Ray Ozzie, Microsoft's chief software architect, is not one to take extreme views or make outlandish claims. But he is adamantly sure of one thing: a combination of software and online services is the future.

And so far, Ozzie's contention that <A HREF="http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6180539.html?tag=nl.e550">the industry is going through a disruptive shift</A> from software to services is bearing out.