Microsoft Jumps Head-First into Social Media

There is a new era about to embark at Microsoft worldwide.

The new 82-member social media innovation team, dubbed FUSE (FUture Social Experiences), is set to begin sending some serious waves through the company's software development. Conceptualized and assembled by Ray Ozzie, Micro's Chief Software Architect, the FUSE team is expected to begin applying social media capabilities into PCs and business products.

The implications of this move could have an enormous impact on the public's daily computing, indicating that social media is becoming less of a learned process and more of a traditional 21st century lifestyle. Early adopters will be a driving force.

Ozzie cites high-bandwidth internet, both wired and wireless, the wide availability of digital camera phones and 'app-capable' phones, etc. as obvious justification for the team's dedicated purpose. Internet-connected game consoles and TVs are part of the equation as well. Social movies and programming have already been available, although not mainstream, for the past year or so.

The marketing team at Microsoft formally acknowledges that social media has transcended "communication and collaboration" and directly affects product experiences and consumer behavior. An important point to emphasize with slow-adopting clients.

Some of you may already be familiar with the rumored LookingGlass product, which is Microsoft's prototype for social media business software. It is unclear if LookingGlass is the front-runner of the new FUSE team, but it is very likely there is a connection. Click here for the original FUSE article.

Happy tweeting, everyone.