As reported in Management Today Microsoft buys a small stake in Facebook for $245m or so. This values Facebook at $15 billion. So what do they see to get to that valuation? They don't. Consider this a 'licence' fee to allow MS access to a huge database for its ad deleivery programmes. This is another way to compete in the online ad market against Google. What do MS get?

• They get access to a company with 50m very active users
• They get access to a social media community that is prepared to divulge freely profiling data normally hard to get
• They get access to a communication platform that can have profile sensative ads delivered
• They get to learn about the whole area of social media

Social media a fad? Maybe but that is exactly what they said about mobile phones and PCs. Overvalued? Maybe? But how many billions do advertisers pump into traditional media in the hope someone is listening?

Smart move.

I love reading what Hugh MacLeod and Steve Clayton have to say. Not just because they are smart people and a good read but because of what they are up to at Microsoft. Changing or influencing an organisation - especially the size of Microsoft - is a real challenge. I enjoy keeping in touch through them with the software industry. I am not in the industry today but spent a great part of my early career (at Lotus) alternatively in love and in hate with Microsoft. Whist we would co-operate in anti-piracy and technical projects - we fought to the death over the desktop application space.

It was the 25th anniversary of Lotus the other month. The European one happens in June 2009. We have people coming in from Europe, the US and Australia and New Zealand.

What is fun is to look back and see what it was all about and why it was so special. We felt we were on a world mission. Lotus was the first at many things. Not just software. Aids support, allowing same sex partners to share pension and insurance rights. Baby care. Flexible working. All in the 1980's. All I can say is - how young we all looked like and what great t-shirts we used to have.

For any of you that remember Lotus 1-2-3, Symphony, Freelance, Notes etc check out the worlds first virtual museum. I am trying to track down the UK TV advertising campaign for 1-2-3. We thought the US 'dancing office' would not really hit the mark over here. Remember Barbara Woodhouse? The lady who trained dogs? Well we used her in our first TV campaign. Now that got us noticed - not always in a positive way!

Anyone out there know where we can get a copy?

Disclosure: Hugh and I have met and he even bought me a drink but I don't count that as a bribe as I bought one back.