CRN: Don’t Break Up Microsoft

“Are we to believe that breaking Microsoft into two, with one
company selling operating systems and the other selling everything
else, will result in products that integrate better, cost less and
prove more compelling and better for the consumer?”

“We seem to have forgotten what consumers need. They need
products that integrate well together and competition that results
in more options and better prices. I’m sorry, but a breakup is not
guaranteed to accomplished either of those goals.”

“If you think that the applications company, by bringing out a
version of Microsoft Office for Linux, will immediately elevate
Linux to a competitive position to Windows, ask yourself why that
hasn’t happened for Apple. “

“Microsoft has essentially become a public utility and we
need to regulate it as such. That means oversight of licensing
procedures and pricing. It means regulation of access to the
operating system code and desktop. What it doesn’t mean is a
breakup…”

Complete
Story