Category Microsoft
An Underdog In A Mobile-First World, Microsoft Needs LinkedIn To Connect Smartphone Users And B2B Advertisers
Remember when Microsoft bought Skype ($8.5 billion)? That was the key to Microsoft’s mobile strategy. How about the time Microsoft bought Mojang, the creator of Minecraft ($2.5 billion)? The title’s loyal, premium-paying following and cross-generational appeal was the key to Microsoft’s mobile strategy. Then Microsoft bought Nokia’s smartphone business ($9.465 billion). Now THAT was the engine […]
Windows Phone: What Might Have Been
A week ago, my two-year old Lumia Icon fell out of my pocket. Though gravity had only about seven inches with which to wreak havoc, the phone landed screen-side down on a bump on my slate patio, sending a spider web of cracks through the glass. Cracked screen on my Lumia Icon My phone’s demise […]
My Journey From A Fortune Five Giant To A Startup, One Year Later
A year ago this week, I left my job at Microsoft, currently one of the five largest companies by market capitalization, to join a start up, Ampush. Lots of people decide to leave big companies for small ones. For some, it doesn’t work out, as Dan Lyons describes of his “hellish” experience at HubSpot. Sandi MacPherson, […]
The Key To Windows 10 Success: The App-ification Of The PC
Over the last week or so, I and millions of others have installed Windows 10. The upgrade happened seamlessly, and in an Apple-esque way, everything just works. Kudos to Microsoft for what has to count as the most ambitious software push in history. Windows 10 not only offers consumers a more streamlined and useful experience. It’s […]
Microsoft Does Not Need A Smartphone To Be A Mobile Force
Radio-Free Mobile, one of my favorite blogs, posited recently that Microsoft may be making plans to walk away from its smartphone business. After all, Microsoft is not known for competing in segments in which it cannot dominate, much less, as in the case of smartphone operating systems, achieve just 3 percent market share globally. Cutting […]
Downsizing’s Silver Linings
I joined Microsoft about three months ago as a result of its acquisition of Nokia’s devices business. Last week, Microsoft announced a restructuring that will result in the loss of thousands of jobs, including many previously held by friends of mine. When I include my years at Nokia, I have survived layoffs, including last week’s, […]
Hello, Microsoft
After the outpouring of well wishes that so many readers shared following my “Farewell, Nokia” post, let me preface this week’s update by offering my appreciation to all of you who contacted me. I like to think that I enjoyed an even happier first week at Microsoft than my colleagues because you gave me an excuse to […]
Farewell, Nokia
Friday marked my last day with Nokia. Today, I join Microsoft as a part of the company’s massive purchase of Nokia’s devices business. Lurking right beneath the mechanics of the transfer – the processes, procedures, policies, buildings, and finances – are enough people to fill a small city. Think about how meaningful your first day at your […]
Why Mobile OS Updates Are The Right Time To Amplify Your Marketing
Marketers love big occasions. Product anniversaries, major holidays, national elections, the Olympics, the World Cup, the Super Bowl, and the Oscars all give marketers a platform upon which to engage and excite their customers. Even if a company doesn’t officially sponsor one of these events, marketers have figured out ways to draft off their momentum to […]
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