Microsoft founder Bill Gates says that the biggest mistake of his career was not being focused on developing an efficient platform for Mobile operating system. Today, Apple and Google occupy a major share in Mobile Operating platform market; on the contrary Microsoft failed to progress in the Windows Mobile system even after their Nokia misadventure.
Windows was born much before than iOS and Android
Microsoft is one of the biggest tech giants since the computer era started. They launched their own mobile operating system in 2000, whereas Apple and Google introduced it’s mobile OS platforms many years later. But as things stand today, iOS and Android are leading while Microsoft mobile OS flopped big time.
Recently, Bill Gates was interviewed by the venture capital firm Village Global. In the interview, Bill mentioned,
“In the software world, in particular for platforms, these are winner-take-all markets. So, the greatest mistake ever is whatever mismanagement I engaged in that caused Microsoft not to be what Android is”.
Want to publish your own articles on DistilINFO Publications?
Send us an email, we will get in touch with you.
Apple’s iOS was launched in 2007 and Google’s Android was launched in the market in 2008. Android is a widely used platform around the world for non-apple smartphones.
Microsoft is into the operating system for desktops. Since Microsoft was aware that the mobile phone would really get popular in the near future; they introduced Windows mobile. But missed on being a dominant operating system in competition with Apple and Google. Also during that time they were distracted towards 2001 antitrust trial and failed to assign the best people to work on Windows OS. And this mistake cost Microsoft billion dollars loss in the Mobile segment.
Apple and Google have firmly established themselves in Mobile Phone market. Both have occupied a major share in the smartphone segment. Consequently, Microsoft has to end the Windows OS for Windows 10 Mobile. Although, Microsoft has a strong hold on their other products such as Microsoft Office Suite, Windows OS for desktops, etc; Windows Vista and Windows ME couldn’t get the expected response.
Final Thoughts
While talking to Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz in the same interview, Bill Gates further said, “Our other assets like Windows and Office are still very strong, so we are a leading company, if we had gotten that one right, we would be the leading company, but oh well.”
Currently, Microsoft is strategizing to merge Desktop and Mobile operating system into a Universal Operating system. This will help to develop software programs on different devices efficiently.