Microsoft should go Social! Release APIs for Outlook and Exchange

Microsoft is supposedly looking into purchasing a stake of Facebook, but honestly Facebook is it’s own entity now, like Apple, Google and yes Microsoft. So, I think it’s about time Microsoft goes social for themselves. There are so many people “forced” to use Microsoft products and applications in their daily lives. Microsoft Word and Excel are the standards for every major business out there. Microsoft Outlook has always been my standard email, calendar and contact client.

After trying Xobni, it’s clear that Microsoft Outlook has more potential to explode with social and just plain old interactive usability functions. Microsoft seems to wait for other companies to connect into them. I tried the Plaxo and LinkedIn toolbars for Outlook, but they suck. There are so many “Web 2.0″ companies out there utilizing the functions of our standard web applications today through APIs.

Since I am tied to Microsoft Outlook as I am in an Exchange environment and I use a Palm Treo 700w (for now), perhaps give me some Web 2.0 functionality Microsoft? I only assume the easiest way to get the best and functional applications out there are to release APIs. So do it already!

Here are some of the potential uses and results:

Actually sync Facebook (or any other Social Network) and Outlook’s Contacts, Calendar and Emails
Auto-Sync Calendar and Contacts with any Web 2.0 application
Allow developers to easily create skins and add-ons for Outlook
Wirelessly Sync All kinds of Information through the Exchange Environment

I’m not going to go through all possibilities, because off the top of my head I can think of at least 20 more. So, let’s get to it!

It’s not like you are going to lose customers. We are STUCK with you Microsoft. Plus, it might improve your monopolistic image.