Ballmer on Android
Considering recent events (like the Yahoo deal/no deal/deal/no deal) you would have thought that Steve Ballmer would choose his words more carefully. Guess what? He’s spinning the same old lines. This time he’s been talking about the Google G1 handset. Apparently, Microsoft aren’t the least big worried about losing market share - because they don’t think the G1 has the grunt to compete!
At the recent PDC here in the UK, Ballmer stated that the G1 won’t cut it because “they’ve got one handset maker, we’ve got 55. They’re available through one operator, we’ve got 175.” Err, didn’t he say pretty much the same thing about the iPhone? I think the phrase ‘iphone enterprise adoption’ sort of sums it up! Oh, I mustn’t forget the huge community behind the open source Android OS.
You also have to consider if this is a collective viewpoint within Microsoft. If so, do they really think that the netbook/UMPC/MID community are in the same boat? i.e. only MS products will gain acceptance in an ever growing market? Guess again MS. Linux is creeping up behind you in the form of ultra mobile products are pushing acceptance of the free OS by taking out the complexity that has long been associated with Linux. Point, click and go!
If MS continues their ‘head up their own arses’ approach they can expect to lose significant market share and soon. Yeah, go for it Microsoft!
P.S Although Motorola haven’t firmly committed to the G1 just yet I think you’ll see them jumping onboard pretty soon.
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