Challenging Google in, of all areas, energy management, Microsoft has struck a deal with Ford to manage applications for the carmaker's electric vehicles. This represents Microsoft's first
major client win for its Hohm energy management application, "which today sort of resembles a Quicken for those homeowners that want to track energy usage," according to ZDNet's Between The Lines.
Now, "Microsoft via its various tentacles -- the PC, set-top box and game system and potentially your home -- has all the parts to be a life operating system so to speak." Google is itself
experimenting with helping homeowners manage their power consumption with its free PowerMeter energy monitoring tool.