Why the Internet is worried that Microsoft’s consumer services are doomed

The question rattled around the Twitterverse: Now that Microsoft has unexpectedly shuttered Groove Music Pass, can it be trusted to sustain other consumer products and services?

It’s not an idle question. Every cancelled consumer product—the Zune music player, Windows phones, the Microsoft Band— resurfaces the same angry protest: Doesn’t Microsoft care about consumers?

If “care” means app development, yes: Both the Zune and Groove Music Pass evolved into reasonably good services, even if few used them. If “care” refers to marketing, though, you already know the answer: In general, no. And if you follow the money— which in this case, comes mostly from Microsoft’s enterprise businesses—that’s