Yesterday, RFI received a totally unconfirmed rumor from a completely anonymous source, so we have to report this rumor as exactly that: totally unconfirmed with an unknown and questionable provenance. However, if true, it's implications are significant.
Here's the rumor as it was received:
"Sorry I had to use anonymous email, but I don't feel like losing my job :). I am now a software developer for a company in the US. We have been BETA testing for Windows 98 for two months now. We write Mac software and PC software, and we received a little note from Microsoft about Windows 98 for Mac. They encouraged us to plan on writing some Mac software, they plan on releasing a BETA in one to two years. That is all I know now."
Well, if this rumor is true, does it signal that Microsoft is planning on a port of Windows 98 to the Mac platform? Microsoft "encouraging" developers to write applications for the Mac OS is part of the deal that Apple and Microsoft cut and announced at Macworld Expo Boston, but this report appears to go beyond that.
The rumor report seems to imply that Microsoft intends to ship a beta of Windows 98 to the Mac platform within two years, but RFI does not think that Microsoft is planning on moving its flagship operating system to the PowerPC Platform as an alternative to the Mac OS.
In fact, this rumor report appears to confirm the "Recon" that RFI published in the Recon on Apple Report, as well as some of the other Recon on Microsoft and Yellow Box / Rhapsody. Whether this finally shakes out, and this rumor report proven true by subsequent events, will probably make Tech Sector "news" as an important development. And not just because Microsoft is purportedly going to port Windows 98 to the Mac. There's something greater at work here, if the report is true.
On another front, this rumor report also appears to indicate that Microsoft may have finally decided which way to jump vis-a-vis Rhapsody / Yellow Box, and these non-specific notes being sent to software developers also lend credence to some of the speculation regarding these issues.
All RFI can say about this rumor report is: "If it's true, then it's a real hoot. And it'll take a lot of people by surprise...."
What do we mean? Well, the Justice Department for one. Sun Microsystems, Netscape, IBM, and others as well. Consider the facts that RFI laid out in the Post Macworld Expo Report where we outlined the potential ramifications of the Apple / Microsoft deal, as well as the potential ramifications in subsequent Special Reports. The potential of such a surprise development in the Apple / Microsoft "alliance", although "Strategic Partnership" is the operative phrase, could send ripples throughout the Tech Sector. Especially amongst those who might have a lot to lose if this rumor report is proven true and what it implies comes to pass.
Because this rumor report is totally unsubstantiated and from a source of unknown provenance, we have to treat it with a high degree of suspicion. So, until and unless we receive further information on this report, consider as we reported it: totally unconfirmed and from a source whose provenance we cannot verify.
Enough said.