Microsoft to open-source fans: It’s all about the love

SAN FRANCISCO–The advance billing had the audience assuming Daniel was about to enter the lions’ den. What they got was more along the lines of Mister Rogers talks tech.

Brad Smith, who is Microsoft’s top lawyer, went out of his way during an afternoon talk before a gathering of open-source die-hards to portray the software company as ready to turn a page in its relationship with the developer community.

“Two engineers in a room can solve a problem a lot better than 1,000 lawyers,” he told a packed ballroom of open-source enthusiasts and executives here, adding that the company wanted “conversation and dialogue.”

“We believe in the importance of building a bridge that makes it possible for different parts of the industry to work together,” Smith said. “We believe in a bridge that is scalable, that is workable, that is affordable…that’s a hard bridge to build. But I will say this–today more than ever that is a bridge we very much need to build.”

At another point in his keynote speech at the Open Source Business Conference on Tuesday, Smith said that Microsoft appreciated “the important role that open-source software plays in this industry” and complimented creators of open-source software for their passion. “That’s not what you always heard from us and I recognize that.”

“We all do software,” he continued. “We are all part of the same industry–all part of the same industry that has many diverse parts to it.”

But despite his conciliatory tone, Smith is no shrinking violet when it comes to protecting his company’s intellectual property. Last year, he told Fortune magazine that free and open-source software violated 235 Microsoft patents. At the time, he told Fortune that the Linux kernel violates 42 Microsoft patents, while its user interface and other design elements infringe on a further 65. OpenOffice.org is accused of infringing 45, along with 83 more in other free and open-source programs, according to the interview in Fortune.

So what’s changed in the intervening 10 months? Well, a lot.

Specifically, open-source software is now deeply entrenched in the computing industry and many of Microsoft’s customers use open-source software widely. Still, Microsoft came to town intent on sending a message. Earlier in the day, Sam Ramji, who is Microsoft’s “Director of Open Source & Linux strategy,” was all smiles and full of kumbaya as he participated in a panel with three other open-source executives.

In a later Q&A onstage, Smith allowed that Microsoft was treading on delicate ground–especially on the topic of patents. He acknowledged the differences and sought to undercut any appearance of confrontation.

“We live on both sides of the patent fence every day. We have more patent lawsuits than any company in our industry,” he said. “And yet we still believe in the benefits and value of a well-functioning patent system.”

In February, Microsoft tried to smooth its relationship with the open-source world. Microsoft now shares communication protocols governing how its software products communicate. Microsoft also pledged not to sue open-source programmers for developing software that uses those interfaces. What’s more, the company has developed what it calls an Open Source Interoperability Initiative to improve how open-source software works with its own products.

“It would be a mistake for any one of us to say that the last word has been written on any of this,” Smith said.

James Bottomley, the CTO of Steeleye Technology, who was onstage with Smith questioned how Microsoft intended to square its desire to work with the open-source community, given the two sharply different business models.

Smith answered that it would be on a “project-by-project basis.”

“I can’t give you an answer saying here’s a blank check–where do I sign,” he said. “We are moving. I recognize that contributing in a variety of ways is part of the equation.”

Smith didn’t climb to the top of his profession at the world’s largest software company by accident, and his formidable skill was on display as he guided through an assortment of audience questions–some teasing, some flip, some downright hostile–and finished the session on a note of mutual recognition.

“Ultimately, people are not caricatures. They get up in the morning. They get smarter. The industry evolves,” he said. “And you want that. You don’t want people to have to live with the caricatures and stay with those caricatures.”

Impact of a US slowdown on India’s software services sector are exaggerated: Wipro

DAVOS: Worries over the impact of a US slowdown on India’s software services sector are exaggerated and Wipro’s clients are showing no signs of reducing outsourcing, it’s top official said.

“I don’t think it’s a situation of gloom for the industry. I think it’s a situation of cautiousness for the industry,” Azim Premji, chairman of India’s third largest software services exporter said.

“Don’t get carried away. Run a tight ship. Have realistic expectations,” Premji said during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos.

Earlier this month, New York listed Wipro reported a lower than expected 11 per cent rise in quarterly profit, it’s slowest growth in four years and said higher billing rates should help offset rising costs from wage hikes and a firm local currency.

Bangalore based Wipro counts Cisco, Nortel and Credit Suisse among its clients. Premji said Wipro’s customers in the banking and financial services industry, hit by the subprime worries and wobbly markets, were likely to drive global outsourcing even more aggressively in an uncertain economic environment

Trying do drive more offshore work on IT is one fairly effective methodology of cost takeouts without much risk because they are used to it, they are used to their partners, they are familiar with the system.” “We are sitting pretty.

I think global delivery companies such as ours will be the last affected,” Premji said, echoing similar comments made by other leading Indian software firms.

The banking and financial services industry accounts for about 25 per cent of Wipro’s total IT revenue. Wipro, a diversified firm with interests in computer hardware and consumer goods, is majority-owned by Premji.

Shares in Indian IT firms were among the worst performers in a booming local market last year, hurt by concerns over the impact of a slowdown in the US, rising local wages and an appreciating currency.

“I think there is undue pessimism vis-a-vis the IT sector and I think it’ll correct itself sooner than later,” Premi said

Microsoft Goes Open Source?

Microsoft is expected to show a new friendliness to the open-source community by unveiling plans to release the source code to a part of its Silverlight technology at MIX 07 next week, according to sources familiar with the company’s plans.

Sources said Microsoft will also release a beta of Silverlight, a recently unveiled browser plug-in that allows Web content providers to offer a rich video and interactive media experience from directly within Web sites. The technology leverages Vista’s new graphics framework, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), and Microsoft is promoting it as a direct competitor to Adobe Systems’ Flash tool and delivery mechanism for rich multimedia content on the Web.

Specifics on which aspect of Silverlight will be open-sourced were not available, and Microsoft’s public relations firm declined to comment Friday.

ZenithOptimedia launches digital advertising arm

Chennai: ZenithOptimedia, a global media services agency, has launched Zed Digital India, its full service interactive and digital unit.

Zed Digital’s capabilities extend beyond interactive media buying into the full array of digital communications. The applications cover a range of services from online media, search engine and e-mail marketing, to technology development and hosting, interactive kiosks and signage, and e-commerce retail, as well as across the PC, mobile, OOH (out of home) and TV platforms.

The new entity will track all digital activities from conceptualisation to the execution stages and will provide for continuous monitoring and evaluation across each step with corrective action if required

According to Steve King, Worldwide CEO, ZenithOptimedia, “In an increasingly fragmented consumer mediascape where consumers are editors and not passive receivers of media, going digital is an obvious route to enhancing the ROI of our clients marketing budgets, in one of the most exciting markets of the new world.”

By virtue of its international alliances, the company already has HP, L’Oreal, British Airways amongst key clients, working in this integrated arena. Whilst taking advantage of its parent company’s positioning to ensure best in class service for common clients, the new entity is designed to create exciting opportunities for direct business.

Senior vice president Vineet Mathur who will report to CEO India, ZenithOptimedia Ambika Srivastava, will spearhead zed Digital India.

According to ZenithOptimedia recent forecast, global Internet advertising spend will grow by 28.2 per cent in 2007, at the same time ad spending in other media will grow by only 3.9 per cent. In other words, online ad spending will grow seven times faster. Zenith Optimedia also projects that the Internet’s share of worldwide total ad spending will increase from 5.8 per cent in 2006 to 8.6 per cent in 2009, overtaking other media such as radio and cinema.

In India, ZenithOptimedia predicts online expenditure will increase threefold to over Rs. 700 crores within two years.