RealNetworks last week filed a lawsuit alleging that Microsoft balked at providing it information on Windows' application programming interfaces (APIs), and has said that the damages it seeks could climb above $1 billion.
"If Microsoft isn't answering Real's API questions, and that's not the mark of a mature company," Cherry said. "A lot more lawsuits like this will come from that kind of activity and attitude."
Microsoft must also address this maturation issue if it's to continue to boost revenue, other Directions on Microsoft analysts said.
"Microsoft still has the same basic business model as it did in the 1990's, a model that is largely predicated on creating software grand slams that compel customers to upgrade," said lead analyst Paul DeGroot. That's the reason why the company has been pouring so many of its development resources into Longhorn: it's looking for that next big hit.
Such a strategy, however, is increasingly showing serious signs of aging. "Short of selling customers on product upgrades, Microsoft hasn't found an effective way to convert its installed base advantage into a steady revenue stream."
To realize the benefits of cloud-native software, an application must actually be cloud-native—designed to run in the cloud, interacting with disaggregated cloud services, fully manageable as code—to deliver the expected benefits.
By combining resources and expertise, the AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium will offer a blueprint for how industries can adapt to an AI-dominated future.
IT leaders should heed the guidance of cybersecurity insurance providers who think businesses should prioritize security education, incident preparedness, regular internal audits, and ongoing vulnerability scanning and patching.
