Each Directions on Microsoft analyst has an average of 15+ years of industry experience and brings a specialization in a different sector of the Microsoft enterprise. Several are Microsoft alumni with senior-level contacts throughout the company. Our analysts attend dozens of conferences, tear apart hundreds of user manuals and SDKs, and meet face-to-face with Microsoft technologists and managers, partners, and customers on a regular basis. It's a painstaking process that produces exceptional analysis you can trust.

Our mission is to provide clear, concise, and actionable analysis of Microsoft's strategy, technology, organization, and activities so you can quickly assess their relevance to your business. Our analysts help you spot new Microsoft developments that merit your attention... and avoid those that don't.

Keeping track of Microsoft is a full-time job. We know. It's our job. We've been doing it since 1992.

Chris Alliegro

EXPERTISE: SQL Server, Microsoft Business Solutions applications (including Axapta, Great Plains, Navision, and Microsoft CRM), and IT practices.

Before joining Directions, Chris directed server and network operations and engineering for MSN and Microsoft's IT group, and was group program manager for Microsoft Commerce Server.

Michael Cherry

EXPERTISE: Windows, security and malicious software, and software development practices.

Mike has been a senior analyst with Directions since 2000. Prior to Directions, he spent 10 years as Program Manager for Windows Embedded and Microsoft's Developer Relations Group, and as Senior Architecture Engineer assisting corporate customers in understanding Microsoft strategy and product directions.

Paul DeGroot

EXPERTISE: Licensing, sales and marketing, partner strategies (including programs for ISVs, systems integrators, and OEMs), and product support.

Paul analyzes Microsoft's sales, licensing, and support strategies, including ASP relationships. As a journalist, Paul has covered every aspect of the IT industry for 17 years.

Greg DeMichillie

EXPERTISE: Visual Studio and other developer tools, C# and other programming languages, application programming interfaces, and software development practices.

Greg spent 9 years at Microsoft as a Group Program Manager responsible for the design and feature set of Visual C# and C++ and as a key contributor to the initial design of .NET.

Rob Helm

EXPERTISE: Product roadmap and corporate organization.

Rob has spent over 13 years researching advanced computing topics such as developer tools, optimization of cluster applications, and the design of network protocols. Rob also leads the Directions analyst team.

Rob Horwitz

EXPERTISE: Product Licensing, Unified Communications.

Rob spent 8 years at Microsoft with applications, operating systems, networking product marketing, international, and OEM marketing groups. Rob serves as Directions' CEO and Research Chair.

Jeff Parker

EXPERTISE: Microsoft Organization and Partnering Strategies

Jeff is an expert on the Microsoft organization and manages production of Directions' OrgChart service that tracks the names, titles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships of more than 700+ top Microsoft executives. As President, Jeff oversees Directions' publishing, seminar, and consulting businesses.

Matt Rosoff

EXPERTISE: Consumer and online services strategy, financial results, and legal affairs.

Matt provides uncommon insight into Microsoft's online initiatives, such as Windows Live, MSN, and advertising, and home entertainment technologies, such as Xbox, IPTV, and Zune. Matt has covered the technology market since 1995 and was a founding editor at CNET in San Francisco.