“During an important teleconference to acknowledge Richard
Belluzzo as group vp of the Redmond giant’s consumer and commerce
group, Ballmer told press and analysts that Microsoft is mapping a
strategy for providing its flagship Microsoft Office and other
applications as web-hosted services…”
“In a services context, Sun may launch StarPortal, a web version
of StarOffice, as early as October. Sun also plans to provide the
code for the desktop and web versions of the software to partners
such as AT&T to re-package as their own branded services.”
“That announcement, coming from one of its most hostile
competitors, forced Microsoft to reveal its hand. Sun in
effect was opening the door for itself and others to compete with
Office, a product that most estimates make responsible for at least
40 percent of Microsoft’s revenue.”