Jupiter Research’s Microsoft Monitor blog takes Microsoft to task for restricting access to its support sites to those using Internet Explorer. Apparently the site blocks out anyone using Firefox browser or a Mac.
In the process, researcher Joe Wilcox speaks about software usage by small and medium businesses:
A recent JupiterResearch survey found a surprisingly large number of small and medium businesses running a Mac productivity suite (I plan to publish the numbers later, so I won’t reveal them now). Seeing as how Microsoft sells the only full-featured, native-Mac OS X productivity suite, its a fair bet the majority of these customers are Microsoft’s. But they can’t easily access Microsoft’s small business site.
This wouldn’t be the first time a Microsoft Website locked out other Web browsers. And I can understand why Microsoft wants to hook SMBs as tightly as possible into its technologies. There is some legitimate benefit to integration, particularly among SMBs, where three quarters don’t have a full-time IT manager. Additionally, if Microsoft can lock SMBs in early, they will continue to buy the company’s products as they expand. As explained in my report, SMB Market: Microsoft’s Early Success Shows Way for Savvy Partners and Competitors,” not a lot of smaller businesses have the kind of server software that would be a checklist item for enterprises. Upsell potential is huge for vendors with the right entry strategy.
This link came via Susan Bradley of the E-Bitz blog. As Susan notes in a post, consultants and integrators who work with Microsoft products at clients’ locations, have recognized for a while that some of their small business clients are using Macs.
[“source-smallbiztrends”]