Ballmer dodges Windows Mobile criticism

by Stevie Smith - Mar 6 2009, 16:15

When it comes to hosting their own industry events, technology companies are probably expecting enterprise partners to engage in buoyant backslapping, not disgruntled ear chewing – but that’s exactly what Microsoft Corp. has been hit with this week during its Public Sector CIO Summit.

More pointedly, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer – himself no stranger to audience outbursts – was left scrambling for an effective response when Chris Kemp of NASA’s Ames Research Center took issue with the Windows Mobile operating system’s placement in a market increasingly influenced by rival products.

“With platforms like the Google phone and iPhone coming out, it’s really tough to continue to stand behind Windows Mobile when our employees are bringing these consumer devices into our environments,” complained Kemp to Ballmer during a Q&A session, reports TechFlash.

“And in your presentation you put Windows Mobile right in the center there, but it was a phone that doesn’t work in America and an operating system that you haven’t released,” he added. “I’m wondering what your commitment is to continuing to get newer versions of the operating system in our hands so that we don’t have to fight this battle on the ground.”

While this time not having to physically avoid missiles hurled from attendees, although striving to be just as quick on his feet, Ballmer said that while the full release of a new Windows Mobile platform won’t be available in 2009, Microsoft has “a significant release” coming this year through Windows Mobile 6.5.

“I think that would look a lot like the phone that I showed that was in the slide [presentation], but very good catch, very impressed,” said Ballmer.

“But I think with Windows 6.5 there will be phones in the market this year,” added Microsoft’s CEO. “We still don’t get some of the things that people want on the highest-end phones. Those will come on Windows Mobile 7 next year.”

In addressing the criticism that Microsoft is lagging developmentally behind the competition when it comes to the likes of Google Android and the iPhone operating system, Ballmer insisted “there are opportunities for us to accelerate our execution in this area,” and that the Redmond-based giant has “done a lot of work to really make sure we have a team that’s going to be able to accelerate.”

Despite fighting Microsoft’s cause on the back foot, Ballmer did manage to slip a quick burst of corporate chest beating into his reply, saying that Microsoft “did sell more Windows Mobile devices last year than Apple did iPhones – just an important factoid to have.”

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