Future of Microsoft
Europe Troubles
Although its American legal battles have terminated, Microsoft is still under pressure from the European Union, which contends much the same issues that the US Justice Department did. The EU, rather then focusing on the web browser issues will be looking at Microsoft's .NET technologies and try to prevent the company form gaining total dominance over the new WebOS market. Other goals include to unbundle Windows by stripping the operating system of features like Windows Media Player to give Real Player and other streaming media applications an equal opportunity when it comes to consumer choice.
The Legacy of Microsoft
Despite being declared a monopoly by US federal judges, Microsoft survives intact, even though changes will have to be made to future operating systems to allow program competition. This factor may or may not hurt the company in a significant manner if it can not discover innovative means to endure, but more then likely it will.
Like IBM, Microsoft won its antitrust suit against the United States, but only time will tell if the software juggernaut holds up the competition. Since the most crucial point of the trial, when the Federal Appeals Court relinquished any chance of breakup, Microsoft Stock has plummeted from nearly $70 in August 2001 to almost $44 in August 2002.
History tells us that IBM fell victim to severe financial hardships after its antitrust victory, is this an indication that Microsoft will soon follow? Will it continue to prevail and conquer? Or will it follow Big Blue into the realm of mediocrity??