“Marc Andreessen, whose former company Netscape battled Microsoft
Corp. (MSFT.O) in the storied browser war, Thursday announced plans
to become an Internet software development partner with his former
nemesis. Microsoft and Andreessen’s new company, Loudcloud Inc.,
announced a strategic alliance to provide software and services for
companies setting up Internet businesses.”
“The alliance was part of what Microsoft called its most
ambitious project since the Windows operating system, unveiled
Thursday. The so-called “dot-net” strategy will integrate its
software with the Internet and make it easier to swap information
between computing devices.”
“Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer heralded
the Loudcloud alliance as an “endorsement of Windows 2000 Server.”
… Andreessen said that his company needed to work with Microsoft
because its technology is influential and widely used, even for
Internet back shops where it is seen as a laggard. “The
conventional wisdom around Silicon Valley is that Microsoft has
gotten a lot weaker,” he said. “I don’t think that’s true; in most
ways they are stronger than they have ever been.”