“The Internet Age has changed the established rules of software,
including the influence that small companies have in creating
seismic shifts in the way global corporations function…”
“Microsoft is to offer its popular desktop software for rent
over the Internet as early as the first quarter of next year
reports the Financial Times of London, which also quotes analysts
who believe the market for software rented over the internet is
likely to expand rapidly…”
“He notes that Microsoft’s announcement of its intention to
make Microsoft Office available over the Internet came within days
of being caught off-guard by Sun Microsystems’ early September
revelation it was giving away Star Office, a Microsoft Office
lookalike, for free.“
“Sun’s move to give away Star Office for free over the Internet
and make its source codes available to software developers clearly
sent a wake up call to all traditional software vendors that the
days for selling their applications as packaged goods is coming to
a close.”