Industryweek 5539 Ballmer

Ballmer Says Microsoft Needs to 'Start Up Again'

Nov. 5, 2013
Reinvention is required for computer giant to avoid being 'old and tired,' according to CEO.

ROME - Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on Tuesday said the computer giant had to reinvent itself to avoid being "old and tired" as his company struggles to keep up in the mobile-devices sector.

"We're finding ourselves having to start up again," Ballmer said at a conference in Rome where he announced Italy had become the first country in which Microsoft phones were outselling iPhones.

"Unless you're constantly inventing something new, you're old and tired. Today we're having to remake ourselves," Ballmer told his audience.

Referring to the success of Microsoft (IW 500/16) against rival Apple's iPhone in Italy, he quipped: "I don't know how long it's going to last."

Ballmer was a classmate and friend of Bill Gates from their days at Harvard University in the 1970s.

He took over from Gates in 2000 but earlier this year said he will step down by August 2014.

When Ballmer took over, Microsoft was the undisputed tech sector leader, and the world's largest company in market value. But in recent years it has struggled as consumers began to move from desktop and laptop PCs to mobile devices.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2013

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Legacy Phone Lines Are Draining Your Profits

Oct. 30, 2023
Copper wire phone line expenses that support emergency devices could be costing your company millions of dollars in wasteful overhead expenses. Rates have been skyrocketing while...

7 Crucial Steps to Improve Your OT Security

Oct. 23, 2023
Enhance OT security in manufacturing and production. Uncover the crucial steps to safeguard your operational technology. Protect against evolving threats and bridge the IT-OT ...

Ecommerce Guide: How to Manage Order Volume Spikes

Oct. 2, 2023
Master the art of delivering a seamless ecommerce shopping experience! Learn how to streamline your operations to successfully manage seasonal sales order spikes.

The Realist Guide to Sustainable Supply Chains

Sept. 28, 2023
A ‘roll up your sleeves’ guide to driving green line performance at your organization. Learn with this easy-to-understand ebook how to implement green supply chain management ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!