From: http://weblog.infoworld.com/openresource/archives/2007/05/microsoft_confi.html#comments
Someone whom I know recently said that Microsoft would evolve into a patent troll whose portfolio would become the main asset. Looking at this from a financial point of view:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/309852_software02.html
Software Notebook: Microsoft’s cash pile isn’t what it used to be
“But Microsoft has taken a series of steps to reduce its cash balance. Specifically, by Microsoft’s count, the company has paid out nearly $100 billion through dividends and repurchasing its own stock in the past five years.”
So, Microsoft has already lost over half of its cash pile, in just two years. Its recent financial figures came from the investors, not from sales.
http://biz.yahoo.com/seekingalpha/070503/34354_id.html?.v=1
Microsoft’s Record Quarter: Shareholders Paid for Most of the Upside Surprise
“Said another way, Microsoft achieved record breaking earnings during the Vista launch quarter by taking money out of its assets, not through amazing sales of Vista and Office.” … Now taking money of its savings account isn’t necessarily a big deal… However, as a point in contrast, Apple Inc. has been launching a lot of products over the last nine months and has added almost $2 billion to its balance sheet and assets in the same period that Microsoft’s assets dropped $6 billion.”
I believe that now is the time when Microsoft will get very ugly. The anti-Google slurs and anti-Linux crusade have only just begun.