Enterprise cannot swing an optical mouse these days without hitting a Microsoft product. But despite the software giant's aggressive posturing, enterprise is hardly at its mercy when developing a blueprint for e-commerce. In fact, it is easy to avoid Microsoft altogether, Andrew Bartels, an analyst with Giga Information Group, told the E-Commerce Times. "Most companies are getting their solutions from someone other than Microsoft, such as IBM, BEA, BroadVision, Oracle, PeopleSoft or SAP," he explained.

Legal woes, scalability issues, often-buggy software and growing concern about bullying techniques have prompted some companies to shun Microsoft, or at least consider alternatives, when concocting e-commerce plans, although Microsoft has pushed with abandon into nearly every nook and cranny of the IT market. Certainly, the federal antitrust case has illuminated the software maker's less-than-attractive side and has disenchanted some buyers. And the Redmond, Washington-based company has developed a reputation for its cutthroat style not only with competitors but also with customers.

Thanks to John on the heads up about this story.