A recent leaked email appeared to suggest that Microsoft soon will prohibit employees from spending Apple products. While
are not prohibited from purchasing iPads and Macs for their own
personal use, the company is banning departments from purchasing Apple
products for employees. In addition, Microsoft phasing out any existing Macintosh computers and iPads.
While
Microsoft refused to comment on the story or email published by Tom's
Hardware, the message is presumably by Alain Crozier and is part of the
sales, Marketing and services group at Microsoft. According to his profile Microsoft there is indeed a Alain Crozier listed as Corporate VP and CFO of the group said. So even if this is false, at least the pranksters did their job.
Assuming that the internal communications is lawful, a total ban on any Apple device seems drastic. I
can understand that Microsoft probably wants its employees to use
homemade products (or at least not produced by their main competitor). On
the contrary, I can empathize with few users who are accustomed to
perform their job duties using the Apple devices, services and
interfaces. If you are Mac users, for example,
the adaptation to work in Windows, as they grow up with another
operating system can be difficult.
No Mac ClubFrom (Homers) loss of e-mail alone, it is not clear exactly who received the statement. After
some consideration of the illogical nature of internal developers and
product teams at Apple an obstacle, it is unlikely that Apple's ban
could be executed throughout the whole society. After
all, Microsoft began developing iOS applications, Kinectimals,
SkyDrive, and OneNote, there are teams working on Office for Mac, and so
forth. Rather, the email would make more sense when it is applied only to civil servants and clients. Personal PR Marketing team, and the sales force are likely candidates for receiving email, no Apple product. Making
sure that the audience sees only the devices used by Microsoft
employees, helps to promote an image of standing Microsoft products. Business areas not under public control, Microsoft could continue help developers and engineers to use Apple products. The result of that procedure would give Microsoft the best of both worlds.
A
probable cause for the ban is increased presence of Microsoft in the
mobile market with Windows Phone 7 and the upcoming launch of the mobile
device and the traditional calculation of unification that is Windows 8
interface. The company is still the underdog in
mobile, and probably is feeling the pressure from Apple as you try to
grab a large slice of the market. Essentially
preventing employees from using competitor's products can be a way to
keep them focused on ecosystem of Microsoft products. If
employees must use MS-in and days off, that might be more likely to
have that experience of percolation in and affect their personal lives,
including products that are recommended for device and others.
Prevent
employees from using Apple products is not necessarily a bad thing for
Microsoft to do, mainly because it is footing the Bill for the equipment
of the employees. Being able to exert greater
control and provide a focused, unified fleet of machines makes happy the
IT Department and has the potential to create an environment more
closely knitted employees.