March 12th, 2007
Microsoft builds a 'MySpace for financial pros'
If you build it, will them come? Microsoft may soon find out.
The company launched at its Convergence conference in San Diego this week a new online community site for financial professionals. The site, which has yet to get a formal name, is currently known as the Dynamics Live Beta Community. Microsoft officials are describing it as a "MySpace for financial pros."
The site is aimed at corporate controllers, finance managers, finance staff and accountants. With blogs, forums, tagging, RSS syndication and other community-specific features, the site is designed to encourage these pros — whether or not they are using Microsoft's Dynamics applications — to interact with each other and share best practices.
I'll be interested to see whether this site gains much traction. Corporate controllers and accountants don't strike me as folks who have a lot of time or interest to blog, chat and share photos and play lists.
All kidding aside, I do wonder about Microsoft — or any software vendor — builing community sites for these kinds of folks with the expectation that they'll gravitate to them. Microsoft officials say there are other Microsoft-driven community sites coming for other segments of the business-app-consuming public. What's next? MySpace for manufacturing pros or distribution specialists? Don't laugh: It sounds like they could be in the works.
Mary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 20 years. Don't miss a single post. Subscribe via Email or
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