By way of introduction, both are immensely successful through lack of alternatives although they earned the right via different means. Both feel threatened, perhaps more than warranted by their current situation, by upstart competition. And both are, in a sense, working against the masses.
In the case of Microsoft, its feared adversary and the subject of a long-running and controversial ad campaign, is open source software (OSS). OSS is, for want of an original phrase, a hive mind, a populist movement, a distributed backlash against proprietary dominance.
The interesting thing about this particular fight is that Redmond knows it`s not fighting against Novell, Red Hat, Mark Shuttleworth, IBM or HP. It`s trying to stem a religious movement.
But who are the faithful? That is the problem. It`s no one in specific. It could be anyone. It`s certainly not confined to the IT industry.
So Microsoft`s predicament is that while it talks about giving better value to customers than the OSS movement, it is confusing the issue to some degree. It is criticising the competition to its face, preaching to and fighting against a movement that is present, to some degree, in its client base.
Telkom`s fight against the people is easier to spot. High prices, the Department of Communications has said, are what hinder the rise of the second economy and South Africa`s global competitiveness. Hurt one of us, hurt us all.
Of course, both these companies are made of stern stuff, given their past battles. But trials and tribulations have a way of bringing out the best in us, in terms of more competitive activity and increased value. The second colloquium will be a water-shed.
Enjoy this week`s issue,
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