Tag: Steve Ballmer

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Microsoft CEO: Satya Nadella

Microsoft has named Satya Nadella as their new CEO, the successor to outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer.

From Microsoft Press Release:

REDMOND, Wash. — Feb. 4, 2014 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Satya Nadella as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors effective immediately. Nadella previously held the position of Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise group.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

In addition to having a new CEO, Microsoft also announces:

Microsoft also announced that Bill Gates, previously Chairman of the Board of Directors, will assume a new role on the Board as Founder and Technology Advisor, and will devote more time to the company, supporting Nadella in shaping technology and product direction. John Thompson, lead independent director for the Board of Directors, will assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors and remain an independent director on the Board.

Congratulations are in order along with good luck wishes.

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The Right Person as Microsoft CEO

Recent chatters within the Tech Press suggest that Microsoft is close to name the successor to Steve Balmer as Microsoft CEO.

Kara Swisher from Re/code wrote:

And, at this moment, those who have watched the process think that insider Satya Nadella, who is currently leading its enterprise effort, is the likeliest internal candidate to prevail.

That’s due to a number of reasons, including his familiarity with the company, where he has spent much of his career, as well as a strong technical background and a varied work history at Microsoft.

Considering that Nadella was heavily involved with loss-leader division within Microsoft, namely Bing, not sure if Nadella is the right candidate.

The-hunt-for-next-Microsoft-CEO

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Microsoft to Acquire Nokia Devices and Services Business, Finally.

OK, who won the pool? If you chose September, 2013 then claim your winnings. If you chose September 2 or September 3, 2013 then you won the jackpot.

Many saw it coming since Stephen Elop was appointed as Nokia CEO back on September 10, 2010. Microsoft is set to acquire Nokia’s devices & services business, license Nokia’s patents and mapping services. (Microsoft | Nokia)

Microsoft to Acquire Nokia

The timing is a little peculiar though, just about ten days after Steve Ballmer announced his planned retirement from being Microsoft CEO.

From the Press Release:

Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will pay EUR 3.79 billion to purchase substantially all of Nokia’s Devices & Services business, and EUR 1.65 billion to license Nokia’s patents, for a total transaction price of EUR 5.44 billion in cash. Microsoft will draw upon its overseas cash resources to fund the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, subject to approval by Nokia’s shareholders, regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

EUR 5.44 billion equals that’s USD 7.14 billion on September 2, 2013.And that’s in cash!

For comparison, Google acquired Motorola Mobility for USD 12.5 billion in cash.

Who else would sell Windows Phone after the acquisition is completed?

Microsoft-Nokia

p.s. Nokia loses $151 million in Q2 2013 while increasing sales of its Lumia lines.

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Steve Ballmer to Retire as Microsoft CEO

The news broke in the morning of Friday August 23, 2013 that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has decided to retire within the next 12 months.

From Ballmer’s internal email:

I am writing to let you know that I will retire as CEO of Microsoft within the next 12 months, after a successor is chosen. There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our transformation to a devices and services company focused on empowering customers in the activities they value most. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction.

It is also clear that Microsoft at this point does not have a succesion plan.

From Microsoft Press Release:

The Board of Directors has appointed a special committee to direct the process. This committee is chaired by John Thompson, the board’s lead independent director, and includes Chairman of the Board Bill Gates, Chairman of the Audit Committee Chuck Noski and Chairman of the Compensation Committee Steve Luczo. The special committee is working with Heidrick & Struggles International Inc., a leading executive recruiting firm, and will consider both external and internal candidates.

So, who would be the next Microsoft CEO? Let’s the speculation begin!

Under Ballmer’s helm, Microsoft has been a generally profitable company with some notable exceptions such as the first few years of XBox project and Surface RT. Notably, Microsoft is actually making profit off Android.

In addition to that, Ballmer had failed to see the competitive threat from Apple.

Steve Ballmer to Retire ftom being Microsoft CEO

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Steve Ballmer wants Microsoft to regain “Evil Company” Title by threatening Android.

In recent Interview with The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that there are licensing fees for Android.

WSJ: Are you trying to protect Windows or do you see Windows Phone 7 as a big revenue opportunity in and of itself?

Mr. Ballmer: No, I see it as a big opportunity. There’s the sale of the device, there’s potential for search revenue on top of that and commerce revenue. There’s potential for subscription revenue from various entertainment or productivity experiences.

Job One here will be selling a lot of phones, and if we sell a lot of phones, good things are going to happen.

WSJ: You’re still charging a license fee for the software.

Mr. Ballmer: Sure.

WSJ: Is that difficult in an environment where Android is free?

Mr. Ballmer: Android has a patent fee. It’s not like Android’s free. You do have to license patents. HTC’s signed a license with us and you’re going to see license fees clearly for Android as well as for Windows.

Since Google is not charging any licensing fees, then who is?

Well, Microsoft is currently going after Motorola for making Android phones. Motorola currently does not making any phones based on Windows Phone 7 platform.

Microsoft had signed “Patent deal” with HTC over Android. Some pundits “cheered” this move as a way for HTC to fend off Apple on the ongoing lawsuit.

Microsoft is poised to regain the “Evil Company” title with this move if only if the consumer cares about the issue. Unfortunately some influential Tech-Elitists are not saying anything much about Microsoft asserting “ownership” over Android and Linux.

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Brain Not Needed: Microsoft’s Bing is iPhone-bound in Apple WWDC 2010.

Previously on “Brain Not Needed”:

Steve Ballmer was going to make an appearance on Steve Jobs WWDC 2010 Keynote introducing Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. A brainless analyst claimed that Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 supports native codes for iPhone, iPad and Mac OS X. Then the same brainless analyst retracted the statement.

It is more likely that Apple would be adding Bing search engine into iPhone OS Safari. It will not, however, replaced Google and Yahoo! search. Then again, since Yahoo! is also using Bing search engine. As long as Apple is not dropping Yahoo! search, Bing is making it to the iPhone Safari.

It is more logical for Apple to add Bing and Yahoo! into Safari search; for all platforms.

It is unlikely for Apple to remove Google from the approved search engine for the iPhone.

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Brain Not Needed: Ballmer at Apple WWDC and Visual Studio writes native codes iPhone, iPad and Mac OS X.

Seriously, I need to get a job as a “Analyst” now. Think about the ridiculous amount of money people are willing to pay me for some random analysis I made up.

Steve Ballmer at WWDC? Unlikely.

Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 to write native codes for iPhone, iPad and Mac OS X? Seriously? Apparently someone needs attention really bad. Writing Mac OS X apps in Windows, that’s making as much sense as giving Carlos Mencia his own show.

Don’t know what I’m ranting about? Ask John Gruber.

Brain Not Needed!