Ballmer’s lightened pay packet is the least of his problems
Citing "slower than planned progress" at Microsoft's online services division and a 3 per cent decline in Windows revenue, Microsoft's board cut chief executive Steve Ballmer's pay to 91 per cent of his plan, or $1.3m. But that's the least of his concerns.
Microsoft is about to embark on the biggest shift in its Windows franchise in decades, but early jobs data suggest that companies aren't in a hurry to embrace the Windows 8 newcomer. In fact, if anything they seem to be doubling down on Windows 7.
Is this another Windows Vista debacle in the making?
Probably not, but the signs aren't comforting. For one thing, some IT professionals are dragging their feet on tackling the learning curve associated with Windows 8 user interface changes. For such pros, an upgrade to Windows 7, not Windows 8, is the order of the day. Read more...
Did Ballmer pick HTC over Nokia as his fav for Windows Phone 8?
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave a ringing endorsement to two new HTC smartphones running Windows Phone 8 on Wednesday, raising questions about the status of the much-heralded Microsoft-Nokia partnership.
Just days after appearing with Nokia officials to launch the Lumia 920 on Windows Phone 8, Ballmer appeared in New York City today with HTC CEO Peter Chou to launch the two Windows Phone 8 devices.
Both men touted the new 4.3-in. Windows Phone 8X HTC and the smaller 4-in. Windows Phone 8S HTC. Both will be sold by AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA starting in November, officials said, although no pricing was announced. HTC is prepping to launch the devices on 150 carriers globally. Read more...
Ballmer predicts 400 million Lumia and Surface fumblers
Steve Ballmer's back in the numbers game, this time predicting sales of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 kit to draw in application developers.
Ballmer is reported to have claimed at the event that "close" to 400 million Windows phones and tablets will be running Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8.
He didn't say when, though. Read more...
For Microsoft’s last CES keynote, Ballmer hawks Windows 8, Kinect
Microsoft's motion-sensing Kinect technology will be available for Windows PCs in a few weeks and is destined for a lot more than just gaming, CEO Steve Ballmer said at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas Monday.
It was Microsoft's last keynote at CES, and Ballmer was joined on stage by actor Ryan Seacrest who helped host the event. But there was no surprise appearance from Bill Gates, as some had expected, and not much in the way of big news -- perhaps a reminder of why Microsoft has decided to give up the CES stage.
Ballmer announced that Nokia's Lumia 800 Windows Phone will go on sale at Microsoft's retail stores in the US "in the next few months." The phone will be sold unlocked, he said, meaning Microsoft hasn't signed a contract with a wireless carrier to offer it.
He also announced a partnership with Fox that will bring the TV shows Glee, Family Guy and Bones to the Xbox, and with Comcast for its Xfinity TV service. The new programs will come to the Xbox this year, he said. Read more...
Ballmer feels lucky Microsoft didn’t buy Yahoo in 2008
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer feels intensely fortunate that his company's US$44 billion bid for Yahoo back in 2008 never materialized.
"Sometimes you're lucky," he said with a smile at Web 2.0 Summit, responding to a question from conference co-chair John Battelle.
Careful not to offend his search market partner, Ballmer put his comment in context, saying that any CEO would feel grateful for not making a major acquisition in the months prior to the global financial collapse that started in the second half of 2008.
"We would have been closing [the Yahoo deal right after] Lehman Brothers," Ballmer said, referring to the historical collapse of one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S. Microsoft made its offer for Yahoo in early 2008 and withdrew it several months later. Read more...
Wannabe Obama replacement tried to hire Ballmer
Mitt Romney, one of the leading contenders for the US Republican Party’s presidential nomination, has revealed he once tried to hire Steve Ballmer.
Romney made a campaign stop on Thursday in Redmond to speak to Microsoft’s Political Action Committee about his plans for the government, should he make it to the White House. However, he was reminded by Steve Ballmer that he’d once tried to hire the Microsoft CEO in the 1980s when Romney was head of recruitment for Bain and Co.
“I met with Steve and he said he was considering our offer, but was thinking of going off with a couple of folks and forming a company called Microsoft,” Romney said, in video posted by GeekWire. “Had you joined us, you’d be worth a million or two by now.” Read more...