Microsoft (MSFT) CEO Ballmer: We're Becoming More Apple-Like! (NOK) (DELL)
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Well, the fourth horseman is finally here. According to Reuters, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer said his company is slowly, but surely, becoming more like Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL).
We'll give you a second to clean the milk off your monitor.
Really, it's not a bad target to aim for and not really a surprise to many. For year, Microsoft has been focused more on the software side of things while Apple has been dedicated to user experience and design. While Apple has built a solid ecosystem around iTune, iOS, and Mountain Lion, Microsoft is making a similar push with its upcoming Windows 8 platform, Kinect, and Xbox refresh.
Ballmer issued an annual letter to shareholders on Tuesday. Hints from the letter also suggested that Microsoft would also look to expand is PC offerings beyond the upcoming Surface tablet line and may start producing its own smartphones.
Microsoft will continue to work with hardware partners like Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), HTC, and Samsung, Ballmer noted, but the Company will make a shift away from its traditional model of selling pre-installed software.
Traders are likely to keep an eye on Dell, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), and, especially, Nokia (NYSE: NOK) today. Some recent chatter pointed to Microsoft eventually developing its own smartphone, but talk is one thing; seeing the Company CEO address the issue with shareholders is completely different. Given that Nokia is relying heavily on Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 to regain some elusive smartphone market share, competition from the source of the product generally isn't a good thing.
Shares of Microsoft and Apple are higher, while Nokia is flat early.
We'll give you a second to clean the milk off your monitor.
Really, it's not a bad target to aim for and not really a surprise to many. For year, Microsoft has been focused more on the software side of things while Apple has been dedicated to user experience and design. While Apple has built a solid ecosystem around iTune, iOS, and Mountain Lion, Microsoft is making a similar push with its upcoming Windows 8 platform, Kinect, and Xbox refresh.
Ballmer issued an annual letter to shareholders on Tuesday. Hints from the letter also suggested that Microsoft would also look to expand is PC offerings beyond the upcoming Surface tablet line and may start producing its own smartphones.
Microsoft will continue to work with hardware partners like Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), HTC, and Samsung, Ballmer noted, but the Company will make a shift away from its traditional model of selling pre-installed software.
Traders are likely to keep an eye on Dell, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), and, especially, Nokia (NYSE: NOK) today. Some recent chatter pointed to Microsoft eventually developing its own smartphone, but talk is one thing; seeing the Company CEO address the issue with shareholders is completely different. Given that Nokia is relying heavily on Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 to regain some elusive smartphone market share, competition from the source of the product generally isn't a good thing.
Shares of Microsoft and Apple are higher, while Nokia is flat early.
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