impressed with the iPhone and look at how good its doing:P
Pagan jim
Ballmer calls Google's Android 'way behind'
Summary
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer dismissed Google's Android operating system, saying he believed it was financially unsound.
Topics
Sydney, Australia--Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer on Thursday dismissed Google's Android operating system, saying he believed it was financially unsound.
Speaking at Telstra's annual investment day, Ballmer said that Android was Google's first phone operating system and that designing one wasn't easy. "They can hire smart guys, hire a lot of people, blah dee blah dee blah, but you know they start out way behind in a certain sense," he said.
He questioned Google's ability to make money with Android. "I don't really understand their strategy. Maybe somebody else does. If I went to my shareholder meeting, my analyst meeting and said, hey, we've just launched a new product that has no revenue model!"
"Yeah. Cheer for me. I'm not sure that my investors would take that very well. But that's kind of what Google's telling their investors about Android," he said.
He said that although the idea was that Google gave away the operating system and in return got to put its search on devices for free, he believed telecommunications operators were smart and would still ask to be paid to carry search.
The lack of certainty around money would mean that the improvement of the operating system would be neglected, according to Ballmer, who said that in the whole scheme of things, there was other competition he was more worried about.
"Google doesn't exactly bubble to the top of the list of the top competitors we've got going in mobile. They might some day. But right now..." he said.
Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo also jumped in with his opinion. "My view is it's interesting, not compelling," he said.
The Telstra leader also wondered if Google had the expertise to follow through, saying that there are always issues in a
Talkback Most Recent of 94 Talkback(s)
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James Quinn6th Nov 2008 -
Following Up
I think I summarize fairly the early '07 Ballmer putdown on
the iPhone as "won't get much market share, but it may
make a lot of money."
Which suggests to me a weird inversion of values. I furhter
think that he has gone to his investors and made a case
for something to get lots of market share while he finessed
or deferred the whole revenue/profit thing.
DannyO_0x986th Nov 2008 -
drprodny30th Jan 2009 -
Hmm.. Windoze immobile
doesn't BSoD anymore. That was with much older versions.
Modern versions do what you don't want at a time you most definately don't want it. It turns all your friends into foes.
Ironically, the BSoD back in the days was a good thing. Because you ended up with an unusable device, instead of a thing on a haywire rampage to call people at random times.
TedKraan7th Nov 2008 -
Thanks, TedKraan!
I only played w/an older version of WI, got frustrated w/it and switched to a Treo 270 instead - and I'd still HAVE a Treo if Palm would just update their @*$&*@&* software!
I've currently got a BlackBerry Pearl, which I hate - the only things it does well are the things I do least often (send IMs and e-mails), the call quality is abominable, my battery dies every day, and it can't even take a decent picture w/the built-in camera. Since my contract's up next week, I've ordered a G1 as a replacement- which I've played w/at the store, and seems MUCH more suited to my needs....drprodny7th Nov 2008 -
Someday, Ballmer will realize that he's the one "way behind". . . .
Hopefully for Microsoft's sake, he will realize this soon.
Basic Logic7th Nov 2008 -
RE: Ballmer calls Google's Android 'way behind'
more that man talk the more is the proof of stupidity ....
Even if he paid a billion is still stupid
Quebec-french6th Nov 2008 -
Itanalyst2 Calls Ballmer's Fitness Level "Way Behind"
Get on a treadmill you hog.
itanalyst2@...6th Nov 2008 -
Porky Trying to Catch Up to Marathon Man!
The one thing I'd like to see is a better
clarification of who is actually behind Android. As it
is now everyone believes it's just Google!
Simply not so! Android was an operating system and
applications company before Google bought them. Made
up, mind you, of people formerly of top Mobile
embedded devices including former T-Mobile and Nokia
creative forces. You could say that Google is just the
main wallet behind Android and be more right!
Remember that Android is backed by the combined forces
of OHA Open Handset Alliance!
Members of that alliance aren't just T-Mobile or HTC.
In fact they are small change in light of it's more
muscular, lean, mean and BIG (not fat) members!
http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/oha_members.html
The fact is you could pick any one of these Corporate
Power Brokers with some that have Google walking in
their shadows. Names like IBM, Intel, Motorolla,
Samsung to name but a few. The power of Worldwide Telecom
providers with big names on it, is remarkable. Google may be
the only beginner in the entire group of powers that be in the
Mobile Device Market. Even though the people actually working on
Android certainly aren't!
But as a whole OHA has a combined industry presence
that leaves even Microsoft walking in it's
shadows.....and that far behind those breaking tape to
cross the Finish Line in the end. As Microsoft will
only be in the clean up crew of fat lardass, big
mouthed losers like Steve "The Monkey Boy" Balmer!
To ensure that, don't forget Khronos Group with OpenGL
ES 2.0 is riding the Widest Distributed set of API's
in history making M$ DirectX look like a barren
technology 'n pennyless power indeed!
That OPEN group features more combined member
horsepower than any technology group in history.
Including AMD/ATI, IBM, Intel, Nokia, HTC, Google,
Apple, Nvidia, STI, etc et all!
Don't forget, Google is not competing against Apple
and iPhone. But is rather like a different flavor of
toothpaste from Colgate Palmolive varied brands.
Because Google CEO Eric Schmidt is also on the Apple
Board of Directors!
How does feel "Steve"? Maybe like the Monkey on your
back has simply gotten much BIGGER!
i2fun@...6th Nov 2008 -
lol
NT
bmonster25th Nov 2008 -
RE: Ballmer calls Google's Android 'way behind'
Christine Keeler - the prostitute at the heart of the British Profumo scandals in the sixties, when told of Lord Astor denying her evidence, uttered a phrase which entered the English language, which was "Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?"
Ampers
ampers@...6th Nov 2008 -
Sometimes
Sometimes, I wonder what kind of world Ballmer sees in his mind... then I get scared.
Badgered6th Nov 2008 -
HAHAHA!!!
When I think of Ballmer...I imagine the IQ of a cement brick and the IQ of Ballmer...then I realize that it?s disrespectful to compare the measure of the IQ of a cement brick to that of a retard. I?m terribly sorry Mr. Cement Brick...HAHA!
kaffeboy6th Nov 2008 -
RE: How can Ballmer call it "way behind"
When even the latest Windows Mobile can't even do the basics right?
Use it as an alarm clock while travelling? Not unless you want to be late!
Hangs all the time? All my WM phones have done.
Unusable touchscreen? That'll be WM!
Never stay too far from a USB or power point. The charge in these WM phones don't last more than a day or two without much use...
coolbru2k6th Nov 2008 -
Seriously
I'm still waiting for the day that Microsoft starts making vacuum cleaners. That would be a novelty.
The only Microsoft product that doesn't ....TedKraan7th Nov 2008
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