Steve Ballmer's Se7en priorities for 2009

By Phil Nickinson
last updated

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?

Phil Nickinson
Phil Nickinson

Phil is the father of two beautiful girls and is the Dad behind Modern Dad. Before that he spent seven years at the helm of Android Central. Before that he spent a decade in a newsroom of a two-time Pulitzer Prize-finalist newspaper. Before that — well, we don't talk much about those days. Subscribe to the Modern Dad newsletter!

2 Comments
  • i say hurry up!
  • I say focus on one thing and do it well. Microsoft makes substandard products in many different areas and uses their Windows cash to always buy late entry into a market. Are they an applications company? Are they a consumer electronics company? Are they a business software company? Are they "advertising, advertising, advertising?" I think they are jack of all trades, master of none. Microsoft would be better as four or five companies, each with its own focus and core competency. Not because the government says so, but because the market demands it. They are akin to the UK following WWI, with a huge empire spanning the globe, but that is overstretched and growing tired. How much better would Australia or India have been in 1918 if they could have run their own countries based on their own needs? How much better would Windows be if it didn't have to fight for resources with Zune or servers? Mister Softy share holder value would increase, revenues would grow, innovation would be added back into the process and the consumer would benefit.