Steve Ballmer's Se7en priorities for 2009
What was on Steve Ballmer's New Year's resolution list for 2009? ZDNet's Mary-Jo Foley got a peek. Windows 7, netbooks, servers, enterprise, entertainment, it's all there.
As far as Windows Mobile, here's what we've got:
Windows Mobile operating systems and gaming/Zune entertainment services — not a combined hardware/software platform like the iPhone — is where Microsoft is investing, Ballmer reiterated.
Again, no Zune phone. Foley also was kind enough to dig up what Ballmer predicted for 2007 and 2008. Click through to the jump to find out what those predictions were.
Here's what Foley had to say on Ballmer's predictions the past two years:
Ballmer on Windows Mobile for 2008
To say Microsoft hasn’t cornered a huge piece of the mobile-phone market is an understatement. The Softies have said they know their weak spots and have plans to make Windows Mobile 7 and Windows Mobile 8 more consumer-friendly with features like touch and gesture recognition. Microsoft also is working on more mobile apps and services to make Windows Mobile more compelling. They need to, with Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android platforms breathing down their necks.
Ballmer emphasized there are a bunch of other smaller “nascent” markets where Microsoft will continue to invest for the long term, including healthcare, Zune (especially in entertainment/music services for the player and mobile phones) and the Surface multi-touch tabletop. Ballmer said Microsoft is pushing hard to get the Surface technology into consumer products, not just in industrial-strength tabletops.
Hmmmmm. ... Windows Mobile definitely got better in 2008, with the release of Windows Mobile 6.1. But "more compelling?" Not so sure. Zune and Surface also are nary to be found in Windows Mobile.
Ballmer on Windows Mobile for 2007? Much more brief. WinMo was No. 9 on a nine-point list "of the nine "opportunities" where he believes Microsoft can sustain a half billion or more in new margin growth over the next three years." That growth certainly is still happening. But is it happening enough? And will it be sustainable in 2009?
What say you guys?
