In the ranking of General Directors of the largest corporations in the United States Steve Ballmer, who headed Microsoft from 2000 to 2014, holds a leading place. In addition to the failure of Windows 8 and Windows Phone failed he blamed the fact that he overlooked the importance of the emergence in 2007 of touch phone iPhone. And then, when it became clear that this is not just a gadget, but a real revolution, he continued to rely on the outdated Windows Mobile OS.
Steve Ballmer remembered the erroneous predictions about the fate of the personal gadgets of the new generation. In 2007, after the presentation of the iPhone he predicted device failure, stating that “it is very expensive for such a device, given that it’s not a business phone”. According to him, the iPhone was not the market prospects: “to Compete with Apple we are not going. We have sold millions (of copies of Windows Mobile), and Apple no phone”.
Now that Ballmer is no longer in charge of Microsoft, he admitted his wrong. In an interview with Bloomberg, Ballmer said, in what was his fault:
“I’d like to think about the model of subsidizing phones through operators, said Ballmer. – You know, people always think of that quote where I said the iPhone will never be sold due to the fact that $600 or $700 too expensive. Innovation Apple is to create a business model with monthly payments pay phone,” said Ballmer.
The former head of Microsoft also admitted the mistake of the company’s delay in issuing its own smartphones and tablets. “Should quickly move on to the creation of hardware and to understand that what worked for the PC, where there was a division of the chips, systems and software, many will not work in the world of mobile devices,” he added.
Steve Ballmer about the iPhone in 2007: the Phone for $600? Without the keyboard? He has no chance!
Steve Ballmer also talked about the differences with co-founder bill gates on the output of the Corporation in the market of mobile devices.
According to Ballmer, gates they “broke up” partly because of the question of whether Microsoft to produce its own smartphones and tablets. “The fundamental disagreement was how important it was to be [Microsoft] is in the business of manufacturing of mobile devices,” said Ballmer, adding also that he was promoting the Surface tablet, but the Corporation initiative, “reluctantly supported”.
