Microsoft cuts Live Labs in half, narrows focus in tough economy |
Follow the ups and downs of a new Seattle startup in a series of behind-the-scenes posts by its founders.
Today On Techflash
- Shares of drugstore.com rise after results
- Rhapsody going independent
- Microsoft unimpressed with Google Buzz
- WGA 'spyware' suit vs. Microsoft dropped
- Paul Allen's Brangelina moment
- LiquidPlanner hire, Paul Allen and more
- Tell us your sales horror stories
- Calbucci to sell Twitter list service
- A color screen for the next Kindle?
Tech Events
Mass High Tech
- Gates, Ozzie, Microsoft execs patent 'personal data mining'
- Bill Gates, startup lessons and other top stories of the month
- Bill Gates' shirt, iPad vs. Kindle and other comments of the week
- Bill Gates on The Daily Show: 'I am a very loyal Microsoft user'
- Bill Gates on Daily Show tonight, maybe this time he'll stick around
Microsoft cuts Live Labs in half, narrows focus in tough economy
Microsoft's Live Labs applied research group, formed three years ago to accelerate the company's Internet efforts, is being cut in half and given a narrower focus in the face of the difficult economy. Microsoft today confirmed that about half of Live Labs is being shifted to product groups, primarily in Microsoft's Online Services Business and Windows Mobile.
The remaining Live Labs team will focus on Internet search and other Web interaction technologies, such as data exploration and information retrieval. Live Labs founder Gary Flake will continue to lead the unit, reporting to Ray Ozzie, Microsoft's chief software architect. No layoffs are planned as part of the changes, a Microsoft spokeswoman said.
Joe Tartakoff at paidcontent.org reported the news earlier today.
The move reflects the fact that Microsoft's product groups are working under tight budgets and looking for innovations that can translate quickly into shipping products. In that environment, there appears to be a smaller appetite for the experimental Live Labs projects -- prompting the company's decision narrow the group's focus.
"The goal is to increase the likelihood that our investments will achieve critical mass and have a positive impact on the company," said Stacy Drake, a Microsoft spokeswoman. "The teams that are transitioning now have have an opportunity to directly shape the company and our products by contributing to the business groups."
She added, "The current economic environment does play a role."
Live Labs shipped Microsoft's first iPhone app last year, but the group is perhaps best known for the Photosynth online 3D photo-browsing program. That team was shifted to Microsoft's MSN unit last year.
About Todd Bishop
Todd Bishop is co-founder and managing editor of TechFlash. He has covered Microsoft and the technology industry for more than five years, most recently as a daily newspaper reporter and blogger based in Seattle.
READ FULL BIOGRAPHYRecent Sponsor Posts
Seattle Repertory Theatre presents Glengarry Glen Ross Feb 5th to Feb 28th
One of the largest and most renowned regional theatres in the country, Seattle Repertory Theatre produces a mix of celebrated classics, recent Broadway hits and cutting-edge new works in two theatre spaces. Now playing David Mamet's American classic Glengarry Glen Ross through February 28. Join us for Sales Rep Industry night February 11 with the Puget Sound Business Journal. For details click here.
Join the Microsoft WebsiteSpark program and get software, support and visibility – at no upfront cost. You’ll benefit from fast and easy access to current Microsoft development tools, platform technology and server products including Visual Studio, Expression Studio, Silverlight, Windows Web Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 Web.
Seattle-based Adhost is a WebsiteSpark hosting partner providing dedicated servers with free Windows Web Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 licensing for three years to Web developers enrolled in WebsiteSpark. Servers are located in our secure data center with SAS 70 Type II certification, 24x7 technical support and 24x7 client access.
WTIA 15th Annual Industry Achievement Awards
Held on March 4th at the Showbox SODO, this casual event celebrates and recognizes some of the best emerging and established companies in the Washington Tech Industry. The evening will feature a finalist company technology showcase and a variety of coffee, chocolate, and wine samples from local companies. More than 800 attendees are expected to be present at the celebration. Public online voting for Technology Leader of Tomorrow Scholarships will open February 3rd on the WTIA site.
We congratulate the 2010 finalists and look forward to unveiling the winners on March 4th. REGISTER NOW!
From the trenches
Job Listings
- Registered Health Information Technician (Forms & Records Analyst 2)
- State of Washington Department of Corrections
- Principal SDE - Project Natal - Gameplay Engineering - 711621
- Microsoft Corporation
- Senior Web Analyst - 705536
- Microsoft Corporation
- Telecommunications Consultant (I)
- Sparling Electrical & Technology Consulting
- Senior SDET - 706910
- Microsoft Corporation
