Microsoft's New Tune

Open source advocates cheered in the streets yesterday. That's because Microsoft announced it is releasing 30,000 pages of documentation for Windows (both desktop and server products) that were previously available to partners through a trade secret license.

Microsoft has finally capitulated to the open source movement by making Windows more interoperable with other software and the Web.

TechCrunch's Erick Schonfeld described this as Microsoft "singing a new tune." Basically, that the gang in Redmond has had a change in thinking about how to view open source.

Microsoft Sings a New Tune - Wants to Play Nice with Open Source
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/21/microsoft-sings-a-new-tune%e2%80%94wants-to-play-nice-with-open-source/


No way. I think the headline to Erick's post is misleading. If Microsoft could continue to drive revenue from its anti-open source approach they absolutely would. There's no reason to give away what you can sell.

Rather, Microsoft's leadership has come to the realization that the way they will continue to grow the business is by embracing (rather than fighting) open source.

The battle has been won. Open source it is!