Says Microsoft not making headway in cloud computing; skeptical
of Azure platform; sees customers adapting to recession
SEATTLE, June 18 (Reuters):
Salesforce.com Inc's outspoken
chief executive took a few jabs at Microsoft Corp's lumbering efforts to build up its
'cloud computing' services on Thursday, on a visit to to the
world's largest software company's home town.
Marc Benioff, a former Oracle Corp employee who founded Salesforce.com 10 years ago,
rarely misses a chance to bash Microsoft as he spreads his gospel
of cutting out software installed on users' computers and getting
companies to use applications over the web.
"We are all about no software and they are all about software," Salesforce.com's Benioff said at a lunch in Seattle, when asked about Microsoft. "We are all about creating a whole new movement of cloud
computing to move companies away from Microsoft's proprietary
technology and monopolistic business practices."
Salesforce.com, with a "Ghostbusters"-style logo with the word "software" in a red, barred circle, is not an immediate threat to
Microsoft. Salesforce.com CRM had just over $1
billion in revenue last fiscal year, compared to Microsoft's $60
billion.
But Salesforce.com CRM has crept onto Microsoft's radar as it
attracts more companies to run business applications over the
web, saving money on software, servers and IT administration.
In doing so, Salesforce.com CRM has put itself at the forefront of the
broad phenomenon known as cloud computing, or selling software as
a service. Microsoft -- led by chief software architect Ray Ozzie
-- is moving in the same direction, the company says, but little
has actually changed in its product line-up.
"I'm a huge fan of Ray Ozzie, but I know how hard it is to
operate within the culture of Microsoft," said Benioff. "That's
why you really haven't seen them deliver any breaking technology
in the CRM area yet, even though they've been talking about it for
many years."
Microsoft has been investing heavily in date storage centers and
is expected to roll-out its "Azure" platform for cloud-based
applications later this year. But Salesforce.com's Benioff was skeptical. "I call it Azune, because it's got the same opportunities," Benioff joked, referring to Microsoft's relatively unpopular Zune
digital music player.
Salesforce.com's Benioff did not offer any hopes for a quick recovery from the
recession, but said his company was controlling costs and
customers were adapting to conditions. "Customers are starting to get their sea-legs, learning how to
operate in this environment," he said.
Source: Bill Rigby Link
Related: CRM
Salesforce.com
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