patents with its Windows Server AppFabric for installing and provisioning apps on Azure, Windows Live Services including Hotmail and SkyDrive storage, .NET, Windows 7, Server 2008 R2, and SharePoint products and technologies. As noted in this report on
ServerWatch, ‘The Cloud’ might be what the battle is really all about.
“When Microsoft turns into an alley thug, you can be pretty sure the company has something other than its server OSes on its mind. Recently, the company got itself into a right old barney with Salesforce.com, launching a lawsuit over nine CRM-related patents on which it claims Salesforce.com is infringing. The two organizations, let’s not forget, are competitors in the cloud-based CRM space.
"If Microsoft and Salesforce.com were two naughty schoolboys then the teacher
would come over, bang their heads together, and ask them what all this is about.
'The cloud, sir,' would be the correct answer.
"The cloud is certainly important for Microsoft, which launched its Azure
platform as a paid-for service at the beginning of this year. Since then,
though, we haven't really heard a great deal about it. That's a bit odd, given
the huge song and dance the company made when it announced Azure at its
Professional Developers Conference back in October 2008."
Read the Full “Cloud Computing’s Back Alley Brawl” Story at ServerWatch
Paul Ferrill has been writing for over 15 years about computers and network technology. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering as well as a MS in Electrical Engineering. He is a regular contributor to the computer trade press. He has a specialization in complex data analysis and storage. He has written hundreds of articles and two books for various outlets over the years. His articles have appeared in Enterprise Apps Today and InfoWorld, Network World, PC Magazine, Forbes, and many other publications.