Posted on

Future of the web and HTML 5

With push from Apple and Google, finally HTML 5 appears to be the future of  web. Even Microsoft which has tried very hard to push its Silverlight, has given in by implementing HTML 5 support with IE9. With Windows 8 expected to bring  HTML5 apps to mainstream consumers,  HTML 5 adaptation cant get better boost.

But days of HTML 5 only sites are still years away, last week I was playing with some of the popular tags and could immediately notice remarkable difference between Google Chrome and Firefox in their support and implementation. And IE9 is  not ready for adoption in enterprise. Over next few years there will be arguments and  counter arguments regarding what is best for future of HTML 5, unlike the past where Microsoft used to set the rules in HTML game and rest followed, we have other players already in the game and Microsoft would be expected to follow Standards.

With the advent of HTML5 the biggest benefit will  be for low power devices, on the other hand Adobe Flash and  Microsoft’s Silverlight will be the biggest casualties. And with advent of HTML apps, Microsoft’s dominance in OS realm will be seriously threated by likes of Google and Apple, overall exciting phase awaits every computer user.

Posted on

Blackberry (RIM) facing a Grim future with BES

Blackberry Manufacturer , Research In Motion is facing a tough challenge in the Mobile Device space, with competition from Apple and whole bunch of new Device vendors powered by Android.  And its device fortunes are tightly coupled with Enterprises continuing to use BES for Mobile email.

Though RIM has brought out quite a few new devices in the recent past like the Blackberry Torch, still its Device space is pale in comparison to Apple or Android Ecosystem. Though RIM allowed BES client softwares for other Mobile devices in the past, it ceased this practice in hope of growing its Handset business. But this could backfire in the current scenario.

Most of the big enterprises use Microsoft’s Exchange server or IBM Domino, and there are others  who use simple POP/SMTP, or IMAP service through vendors like Google. And Blackberry devices provide a way of accessing the mails through its BES – Blackberry Enterprise Service and BIS – Blackberry Internet Service. BES is a costly affair , the data plan costing 3 times than an regular basic data plan. For instance ATT charges $15 Minimum data plan for iPhone and other smartphones, whereas a blackberry with BES needs a Minimum data plan of $40.

Cost being one factor, But the device adaptation is another.  With so much fanfare and push for devices running iOS and Android, many enterprises are thinking of allowing the device access through less costlier services like Exchange ActiveSync (from Microsoft), which needs a basic data plan. My employer recently , silently rolled out Active Sync  access to enable  Iphones and iPad’s in particular, a decision pitched by Some Senior Managers who wanted to use iPhones.

With feature set of Microsoft Active Sync increasing rapidly with Active Sync 12 (currently 14), and licensing with Apple and Many Android device Manufacturers,  RIM is facing a bleak future.  If RIM doesnt move fast and introduce new compelling features or reinvent its Device segment  it is going to be very tough  ride.

Posted on

Larry Page’s not so impressive CEO debut

Google’s new CEO and his team would have definitely wanted to have a better debut than what was happened on the Quarterly  earnings call.  Like a student coming late to class and giving excuses Page’s excuses and statement looked silly and Childish, combine it with increasing expenditure, market got spooked.

After a brief period in 1998-2000 , Google was run by its founder Larry Page , but with insistence of well wishers and pressure from Investors the CEO role was given to a older Gentleman in Eric Schmidt. Who with support from Page and Brin helped grow the company from a small search engine to its current position.

Instead of taking the lead and taking questions, Page was introduced as a special guest, who doesn’t have much time for the call, who in turn gave a written statement and more than a couple of times reiterated that everything was going as per plan in Google. With the way he approached the call made one wonder if Page took the whole thing  very light,  may be similar to how the  his day at Office prior to CEO days.

Many have described how fun it is to work in Googleplex and how Page runs his business in a casual way, but Wall Street doesn’t run like that. Thats where it was expected someone  would step in and correct Page, it appears either no one did or Page didn’t listen. Even when Schmidt was being replaced there were questions about his CEO skills other than 2 years at Google’s helm for a 100 employees company.

If Larry Page has his way, Google will take more risk, invest more in high tech projects  and take more drastic steps. All these might sound exciting, but with a resurgent Microsoft and Facebook to contend, investors may not feel the same.