Like an ostrich that buries its head in the sand, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer continues to downplay the significance, and dominance of the iPhone in the mobile space.
Ballmer spoke with analysts in New York earlier this week and told them that while he does consider Apple to be a major competitor in the computer market, he feels that “The truth of the matter is all the consumer market mojo is with Apple and to a lesser extent BlackBerry…and yet, the real market momentum with operators and the real market momentum with device manufacturers seems to primarily be with Windows Mobile and Android.”
This dismissal on Balmer’s part is really quite odd. Not because he said something idiotic…that happens quite frequently, but because his statement basically comes out to – “Apple and Blackberry are leading with their own devices, but when it comes to mobile devices that run other company’s operating systems, it’s either Windows Mobile or Android.”
I guess that’s true. It’s kind of missing the point…but true.
2 thoughts on “Ballmer STILL Doesn’t Feel the iPhone is a Mobile Competitor”
An that is not even true, Symbian is about 25 times bigger in number of sold smartphones than the iPhone – though many users may not be aware of the power of possibilities their phone give them.
On the consumer market, Symbian also beats Microsoft by a wide margin. The only niche market I have seen where MS is dominant is in handheld terminals with barcode scanners or used in the retail business for registering orders.
The re-invented Open Symbian platform will be a serious challenge for Android now that Nokia, Samsung, LG and Sony Ericsson has adopted it.
I expect to jump to an iPhone when it supports a native Lotus Domino/Notes client, untill then it is a Nokia E90.
Regards
Michael
That’s a Dick Cheney moment, Shooting for the Elk/Duck/insert inocent animal here, and hitting your pal behind you, way off the mark.