“Microsoft will not launch a product that competes directly with Apple’s iPhone, Chairman Bill Gates said in an interview with Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung,” Michael Shields reports for Reuters.
“‘No, we won’t do that. In the so-called smart phone business we will concentrate solely on software with our Windows Mobile program,’ Gates was quoted as saying,” Shields reports.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “DD from Belgium” for the heads up.]
Aww, no Phune. That’s okay, Microsoft provides us more than enough to ridicule already.
Guess them patent things really work! Gotta get me some.
In other news, Apple will not be launching any product that competes directly with a big table.
Microsoft won’t launch iPhone rival
“Won’t”? More like “can’t.”
That’s good, because if they did, it would be identical in looks to this…
http://www.apple.com/iphone
…but it would have a blue screen of death and never function correctly. Oh, and no multi-touch. Stylus only.
@John Gee. Very good!
What?!?!
Microsfot knows when it’s beaten?
Alleluia!
Too bad. MS hardware is usually the only MS product that doesn’t unmitigatedly suck (the zune being the exception, which was really a repackaged toshiba product anyways). I mean, maybe they can’t program an OS worth a damn, but they sure do make good mice (mouses?)!
Grigori, they could try! Sort of like they tried launching an iPod rival. Hmmm … you think maybe they learned something with that?
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Dave
@ John Gee: LOL
Thats BS. I think I recall them saying the same thing about the iPod.
When they found out you couldn’t DRM phone calls they decided it didn’t fit their business plan.
That’s got to be the smartest decision MS has made – Maybe ever.
after the leaked memo yesterday showing pictures of a literally cloned iPhone interface on the MS phone prototype OS, don’t be too sure they aren’t still spending their vast R&D;bucks on a competitor unit – just wait and see what shakes out. As our readers know however, the consumer electronics river flows rapidly, and without an OS monopoly, MS hasn’t fared that well in the marketplace keeping up with the current.
dd
Aw, come on, having no Phune to ridicule is no Phun!
One other thing: This may be the first notable sign of developers in general and MS specifically adding products in response to everything Apple brings out with the attitude that, if Apple can do it anybody can do it. There are just some things that Apple does better than anybody else does – It’s not elitist, many companies have unique products that they specialize in that other companies either won’t even try, or try and ultimately fail at.
This is a huge letdown for Microsoft enthusiasts like myself. The I-Phone lacks buttons, Exchange connectivity and cannot play Windows Media files. Apple had 5 years to come up with a decent phone and it has been met with critical disdain and indifference. Feature after feature were removed to get the I-Phone out on time and the best Apple could do was foist a mess on the unsuspecting public. I was really looking forward to Microsoft creating a game-changing phone. If not Microsoft, who?
Your potential. Our passion.™
Well, since Bill Gates is retiring this year, Microsoft is free to release an iPhone competitor next year and not have to worry about making him look like a liar. The company is free to change it’s direction once he’s no longer calling any shots.
Maybe Bill’s trying that reverse psychology thing that Steve does…you know like when Steve said no one wants flash MP3 players or music players that play video…?
“In the so-called smart phone business we will concentrate solely on software with our Windows Mobile program . . .”
These things are done in calculated steps.
First come the lies. Next up is the “CallsForSure” partner program. THEN, the Zune Phone and backstabbing.
It’s in their mission statement.
He he, I get it Zune Tang! You wrote the middle of the paragraph on Vista and changed the words to iPhone and Apple! Late, “met with critical disdain and indifference.”, “Feature after feature removed to get [Vista] out on time…”, “…the best [Microsoft] could do was to foist a mess on the unsuspecting public.”
Until now I never realized how much you have been joking!
There is only one piece of Microsoft hardware I’ve ever loved and that was my Trackball Explorer. Tried all the logitechs and hated them, in the end when mine broke after 4 years use I had to go on eBay, I’m constantly looking for another.
MDN is not exactly in a position to laugh or ridicule anyone. This site is very very poorly designed and full of ads!!
It is Apple that produces the cool products not MDN and they are certainly a lot more civilised when they poke fun out of Microsoft.
Get and education MDN.
Gates often says things that are blatantly wrong, so why should we believe him now?
I also don’t believe the 100 million copies of Vista sold. He just throws numbers around.
They eventually will come out with a phone like mess, but the initial release will come with solitaire and minesweep that will also include a rotary dial for ‘nostalgia’.
“Get and education MDN.”
Classic!