ComputerWorld: IDC: Microsoft breakup would benefit the industry

"International Data Corp. (IDC) is arguing in a report that Microsoft Corp. and the industry would be better off if the company was broken up."

"Microsoft offspring, divided along operating-system, application, tools and database lines, would then be free to offer products for other operating systems "and get away from the stranglehold of the NT-only platform," said one of the report's authors, Tony Picardi, an analyst at the Framingham, Mass.-based company. The report was prepared for clients of IDC."

"Microsoft's continued goal of selling comprehensive, Windows-specific packages to customers is "unrealistic," said Picardi. Offering Microsoft-only solutions "is the same thing as saying 'We're not going to trade with you unless you speak English.' "

"IDC believes the company could be divided along operating-systems and middleware lines; tools and databases; applications; hardware devices; and content and telecommunications."

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• CNET News.com: DOJ calls report of Microsoft breakup "inaccurate"(Jan 12, 2000)
• TechWeb: DOJ Said To Be Set To Break Up Microsoft(Jan 12, 2000)
• Business Week: Does a [Microsoft] Breakup Make Sense?(Nov 17, 1999)
• San Jose Mercury: Industry group endorses Microsoft breakup(Mar 04, 1999)