Microsoft faces uphill battle against Google

By Will Head on Dec 12, 2006 9:46 AM
Filed under Software

Redmond's head of online admits to 'errors in online strategy'.

Microsoft faces a big challenge in the online world, according to the firm's head of online services.

Steve Berkowitz, senior vice president of Microsoft's Online Services Group, admitted in an interview with the International Herald Tribune that the software giant had made errors in its online strategy.

Microsoft had focused too much on making snazzy software, such as its 3D mapping service, rather than creating a search engine that people want to use, according to Berkowitz.

"A lot of decisions were driven by technology, and not driven by the consumer," he told the paper. "It is not always the best technology that wins, it is the best experience."

Berkowitz added that he is unsure whether Microsoft's new Live set of services are running under a strong enough brand name. "I don't know if Live is the right name," he told the Tribune.

In light of this, Berkowitz has decided to keep the MSN name since it is used by 430 million people around the world.