Lotus chief lays into Microsoft

Messaging market is under attack, according to Papows

Lotus has accused Microsoft of continuing the allegedly predatory behaviour which the Seattle software giant will be denying in court next week, writes Steve Ranger.

Lotus president Jeff Papows said in an exclusive interview with Computing last week that he believes Microsoft is preparing for a battle in the messaging market, in which the two companies are the major players. However, he warned: ?Micro-soft has picked on the wrong kid in the school yard.?

According to Papows, Microsoft is becoming more predatory, even with its anti-monopoly lawsuit due to begin next week. The trial, which deals with bundling of browsers, has been brought against Microsoft by the US Department of Justice (DoJ).

?Microsoft regularly goes into accounts that we have won and offers software for nothing, along with consultancy services. We are dealing with a very big battle in a strategic segment,? he said.

While these deals are attractive to corporations, Papows warned they could go wrong in the long term. ?Free is free at a point of time, but when the consumer?s choice is eliminated, prices go in one direction and it is not down,? he said.

Papows also attacked Microsoft?s bundling of Outlook with Office and, Exchange Server with Windows NT ? offering the messaging platform for free.

IBM?s vice president in charge of software, John Thompson, also hit out at Microsoft, saying that the software giant would ?run into a buzz saw? if it did not change its strategy.

Thompson?s claim centres on Microsoft?s attempts to enter new markets through its Expedia online travel service and its broadcasting tie-ins with NBC.

He predicts that the rush to provide online services will put Microsoft in direct competition with companies such as travel agencies, broadcasters and other media companies.

? Last week, Microsoft?s lawyers persuaded a federal judge to delay the company?s trial, but not until next year as it had originally asked for. The trial will now begin on 19 October.