CE-Oh no he didn't! Part L: Ballmer says Android "just some words on paper"
You can't help but love Steve Ballmer. Besides being the ultra-rich, ultra-faithful CEO of Microsoft, you can always count on him to deliver some choice words -- especially if the competition is in the news. His latest efforts come in the wake of Google's Android announcement, a project which clearly stands to compete with Redmond's ubiquitous Windows Mobile platform. When asked what he thought of the forthcoming phone OS at a news conference in Tokyo, Ballmer noted that, "Their efforts are just some words on paper right now." Okay, let's be perfectly honest: that statement is true -- but don't you think that when a monolithic company like Google aligns itself with other giants such as Intel, T-Mobile, Samsung, and LG (amongst others), Microsoft might take it a little more seriously? Ballmer went on to say that, "They have a press release, we have many, many millions of customers, great software, many hardware devices and they're welcome in our world." Thanks for allowing Google into "your world" Steve, we're sure your subjects will appreciate it.
Filed under: Windows Mobile, Misc, Android
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ed Hardy @ Nov 8th 2007 1:22PM
Ballmer's comments don't surprise me, and I'm sure they don't really reflect Microsoft's thoughts on Android. High level executives of rival companies have to make disparaging remarks about their competitor's products, or people will think they are afraid of them.
Consider if Ballmer had said, "We're well aware that Android represents a significant new competitor to Windows Mobile, and we'll be working hard to counter it in the coming months."
There'd be headlines across the world like "Ballmer Calls Android a Significant Threat to Windows Mobile" and editorials asking "Why Is Microsoft Afraid of Android?"
Instead, Ballmer dismisses it as a paper tiger in public, while behind the scenes I'm sure Microsoft is talking with its developers and licensees about what it can do to make Windows Mobile a stronger competitor against this new open-source threat.
M @ Nov 8th 2007 2:37PM
Correct, and Engadget is surprised! Engadget: "How could ballmer say such things." Either they are stupid or just trying rally everybody up into a nother fanboy trolling session.
I remember when Engadget was respectable.
M
Brian @ Nov 8th 2007 4:01PM
Indeed as HTC is one of the Google group I would suspect there are many in Microsoft wondering how to combat this new threat.
mingkee @ Nov 8th 2007 10:00PM
he is nothing but MS martyr
nothing surprises me
Karim Benayed @ Nov 9th 2007 10:01AM
Well, Microsoft has million of angry customers who are waiting for the right vendor to create a stable functional operating system for their phones that does not crash every other day.
I even called Microsoft yesterday. My Mobile 6 $500 phone cannot connect correctly to my car's Bluetooth kit where any sub $50 phone can without a problem.
I tried to explain in a very polite term that I am reporting an issue to Microsoft so they will be aware of it and consider fixing it. The sales rep understood the issue but was only willing to help if I open a ticket for $80.
With this kind of attitude, May be Microsoft has millions of customers but Google and Apple (if they open their developer ecosystems) will have millions of customers who are ready to switch.
I just hope that Microsoft sees the light before its too late in the Mobile space.
AndyB @ Nov 11th 2007 7:02PM
Whatever. Ballmer just likes to yell and say outrageous things, it's kind of his calling card.
Microsoft has nothing to do with this, anyways. Windows Mobile flat out sucks, and nobody in their right mind develops for it hoping to put their stuff on cellphones. Android is essentially trying to create a market where there is none currently (the cell phone software industry is negligible at the moment), and Microsoft will neither profit from nor be hurt very much by it, whether it succeeds or not. The real people to worry about are the phone companies, who do have the ability to crush it.
Keep an eye out: http://www.ohadev.com will have a lot of feedback on the SDK tomorrow, that's where I'll be hanging out to discuss this stuff. Let's hope the SDK is solid.