Following the purported discontinuation of Microsoft's Groove Music Pass announced by the company, netizens are worried about the likelihood that the company can sustain other consumer products and services.
While such Microsoft products/services like Zune music player, Windows phones, and the Microsoft Band, may all seem to be facing the same death toll.
Now, the salient question making the rounds on Twitterverse this week; can Microsoft be trusted to sustain other consumer products and services? And that has resurfaced the same angry protest: Doesn’t Microsoft care about consumers?
Every business follows the money — which in most cases, comes from Microsoft’s enterprise offerings — which may be the real reason no Microsoft consumer service can be said to be completely safe.
Albeit, every businesses first love may be consumers, but attention will quickly turned to enterprises where the majority, even Microsoft sells more to businesses and enterprises than it does to consumers.
For instance, both Skype and OneDrive have evolved to serve both consumers and businesses, but the later is definitely what's making the money.
Microsoft's emphasis nowadays is on subscriptions and abstract services, rather than on ready-made software package products. And the list includes Microsoft Office 365, Azure, artificial intelligence and bots; even so-called “consumer” devices like the Surface are really aimed toward business customers.
The company's relationship with consumers may perhaps reached a new peak in 2015, as it co-developed Windows 10 with users serving a multi-device strategy that included Surface tablets, HoloLens, and a hopeful future for Windows phones.
But Windows phone is dead, and HoloLens nowhere to be found, the promised Windows features have been delayed or cancelled, and services like Groove is already slated for discontinuation.
Perhaps, it's Microsoft’s inevitable shift that leaves its consumer businesses vulnerable. Would anyone be surprised if Microsoft Stores were the next on the death toll?
