In the client-server age, Microsoft had a classic one-two combo in Windows NT Server and Windows 95. Fast forward to 2012 or so, and it’s clear that Microsoft hopes to reinvent that classic combo for the cloud computing era. The two key ingredients: Windows 8 and Office 365 cloud services.
Picture this: Windows 8 running on millions of tablets and desktops, designed as the most ideal end-user platform for accessing Office 365 and Windows Azure cloud services. But will that dream scenario become a reality?
Shaky Start
Admittedly, the Office 365 cloud suite is off to a rocky start. The suite, launched on June 28, includes Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and other SaaS applications from Microsoft. Office 365 was supposed to be a more reliable successor to Microsoft BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite).
No doubt, BPOS suffered its share of outages and scalability issues. But only two months out the door, Office 365 also is suffering from hiccups and outages.
Promising Demo
Meanwhile, Microsoft today demonstrated Windows 8 at the BUILD conference in Anaheim, Calif. Our sister web site, The VAR Guy, was blown away by the Windows 8 preview.
But Windows 8 is developer code, and a lot can go wrong with the operating system between now and launch date, notes MSPmentor.
Any-to-Any Communications
Long term, Talkin’ Cloud sees a pretty clear channel strategy for Microsoft’s various desktop and cloud platforms. Simply put, Microsoft should:
- Make sure Windows 8 is the best tablet and desktop operating system for accessing Office 365 and Windows Azure cloud services.
- Make sure Office 365 and Windows Azure have native apps that run incredibly well on Apple iOS (iPad and iPhone) and Google Android (smartphone and tablet) devices.
Are you seeing a pattern here? The client-server lock-in mentality is dead. Microsoft can no longer pretend that it’s a Windows-only world, especially when channel partners are supporting heterogeneous on-premise and cloud environments.
The Windows 8 team must connect exceptionally well to all cloud services. While the Windows cloud teams — Office 365 and Azure — must connect exceptionally well to all major client devices.
Still, Microsoft can sprinkle in some proprietary add-ons along the way, particularly Office 365 and Windows Azure app stores that run best with Windows 8 clients (just a hunch…).
The 
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