Microsoft's Bach not afraid of Google's Android

While much of my conversation with Microsoft's Robbie Bach on Wednesday morning dealt with new parental controls for the Xbox, I did get a chance to get his thoughts on Google's phone plans.

"There's a ton of innovation going on in this space," said Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices unit. "They've made an announcement, now they have a product that they need to come and deliver."

But nothing in Google's plans was a surprise, Bach insisted. "It's a different direction than we are going, but it's one we can compete effectively with," he said. "When they bring a phone to market, we'll be happy and ready to compete."

He noted that the market for phones with significant operating systems has broadened from just a business market into a mainstream category, spanning devices that are both consumer and corporate as well as hitting all age groups.

"The good news is that makes it a very large market," he said. "We just have to figure out and focus on the target audiences that matter the most.

I asked whether Windows Mobile, which grew up as an operating system for handheld computers, can continue along its evolutionary path or if Microsoft needs a more radical overhaul to compete. Not surprisingly, he insisted Windows Mobile was up to the task.

"I think Windows Mobile is quite flexible in terms of what we can bring to market using that architecture," he said, pointing to the recently introduced T-Mobile Shadow as an example of a device that is now possible with Windows Mobile but would not have been even a year or two ago.

[john55440]

Who's Afraid of Vaporware? nt

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[bobfox321]

M$ compete, yeah right: more like monopolize

Ballmer, m$ ceo, has already stated he hates google. Google not only competes they are truly innovative. Google is everything m$ wishes they could be. I pray the google never becomes the overpricing, monopolistic, gouging pack of rats that m$ has become around the world. Time for linux, ubuntu, o/s2 or whatever google can come up with to help alternative OS's, competition and therefore reduction in exorbitant pricing. Viva Google !

[zuted]

Why interview this guy

this is the guy who on camera announced that the iPhone couldnt be done just <br />before it was announced. This is the problem with me-tosoft (M$). They sit <br />around talking about what cant be done then when someone else does it..... M$ <br />produces a makeshift rip-off (zune 2...ect.) and then announce how they are <br />innovating... You'd think with all the money they make it would be a priority to <br />make an original, creative, innovative product(s). But once they monopolize a <br />market through FUD and blackmail (Mandriva) they do nothing... Vista only <br />happened to attempt to counter linux and OSX... IE 7 took fooooorever to be <br />released.. ect ect.. After getting F#^Ked by vista and it left a bad taste in my <br />mouth I made the switch. I am now 100% microsoft free and its turned out to <br />be much easier..

[BabyDriver]

Is Google Android Better than Windows Mobile?

That's the big question I'm seeing asked at places like <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.androidvswindowsmobile.com/" target="_newWindow">http://www.androidvswindowsmobile.com/</a>. So, is Microsoft's concern over the debut of Android going to lead to some sort of battle of the titans? What's your opinion?