01.22.08
Microsoft Proceeds to Attacking ODF-boasting Lotus
Aggression is a virtue?
A few days ago, there were miserable attempts by Microsoft to show that IBM and Google support OOXML. These claims were soon rubbished, leading prudent observers to realising that Microsoft can reach lower than the bottom of the barrel in its deceptive propaganda war against ODF. It hasn’t ended there. Microsoft moved on to mocking IBM’s Lotus. Here is IBM’s announcement: (one among several)
Lotus Symphony is a suite of software tools for creating text, spreadsheet and presentation documents — the most frequently used desktop tools — based on OpenOffice code. It supports the OpenDocument format (ODF), Microsoft Office and Lotus SmartSuite formats.
Now watch what Microsoft does.
It’s Lotusphere in Orlando, Fla,, and Microsoft just can’t resist playing spoiler to IBM announcements—software-as-a-service offerings for SMBs, new forthcoming Domino and Notes features, and software collaboration agreement with SAP.
This happens to sound familiar. When Sony launched the PlayStation 3 in various parts of the world, Microsoft’s management did not stand still. It actively tried to sabotage those parties rather than let its rivals do their thing. Could it not resist such malice which led some PlayStation fans to crying? Examples of such incidents include stories from France, England and Australia. At the moment, Microsoft also infiltrated Linux users groups, based on a report from earlier this week. █
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.