Innovation and New Product Development Case Study

Microsoft in Blog World

OR

Abstract:
The case talks about the phenomenon of blogging which appeared on the Internet in the 1990s. Soon they caught the attention of regular Internet users, leading to the sudden spurt in the number. In 1998, there were about 30,000 blogs. In 1999, the introduction of Blogger, a free blogging tool by Pyra Labs led to the sharp rise in growth of blogs. Big players like Google and Yahoo entered the market with the release of free blogging tools. Microsoft though a late entrant had undertaken many initiatives to capture the mass market through the release of innovative blogging tools and ideas. It had also incorporated RSS technology in its products to be released soon. Analysts were however keeping their fingers crossed over the reaction of hard-core bloggers to these initiatives.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• To discuss about the evolution of blog
• To discuss about the initiatives of Microsoft in blogs
• To understand the concept of RSS technology.

Keywords :  Microsoft; Blogging; Bill Gates; Community; Networking; Web Log; MSN Spaces William Gates; Innovation Management Case Study; Blogsphere; Blog world; Bloggers; Online Journal; Online Communities