Microsoft's role in the media landscape

With its dominant position in OS and office software, Microsoft can easily affect media landscape directly. For example, if you can create a PDF file in office 2007, what does it mean to Adobe? If Microsoft bundles P2P software into OS and creates a P2P community, what does it mean to BitTorrent's ad-supported TV network plan? We have seen the battles between IE and Netscape, Windows media player and Realplayer in the past. Maybe the new battle is not far away.

In addition, as we learned in the earlier classes, although Microsoft only monopolies the operating system market, it actually controls or influences the entire IT industry through partnership with other big players. It is not a surprise that Microsoft will indirectly play an important role in the media landscape through partnership.