Frankly Speaking: Twelve to compete

24.07.2006
Last week, Microsoft unveiled what it called "Windows Principles: Twelve Tenets to Promote Competition." Stop laughing. It could happen. Really. True, Microsoft's "voluntary principles" mainly consist of things the company already has to do in the wake of its disastrous antitrust trial a few years back. And true, Microsoft's spokesman promoting these competitive principles -- its chief competition officer, so to speak -- was the company's top lawyer, Brad Smith.

Someone cynical might think this was just a publicity stunt as Microsoft faces a new round of antitrust troubles.

But maybe -- just maybe -- Microsoft still just doesn't get competition.

Look, consider what the company says it will do to promote competition: not sabotage PC makers' ability to configure PCs with non-Microsoft software. And not retaliate against vendors that do so. And not cram Windows Live down users' throats. And make Windows programming interfaces, protocols and patents available (but not necessarily for free). And be in favor of Net neutrality.

Pretty lame, eh? It's largely what Microsoft has already been forced to do by the courts. But that's what you get when your ideas of competition come from your lawyer.

Microsoft can do better. It needs to do better, what with its market share eroding, its stock price stagnant and its reputation sinking. And as customers, we want Microsoft to do better.