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View Full Version : Microsoft Realigns for Next Wave of Innovation and Growth


Kris Kumar
09-22-2005, 05:30 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/sep05/09-20ExecChangesPR.mspx' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/sep05/09-20ExecChangesPR.mspx</a><br /><br /></div><i>"In order to drive greater agility in the execution of its software and services strategy, Microsoft Corp. today announced a realignment of the company into three newly formed divisions, each of which will be led by its own president. The Microsoft Platform Products &amp; Services Division will be led by Kevin Johnson and Jim Allchin as co-presidents; Jeff Raikes has been named president of the Microsoft Business Division; and Robbie Bach has been named as president of Microsoft Entertainment &amp; Devices Division. In addition, the company said Ray Ozzie will expand his role as chief technical officer by assuming responsibility for helping drive its software-based services strategy and execution across all three divisions. ... The new Microsoft Entertainment &amp; Devices Division, which combines the current Home and Entertainment Division with the current Mobile and Embedded Devices Division, will consolidate Microsoft’s industry engagement around devices to deliver even richer and more relevant scenarios for individuals at work, at home and when they’re mobile. It will also bring more focus to the company’s efforts in entertainment and related devices and services. Accordingly, the senior vice president of Microsoft’s Mobile and Embedded Devices Division, Pieter Knook, will report to Bach."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20050214-Microsoftlogo.gif" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><br /><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/rbach/default.mspx">Robbie Bach</a> in his previous role as the chief Xbox officer has been credited with the success of the Xbox gaming system. With his marketing skills, he enabled Microsoft to gain a critical foothold in the highly competitive and difficult gaming industry. He was able to convince the game developers to join the Xbox platform. And now he has been given the charge of the newly formed division called the Entertainment and Devices division. Let's hope that he will be able to perform the same marketing magic in the Smartphone world and convince the carriers and manufacturers to support the Windows Mobile 5.0 platform. What are your thoughts?

Mike Temporale
09-23-2005, 02:59 AM
I don't know what to think about this. Is he really going to focus on Mobile Devices, or just xbox/Entertainment? My thoughts say xbox and entertainment. Just because they are more fashionable, and more high profile in the public eye. I hope I'm wrong. :?

Kris Kumar
09-23-2005, 11:52 AM
I believe the intent of this re-alignment or re-org is to create better synergy between various products and team inside of Microsoft. And I think putting all the similar products under one leader.

Xbox, Pocket PC, Smartphone, Windows Automotive and Windows Embedded, all are products that are not sold directly or need some tight bonding with third-party vendor (carriers, game developers, manufacturers) and all are products that exist in the physical world, as opposed to the traditonal software that Microsoft is used to.

I think it is a good move.