“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.
cluck, cluck, cluck…
“after the leaked memo yesterday showing pictures of a literally cloned iPhone interface on the MS phone prototype”
That was not meant to be a MS phone, it was still a new version (photo shop conception) of MS windows to run on other phones
As I see it, nothing has changed, they are trying to copy the look and feel of an iPhone soft ware wise, for sale to their window mobile platform users
And of course MDN also fails to acknowledge the ovbous fact that Apple also copied for its iPhone: the touch interface was not actually Apples invention at all. Some one else came up with it, like many of its products.
But of course we all know this is just the usual MDN flame/click bait.
@M.X.N.T.4.1
“There is only one piece of Microsoft hardware I’ve ever loved and that was my Trackball Explorer.”
Absolutely! I dare say it is the best trackball ever designed. There’s absolutely nothing out there that’s even comparable in functionality and ergonomics. I can’t believe it was an MS product!
Maybe Apple didn’t invent a touch interface… But they sure as hell innovated and went somewhere no one else was or is capable of going. Show me a rival device to the iPhone that has even a fraction of its usability, and then try your argument.
Steve said the same thing about video on the ipod and developing the iphone, so you always have to assume these CEOs are bluffing.
Personally, I’d rather MS did try to match the iPhone and get embarrassed once again.
Of course, ChrissyTwo, there is not a single product offering from microsoft that they did not purchase first, then put their name on. Zero. Not a single concept that they created, then developed from scratch, and successfully competed in the marketplace. It may be a smart business model in order to make tons of money, but little “innovation”, as Bill likes to toss around so much, and no effort.
@ChrissyTwo
I prefer model 1. Can you upgrade to model 1 please? Model 2 seems to be full of bugs and flaws.
@dbcoyle
Where did MS copy the xbox 360 from? Just curious.
Awww Zune you’re at it again. I love your sarcasm. Com’on!! Let’s us know what Mac you’re using. Did you upgrade to the new Mac Pro? Come on Zunie let us know.
So all that FUD from MS right after the iPhone release was just that… FUD
“Microsoft won’t launch iPhone rival”
no, they won’t.
…but will they try to?
Wow – shocking!
Because the zOOn was such an iPod killer, they got smart and let Apple have the phone market.
MS – go back to what you do best, writing half-assed software and making the WORST commercials ever!
What’s the big deal. If there was going to be one, all Microsoft would have done is pay LG (or some other actual phone maker) to design and engineer the phone, and put a Microsoft logo on it. It would have to use Windows Mobile as the OS. So there would be absolutely zero point in releasing a “Zune phone.” For once, Microsoft makes a good call. (I like Microsoft mice too…)
Can anyone launch a phone that competes directly with the iPhone? Maybe in several years others will have something, but by then…
@ChrissyTwo,
While I won’t begrudge you your opinions of this site, I have to wonder why you continue reading content on this site if it bothers you so much. It seems to me that if the site bothers you so much that you would just not frequent it.
There is another site that I absolutely loathe for the lone reason that one of their writers is an absolute twit and can’t write to save his life. I started to protest this idiot’s braindead drivel and then realized that I didn’t have to stay there and read his crap. To do so would have been either an effort to hope in futility or just plain masochistic.
So the same advice I offer to you. Don’t punish yourself man. There are better things out there than letting something bother you and have to spout it to others who may not share your disdain.
Cheers!
Nothing has changed. No one would consider it news if Microsoft announced that they weren’t planning on building a computer to compete with the Macs, right? Microsoft has too many partners in the phone market using its software to have any interest in creating a competing product, same as in the computer market.
My criticism is with MDNs attitude and the general smugness of a lot of you here.
I am not defending Microsoft as an innovator, which would clearly be absurd, but I am glad they are competing with Apple here. Apple needs to be kept on its toes because we all know they can be as bad to there customers as anyone else at times.
@ Vlad
I like a man who knows quality when he sees it.
ChrissyTwo. Feh. ChrissyOne is respected here. ChrissyTwo is disrespected here. Yeah, and who here believes for a second it, and I do mean “it” is a woman?
Piss off you 14 year-old momma’s boy troll.
p.s. ChrissyOne is MDN posting under a pen name. That is why they introduced the name registration system so they could continue to do so without interference. Basically a few of us regular posters saw straight through MDN posting a Zune Tang, ChrissyOne etc. and started using the names ourselves. Which of course did not go down very well with MDN.
Any who exactly is MDN? For someone who obviously dishe a lot of dirt out on other people surely they should not feel they have to hide their identity? What exactly are they hiding?
No Apple Big Ass Table?
I’m pissed off.
@ ChrissyTwo
You’re a solid No. 2.
@ChrissyOne
HA! A stinky, festering, fly arousing No. 2.
Chrissyone = MDN – Zune Tang
ChrissyTwo is the Zune of MDN.
i.e., a sorry copy-cat.
Why do we “hide” our identities? Because nutjobs like you have been known to stalk and otherwise interfere with our lives, that’s why.
This is for fun – if MDN is where you go for serious debate, then you’re in need of using the front door more often…