So the New York Times has posted yet another article critical of Microsoft‘s failure to launch products that earn any wide spread appeal. Surprise, surprise. This time the Kin fiasco.
If there’s any hope for Microsoft it is that they deliver products/services customers want, before they demand them. No more focus groups, expensive consultants or marketing studies. Hire smart people and let them take the lead.
No company will move forward by trying to out-study their competition. Instead study your audience. What do they want? What do they need.
I was reminded of it today when I was using their MSN Messenger service (or Live or Bing talk, or whatever they call it now). I typed in a word that was spelt wrong, but my initial thought was – “I can’t believe that’s the right spelling”. But I’m so used to having my mis-spelt words kindly underlined with a red line (like most of my essays through-out public school). But for whatever reason Microsoft STILL in 2010 not provide this common courtesy.
Do they need to do a marketing study to see what the ROI on offering spell check in Messenger is?? It’s a mute point – but a very important point. If Microsoft can’t provide minor improvements on their own, how can they ever hope to be at the forefront of delivering consumers with devices (such as the Zune) that addresses the needs of greater society and become a beloved technology company?
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