Ballmer: I’m Microsoft’s ‘primary champion of innovation’

“Steve Ballmer made his first solo presentation, sans Bill Gates, at the annual Microsoft analysts meeting on Thursday, claiming that he would be the ‘primary champion of innovation in our company,'” Kate DuBose Tomassi reports for Forbes. “Investors seemed underwhelmed, bidding the software company’s stock down nearly 2% on the day, perhaps less than excited by Ballmer’s contention that the company’s delayed Vista operating system and Office 2007 program could be Microsoft’s ‘most exciting offerings ever.'”

“In March, Microsoft announced delays of both products until late this year, and some analysts have pegged the Vista launch as more likely for next spring,” Tomassi reports. “The annual analyst meeting is the first ever to be conducted without Gates, who is in Africa. Ballmer said he feels he’s ‘entering into a new era’ as of the company’s June 15 announcement that Gates will transition from full-time to part-time over the next two years.”

“Other new Microsoft offerings mentioned were adCenter, an online advertising platform for the company’s MSN, launched in May; the Xbox 360 gaming console, launched last year with strong sales in June according to NPD data; and the company’s challenge to Apple Computer’s iPod, a new music player and online music service called Zune, scheduled to be launched this year,” Tomassi reports.

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Ballmer’s “entering into a new era” alright: The Apple era.

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