Steve Ballmer praises Apple for creation of iPhone App Store
Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer recently had positive words about Apple's success with the iPhone and its App Store, adding fuel to rumors of a potential alignment between Apple and Microsoft to bring Bing search to the iPhone.
"Apple's done a very nice job that allows people to monetize and commercialize their intellectual property," Ballmer reportedly said last week in a speech at the University of Washington's computer science building.
Brier Dudley, columnist for The Seattle Times, took Ballmer's comments to mean that relations between Microsoft and Apple are warming, perhaps in advance of an announcement that Bing will become the default search engine for the iPhone. Rumors of such a deal between the two technology giants have persisted since January.
Dudley said it's possible that Apple and Microsoft could align to take on what both feel is a bigger threat: Google. The columnist personally asked Ballmer whether that was the case, but the Microsoft CEO just smiled and said he couldn't answer that question.
"Apple is coming off a tough divorce from its young search partner, which is now selling its own touch-screen smartphone and has floated concept designs of an iPad-like tablet device," Dudley wrote. "So perhaps it's natural Apple is reaching out to an estranged friend from the early days."
Ballmer's complimentary nature is a stark change from 2007, when the Microsoft executive famously laughed at the then-unreleased iPhone from Apple. By last year, Microsoft's own Windows Mobile had become stagnant while the iPhone has seen tremendous growth.
Rumors and speculation about Apple's alleged negotiations with Microsoft for Bing search come as many have perceived a growing rivalry between Apple and Google. Last summer, Google CEO Eric Schmidt resigned from the Apple Board of Directors as an investigation from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission was looking into the connections between the two companies.
Schmidt's move was seen as necessary as Google and Apple now compete in numerous markets in the technology sector: Google's Android mobile operating system competes with Apple's iPhone; both companies recently made large mobile advertising related purchases; Google's forthcoming Chrome OS will see the company enter the desktop computing space; and the Chrome browser competes with Apple's Safari.
The most public dispute between Apple and Google came last summer, when the Google Voice application was not accepted into the iPhone App Store. The two companies shared barbs with Google alleging the software was outright rejected for use on the iPhone, while Apple said it remained under review and consideration.
Microsoft also hopes to fight its way back in the phone market later this year when it plans to release Windows Phone 7 Series, a new multi-touch capable mobile operating system designed to compete with modern smartphones like the iPhone and handsets powered by Google's Android mobile operating system. Devices that run Windows Phone 7 Series will feature a dedicated button for Bing search.
"Apple's done a very nice job that allows people to monetize and commercialize their intellectual property," Ballmer reportedly said last week in a speech at the University of Washington's computer science building.
Brier Dudley, columnist for The Seattle Times, took Ballmer's comments to mean that relations between Microsoft and Apple are warming, perhaps in advance of an announcement that Bing will become the default search engine for the iPhone. Rumors of such a deal between the two technology giants have persisted since January.
Dudley said it's possible that Apple and Microsoft could align to take on what both feel is a bigger threat: Google. The columnist personally asked Ballmer whether that was the case, but the Microsoft CEO just smiled and said he couldn't answer that question.
"Apple is coming off a tough divorce from its young search partner, which is now selling its own touch-screen smartphone and has floated concept designs of an iPad-like tablet device," Dudley wrote. "So perhaps it's natural Apple is reaching out to an estranged friend from the early days."
Ballmer's complimentary nature is a stark change from 2007, when the Microsoft executive famously laughed at the then-unreleased iPhone from Apple. By last year, Microsoft's own Windows Mobile had become stagnant while the iPhone has seen tremendous growth.
Rumors and speculation about Apple's alleged negotiations with Microsoft for Bing search come as many have perceived a growing rivalry between Apple and Google. Last summer, Google CEO Eric Schmidt resigned from the Apple Board of Directors as an investigation from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission was looking into the connections between the two companies.
Schmidt's move was seen as necessary as Google and Apple now compete in numerous markets in the technology sector: Google's Android mobile operating system competes with Apple's iPhone; both companies recently made large mobile advertising related purchases; Google's forthcoming Chrome OS will see the company enter the desktop computing space; and the Chrome browser competes with Apple's Safari.
The most public dispute between Apple and Google came last summer, when the Google Voice application was not accepted into the iPhone App Store. The two companies shared barbs with Google alleging the software was outright rejected for use on the iPhone, while Apple said it remained under review and consideration.
Microsoft also hopes to fight its way back in the phone market later this year when it plans to release Windows Phone 7 Series, a new multi-touch capable mobile operating system designed to compete with modern smartphones like the iPhone and handsets powered by Google's Android mobile operating system. Devices that run Windows Phone 7 Series will feature a dedicated button for Bing search.
Comments
Ballmer is looking to be Apple's next CEO!
I knew it! I soaked some tea leaves in sweat and Ballmer's face appeared.
Any time Microsoft compliments something, it simply means that's the bar they are going to try and reach, while the competition continues moving further ahead.
I remember a while ago there was news that Microsoft (Microsoft Reasearch i think) was going to release a few apps. Microsoft is a big enough company that they can support their own stuff and a competitors stuff. Microsoft releases Office on the Mac and Apple releases iTunes and Safari on windows right? Maybe this is a sign that Word or Outlook may arrive on the iPad?
It's not uncommon for big companies to compete, sue each other, and work together at the same time.
All it means is they like what Apple's done with the App Store, and they're going to try and copy it with their Win 7 mobile platform (and fail horribly at it).
Any time Microsoft compliments something, it simply means that's the bar they are going to try and reach, while the competition continues moving further ahead.
Sounds like them but I'm having a brain fart trying to think of when they did what you say.
What else did they compliment before copying?
Perhaps someone who knows more then I would like to speculate on how Apple tends to stay out of making attractive business machines and whether this would down play the threat they represent to Microsoft. Not that I'm saying they don't see it but they are aware perhaps that Microsoft's core income segment isn't targeted by Apple.
Sounds like them but I'm having a brain fart trying to think of when they did what you say.
What else did they compliment before copying?
OS X . . . gotta be. We already know how much MS loves OS X.
Sounds like them but I'm having a brain fart trying to think of when they did what you say.
What else did they compliment before copying?
I don't remember them ever doing this at all. Generally they pee all over it and then end up doing it themselves a year later just like with the iPhone.
I agree with the article's take on it. (Sadly), it means they are thinking of working together.
Apple/SJ have gone beyond MSFT, and I doubt that they are paying all that much attention to them anymore - not even over something like MS Office when it came to the iPad, for instance.
For example, I searched for "Canon MF6590 drivers" the other day for my printer. Bing sent me to every virus riddled driver collation site under the sun. Canon didn't even make the first page. Google took me straight to Canon's download page -it was the top hit.
Bing results seem to show no priority with respect to when the content was created either. I could be wrong about this, but Google seems to show you more recent content in preference to older stuff. So if you search for tax forms by number, you will generally get the 2009 version for example. Bing will show you stuff from the 90s first if it feels like it -if it even realizes what you are looking for.
I hope Apple doesn't go with Bing. It will be a huge step back.
Any time Microsoft compliments something, it simply means that's the bar they are going to try and reach, while the competition continues moving further ahead.
Like in the OS market? Or the office software market? Or the web browser market?
WTF? Get real. They have no serious competition in many markets.
"... to monetize and commercialize their intellectual property."
This is why Microsoft makes crap. "Insanely Great" isn't even marketing drivel to these buffoons. I bet the best iPhone app developers would say something more like "... to make good money doing really cool stuff!"
Gordon