Microsoft eyes threats to desktop dominance

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 25 Feb 2009 at 11:14

Microsoft is bracing itself for the incursion of Google into the desktop operating system market, according to chief executive Steve Ballmer.

"We're very focused on both Apple as a competitor and Linux as a competitor," Ballmer told investors during the company's midyear update. "I think the dynamic with Linux is changing somewhat and I assume we're going to see Android-based and Linux-based laptops in addition to phones.

"We'll see Google more as a competitor in the desktop operating system business than we ever have before. The seams between what is a phone operating system and PC operating system will change and so we have ramped investment in client operating systems," he added.

However, Ballmer wasn't giving any ground to his rivals, claiming Microsoft's chief competition was still itself.

"From a market share perspective in the OS market Windows licensed is number one in the market," said Ballmer. "Number two is Windows Pirated or unlicensed; that's a competitor that's tough to beat because it's at a good price and a heck of a product, but we're working on it."