Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has worked tirelessly and unflinchingly in a years-long crusade to be the best option for IT networks in enterprise environments. And the main reason why Microsoft has become the choice in many IT offices might actually surprise you. OK, the reason is divided into three – patches, updates and upgrades.
Why does this matter? Well, with Microsoft unveiling its Surface tablet very soon, and launching Microsoft Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 in the coming weeks to provide head-to-head competition with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), that competition isn’t just for individual consumers but also for enterprise networks. Many individuals love their iPads and may likely not move over to the Surface out of loyalty. But what if the IT manager at work won’t sync your iPad (or your iPhone, for that matter) to your network because it’s not a Microsoft device? And why would IT managers even do that to Apple in the first place?
Yes, some of us end-users may find these constant updates and patches annoying, but Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has parlayed these into a regular weekly event on IT manager’s calendars: Patch Tuesday. Every Tuesday for nearly 10 years now, Microsoft has sent out a package of patches, security updates and/or application upgrades for business networks of all shapes and sizes, and did it in such a way so as to not overload the networks when IT managers send out the updates for employees to load onto their laptop, smartphone or other device. That reliability and sense of security for IT managers is one way they like Windows in their networks over Apple – with some IT managers, in fact, banning Apple computers altogether from their networks.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), in contrast to Microsoft, is very proprietary in its upgrades and ecurity updates, and sets its own schedule for sending these out – if and when. With the job of an IT manager being to ensure the network operates reliably and is safe, many do not want to take the chance on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) keeping an effective eye on its products and sending out regular updates. To not know when or if certain updates or upgrades are coming from Apple, gives IT managers reasons for feeling insecure and unreliable. They don’t like that feeling.
Because of all the work Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) put into its customer-focused plan with reliable and dependable Patch Tuesdays, that history and reputation will likely be a big factor in determining the commercial success of the Surface tablet and the Windows Phone. That those can easily be integrated into existing Windows networks will mean a large number of IT managers would rather spend money on a fleet of Surface tablets and Windows phones over changing an entire network to accommodate the individual consumer popularity of the iPad or iPhone from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).
Windows likely will still have a large window into business, even in the new mobile world.
