When Microsoft decides it is going to do something big, it generally makes very little noise. Apple and Google will shout from roof-tops, hold press conferences and generally make a big fuss. When you're the biggest kid on the block you don't have to generate fuss, it comes with the territory.

Over the last couple of years Microsoft has been quietly, at least sometimes they're quiet about it, pulling together all things "W". The "W" of course stands for Windows, at least that's what they want you to think. It really stands for web. While late to the party Microsoft has realized the full potential of the web and has been moving in many different directions to capitalize. Think about it. They're on your desktop, your phone, in the living room (Xbox), home servers, Media Centers, Rich Internet Applications (Silverlight) and corporate IT. They have a vast landscape to leverage if only it could all work together.

Enter W. Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) are the building blocks for a cohesive operating environment. When you stop to think, it is so simple. Control, work flow and presentation are the way that users interact with computers. But, the W is very tricky. The Windows that we know now is a relic and has already begun a transformation to the new playing field. How can Microsoft bet the future on that?

Each of the aforementioned foundations start with W. The W, as we have already covered, stands for Windows. However, if you replaced Windows with Web it would still make just as much sense. This is the bet that Microsoft is making. By unifying the frameworks Microsoft will allow developers to write one application that can be used on Windows, the web, mobile devices and in your living room. The goal of JAVA was a unified platform that allowed developers to write it once and deploy it anywhere. The problem of course was that JAVA didn't have a unified platform on which to deploy. This is where Microsoft is ahead of the game. With the unification of the Windows platform in Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Mobile 7; Microsoft is positioning themselves for a true write-once deployment.

Google has seen the writing on the wall, which is why they're building an OS. Chrome OS, Android and Google Apps are all a different version of the same thing. Google wants to be on your phone, PC and in your living room as much as Microsoft. We're seeing a PC-based company go to the web, and a web-based company go to the PC. You're right, this will get interesting.

There are still technical hurdles to overcome. As fast as broadband is, it isn't as fast as Windows running on your PC. Silverlight is Microsoft's answer for the time being, and it is built on the WPF/WCF framework. This is a stop-gap. In time, fast Internet access will be ubiquitous and the need for a bridge between the desktop and the Internet will be gone. The true measure of success will be the same application code running no matter what device you are using to gain access. Imagine controlling your ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system from a desktop, netbook or phone without any noticeable difference. The reduction in training costs alone would be significant, the increase in productivity will be staggering.

Amadeus Consulting understands that the ever changing technology landscape presents a challenge. They embrace that challenge and make it their business to help companies manage and plan ahead. As your company looks to the future it is important to know that a web presence isn't going to be enough. The W is everywhere.