Robert Scoble Leaving Microsoft
Microsoft technical evangelist and blogger Robert Scoble, who became renowned in the blogging community for his unabashed opinions of Microsoft products, announced over the weekend that he is leaving the company for small podcasting startup PodTech Network.
Scoble will become vice president for media development at the company, which produces and distributes business-related podcasts. Expanding on his experience with Microsoft's Channel 9 development network interviews, Scoble will also take part in expanding PodTech's content to video.
"I wasn't, and am not, frustrated at Microsoft. I've never had more opportunities available to me. In fact, I am due to spend a day with ImagineCup contestants and Bill Gates later this month," Scoble explained on his Web blog Saturday.
"There is a lot more positive PR to come out of my mouth about Microsoft. It is the best big company in the world (and I've been lucky to meet and study quite a few of the world's best companies lately)."
Although Scoble calls himself the "cheerleader" among bloggers at Microsoft, he notes that the Redmond company has over 3,000 employees blogging. "They are not having the plug pulled on them. They changed the world," he said.
Aside from being Microsoft's most public spokesperson, Scoble also co-authored a book about blogging called "Naked Conversations: How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk with Customers," which discusses their growing significance in the business world.
"The news does not surprise me, as Scoble's tour of corporate campuses and PR firms over the past year undoubtedly yielded some lucrative job offers," commented Niall Kennedy, founder of blog search service Technorati and recent Microsoft hire.
"Working at PodTech allows Scoble to continue chatting about technology every day with executive clients of the corporate communication network. Scoble's readership in the blogosphere will be a selling point for new clients, allowing them to have an amplified message in this new communication medium. PodTech is early stage and I'm sure Scoble has a good sized equity participation."