FC: More on breaking Microsoft up and U.S. stock markets

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

********

Also:

Justice Dept. to Brief White House onMicrosoft
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000425/ts/microsoft_leadall_8.html

I expect the DoJ to file on Thursday. That way they can reasonably maximize 
both the time they have to file (deadline is Friday) and maximize their own 
face-time-on-TV PR benefits. Still, if they want to give the market some 
time to contemplate, they could go for Friday.

-Declan

PS: Wired News is looking for an experienced freelancer in Seattle area. 
Email me.

********

> From: "Phillip Hallam-Baker" <hallam () ai mit edu>
> To: <declan () well com>, <politech () vorlon mit edu>
> Subject: Re: Microsoft to-be-broken-up rumor shreds U.S. stock markets
> Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 20:29:03 -0400
> X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2314.1300
>
>
> It is a very odd approach since the DoJ decided to drop the claims vs.
> Office and present their case on the Internet Explorer issue.
>
> The IE case has always been a very week one since the Web began with twenty
> open source browsers distributed for free. I suspect that the Office case
> was dropped in favour or the IE issue as a result of certain folk lobbying
> very hard for their own vested interests.
>
> At this point at least half the Fotune 500 and most of the Federal
> government is almost totally dependent on Microsoft Windows and Office for
> IT infrastructure. Splitting up Microsoft is effectively telling those
> customers that there will be no significant software updates or bug fixes
> likely to come out of Redmond for three to five years.
>
> If the breakup went ahead it would effectively slam the brakes on the
> deployment of client side IT systems for three years. That would bring the
> new economy to a very sudden halt.
>
> Is this just a kite being flown by the DoJ or do these guys just want to go
> make their name in history for something?
>
>     Phill

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