by Ron Miller

How Microsoft got its own employees to use Yammer more -- and email less

Microsoft paid a hefty price for Yammer, so it's only right that it's using the tool internally as its enterprise social network and reaping the benefits through reduced email.

Read my full story on CITEworld.

Photo Credit: CanStockPhoto

5 Links for Developers and IT Pros 6-7-13

This week, we look at why developers are cheap bastards, why Windows 8 is failing and how smart developers generate lousy code.

See my all the links and commentary on the Ness Software Engineering Services blog.

Photo Credit: Tomma Henckel under Creative Commons 2.0 share alike/attribution license.

Microsoft's Mobile Futility Could Be Its Reality

It may be time for Microsoft to simply face facts about its mobile strategy. The numbers don't lie and Win8 smartphones and tablets are barely making a dent.

Read my full post on my TechTarget View from Above blog.

Photo Credit: Ron Miller

Microsoft still doesn't get tablets. Here's evidence.

When Bill Gates went on TV last week purporting to know what iPad users want -- a keyboard and a copy of Office -- he exposed himself as an out of touch executive, but worse he revealed Microsoft's true tablet strategy, which is the same as it ever was.

Read my full post on my TechTarget View from Above blog.

Photo Credit:  batmoo on Flickr. Used under CC 2.0 Share Alike/Attribution license.

The corporate phone is dead. Long live BYOD.

BlackBerry and Microsoft have tried to brand themselves as the corporate phone, but in an age when employees are for the most part choosing their own phones, that doesn't seem to scoring many points with users -- and the companies continue to lose market share.

Read my full commentary on CITEworld.     

Photo Credit: Ron Miller

Suddenly everyone wants to follow Apple's integrated hardware-software model

What do Google, Microsoft, Samsung and Amazon all have in common? They are trying to emulate Apple's successful software-hardware integration strategy -- but do these competitors have the chops to pull it off?

Read my full post on the Ness Software Engineering Services blog.

Photo Credit: Google

Microsoft getting squeezed between iPad and Chromebook

As Microsoft struggles to stay relevant, squeezed between the iPad on one side and Chromebook on the other, sales of Windows 8 devices are grim -- and if you're an IT pro looking to the future, it's worth noting that there are alternatives now.

Read my full commentary on the Ness Software Engineering Services blog.

Photo Credit I'm a PC: bytesrc on Flickr. Used under Creative Commons SA license.

Can Microsoft or BlackBerry Break the iOS/Android Developer Stronghold?

Microsoft and BlackBerry face a a paradox. They can't really attract developers in large numbers away from iOS and Android without a critical mass of phones -- and phone buyers tend to stay away from phones without a vibrant app store. It's a stalemate that's going to be tough to break.

Read my full post on the Ness Software Engineering Services blog.

Graphic Credit: Tsahi Levent-Levi on Flickr. Used under Creative Commons SA license.

Google QuickOffice update ups ante in cloud battle with Microsoft

This one looks at the Google Apps for Enterprise upgrade to QuickOffice that lets you view and edit Office documents on just about any device, and it's just one more shot across Micrososft's cloud bow.

Read my article on CITEworld.

Photo | Canstock Photo

Buh-bye RIM and Other Mobile Predictions for 2013

It's that time of year when the news cycle slows and the tech journalist's mind looks at predictions to fill the news hole. I make some bold mobile prognostications for next year including predicting the end of RIM. 

See all my predictions on my TechTarget View from Above blog.