…he will forgo the Mono project's plan to create an open-source version of Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), a Windows-specific, more comprehensive version of Silverlight.
"Unlike WPF, that requires people to rewrite their software to take advantage of it, Silverlight is aimed at the web and it will become a nice complement, a way of spicing up existing web applications without rewriting what already works," de Icaza wrote.
Making Silverlight tools available to .Net and scripting programmers over the course of this year will likely create more so-called rich internet applications, or web applications with interactive features.
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It will also likely heighten competition with Adobe as well as other, similar tool providers, such as Nexaweb and Laszlo Systems.
Right now, Microsoft has the advantage of offering complementary online services, like Silverlight Streaming, something that only the software giant, Google and Yahoo have the resources to do right now, the Burton Group's O'Kelly noted.
But Google and Yahoo don't have the same development tool infrastructure as Microsoft. Microsoft also has a complete line of server products to sell to companies looking to build their own web-based businesses.
Adobe sees Microsoft's investment in rich internet applications as an indication of how hot the field is, said Kevin Lynch, Adobe's chief software architect.
Last week, Adobe said it will create an open-source project around its Flex development tool. Lynch added that Apollo, its software for running web applications on desktop PCs, has captured the imagination of developers, but Microsoft doesn't have an equivalent.
Regarding Microsoft's stated commitments to make its software cross-platform, Lynch said Redmond has a bad track record. The company used to create a version of Internet Explorer and Windows Media on the Mac but both were cancelled.
"If you look at the DNA of the companies, cross-platform is Adobe's DNA and Windows is Microsoft's DNA," Lynch said. "Something like that doesn't change overnight... It's up to developers to decide how much they want to rely on those statements."
Privately, Microsoft executives said the company's efforts to work with other platforms and open-source technologies are part of an ongoing transition at the company, one that Ozzie endorses.
Although the company will continue to have its naysayers, the latest details on its web strategy will likely prompt people to take a closer look, O'Kelly said.
"For people who are trying to deliver software value on the web and different devices, Microsoft will [now] get serious consideration," O'Kelly said. "This is a moment where it's clear Ray [Ozzie] is putting his signature on Microsoft."
Talkback
Does it work with FireFox and other browsers yet?
No? Make that work first, then, perhaps, it's time to reread the above article with new insight.