“Microsoft Corp… will transform in the next decade from a
traditional software firm selling products on CDs to a fee-based
software service company, Microsoft President Steve Ballmer… told
an information technology forum sponsored by GartnerGroup Inc.”
“The software is going to have to transform itself from a CD to
a service that continually takes care of itself and updates
itself,” he said.”
“When asked about open sourcing…, Ballmer said that was too
big of a step… “If you look at what open source means today, it
means free. We have no plans for that,” he said.
“But he said the company was considering a modified form of
open sourcing that would allow established customers access to some
codes so that they could try to solve their own problems.
Related Story:
Infoworld:
Ballmer endures Microsoft criticisms, pledges enterprise
improvements (Oct 14, 1999)