Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer isn’t scared of competing desktop platforms, and believes that Microsoft’s Windows operating system will always have a place in the market. During a shareholder’s meeting in Seattle on Tuesday, Ballmer answered a question from one investor who asked whether or not society has entered a post-PC era. Generally, a “post-PC era” is defined as one where consumers have gravitated away from desktop and laptop computers and towards mobile devices such as table...

According to industry insider Eldar Murtazin, Microsoft has struck a deal to purchase Nokia’s mobile phone business for $19 billion. Just two weeks ago, Murtazin — who has a proven track record and was the first to report that Nokia has struck a deal to use Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform on its smartphones — suggested that Microsoft and Nokia were about to enter closed-door meetings to negotiate a possible purchase that could close sometime before the end of this year. It could make sense:...

Speaking at his company’s CES keynote, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer let go several pertinent facts about the Windows Phone 7 operating system. For starters, the much anticipated WP7 software update — the one that brings copy & paste along with a host of other improvements — is due in the next few months. Mr. Ballmer also noted that the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace now has 5,500 applications and is growing at the rate of 100 new applications every day; he also mentioned that 50% of the us...

We’re all ready to go at Microsoft CEO Steve Baller’s CES keynote event — the room is packed and the event is set to start any minute. What will be shown? Well, maybe some tablets or even new Windows Phone 7 handets? Or that mythical Windows 8? We’ll see soon enough! You can watch along with us since Microsoft is live-broadcasting Ballmer’s keynote in its entirety. Hit the break for the live video! (more…)

Microsoft has issued a statement describing Steve Ballmer’s plans to sell up to 75 million shares in order “to gain financial diversification and to assist in tax planning”. A sale this large is bound to ring alarm bells with shareholders, however Ballmer has cleared the air of any brewing conspiracy theories. “Even though this is a personal financial matter, I want to be clear about this to avoid any confusion. I am excited about our new products and the potential for our technology t...

Santa Ballmer? Steve Claus? Neither nickname has a great ring to it, but Microsoft’s CEO definitely deserves something similar this holiday season. Network World confirmed Thursday that Microsoft will be handing out free Windows Phone 7 devices to each and every company employee — that’s about 89,000 phones. Add to that another 1,000 free WP7 handsets that will be passed out to Microsoft’s Professional Developer Conference attendees, and you’ve got quite an expense (likely over $20 m...

Yesterday in New York City, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer officially unveiled his company’s next generation mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7. The mobile device arena is a crowded space — with well established systems from Apple, Google, and Research In Motion already in the market — but Microsoft made a big splash by announcing nine new handsets that will be available in the coming months (both in the U.S. and abroad). Microsoft has posted the keynote presentation from yesterday’...

9:27 AM: We’re here, and the party is just about to start. The house is packed and the music is bumping. Let’s do this thing!Hit the jump for out live blog of the event. (more…)

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, giving the opening keynote at the Worldwide Partner Conference, told his audience to expect Windows 7 slate computers before the end of this year. “We know you really want to know what’s coming,” teased Ballmer. HP is one of several Dell partners who announced a slate-like PC earlier this year, although they did not announce when the new product would be available. Microsoft’s Chief went onto say, “They [the Slate PC's] will come from the people you woul...

Ending speculation that another Microsoft-Yahoo deal may be on the table after the exit of Jerry Yang, Steve Ballmer said at a Wednesday shareholder meeting “Let me be clear. We are done with all acquisition discussions with Yahoo.” His announcement sent Yahoo’s shares into a 20% nosedive, closing at $9.13 at days end. Ballmer did tell shareholders that Microsoft may still be open to a search deal with Yahoo but those slightly encouraging words did not soften the blow of his comments dismiss...

Steve Ballmer needs to slow his roll! While on tour in the U.K. for the Professional Developers Conference, Ballmer saw it fit to take a little jab at Android and reaffirm Microsoft’s status in the mobile world. One would think that he learned his lesson when he laughed at the iPhone when it was first announced and said he wasn’t worried about it one bit — that it wouldn’t do well because the lack of a physical keyboard was just stupid and it was “most expensive phone ever.”...