HailStorm and .Net team up against AOL
C|Net | at | by Mike
Microsoft's HailStorm initiative has been described as everything from a weapon aimed at America Online to a crucial component of the software giant's move to a subscription-based business model. But how, exactly, will HailStorm work, and where does Microsoft make money on the service?
A lot is riding on the success of HailStorm, the company's first offering from its .Net strategy and a key element in an overarching plan for moving business computing to the Web. As a component of .Net, HailStorm is crucial to Microsoft's initiative for delivering content, shopping, banking and other services, such as e-mail, over a variety of devices ranging from cell phones to PCs and handhelds.
In short, HailStorm is considered a "foundation service" in that it will house a range of personal information such as calendar items, contacts, credit card numbers and even photographs.