Microsoft's Early Internet Strategy: A Look Back
Microsoft's early internet strategy was shaped by 'internet radicals' like Tom Evslin, who drove the WorldNet project at AT&T and helped develop Microsoft Exchange. However, Bill Gates' decision to prioritize Exchange over internet relevance led to a delay in integrating the technology. This decision had significant implications for Microsoft's future development and its relationship with the internet.
Key points
- Tom Evslin, a key figure in Microsoft's early internet strategy, drove the WorldNet project at AT&T and helped develop Microsoft Exchange.
- Bill Gates prioritized Exchange over making it internet-relevant, leading to a delay in integrating the technology.
- Evslin and other 'internet radicals' at Microsoft wanted to delay Exchange's launch until it was relevant to the internet.
- Gates disagreed, citing Microsoft's already behind schedule status, and the company proceeded with the launch of Exchange, Office, and NT.
- Evslin's work on Exchange focused on gateways that connected one mail system to another, including CompuServe and MCI Mail.
Microsoft's early internet strategy was shaped by a group of 'internet radicals' who pushed for the company to prioritize internet relevance. Tom Evslin, a key figure in this group, drove the WorldNet project at AT&T and helped develop Microsoft Exchange. However, Bill Gates' decision to prioritize Exchange over making it internet-relevant led to a delay in integrating the technology.
Evslin and other 'internet radicals' at Microsoft wanted to delay Exchange's launch until it was relevant to the internet. However, Gates disagreed, citing Microsoft's already behind schedule status. The company proceeded with the launch of Exchange, Office, and NT, without fully integrating the technology with the internet.
Evslin's work on Exchange focused on gateways that connected one mail system to another, including CompuServe and MCI Mail. His vision for Exchange was different from Gates', and he was disappointed by the decision to prioritize the product's launch over its internet relevance.
This decision had significant implications for Microsoft's future development and its relationship with the internet. It highlights the tension between short-term goals and long-term vision, and the importance of prioritizing innovation and relevance in a rapidly changing technology landscape.
Sources
The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.