Microsoft Web Plan?

Microsoft will take aim at rival Google next week with a new Web development plan.

http://news.com.com/Microsoft+Web+plan+takes+aim+at+Google/2100-1007_3-5855244.html?tag=nl

It plans to expose its APIs and Programmable interfaces of MSN search , MSN Virtual Earth capability ( got to check this out ) and other public sites ( rediffmail? lets see ). This move is to embrace the new paradigm "web programming" - using websites as the development framework - like an OS.

Came to know that Google and yahoo expose its search and mapping. Got to check them out.

What could be the strategy of Microsoft for the next four years?

The direct threat to Microsoft from Google started from its desktop search, I would say. Google is making a way from the web to the desktop ( keeping its web focus in tact ), but trying to get as many applications as possible, since the more the users are addicted on the PC to its applciations the more they would be willing to use its applications in web as well..

Noticed an interesting thing today - Google linked the users of Orkut and gmail. Hmm.. a very good move. But I am concerned about my privacy. Google might now use the information present in orkut = my intersts, my friends, my contacts etc.. and use the info in gmail as well! Well, is it legal to do? ( I have to check that again ).