Microsoft CEO sees smartphones at $100 in 1-2 years

Iria · Feb 14, 2006, 10:50 PM

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer expects smartphones powered by the company's Windows Mobile software to sell for $100 within one or two years, which would create a huge market.

"We will get smartphones at consumer style prices," Ballmer said in an interview on Tuesday at the 3GSM wireless trade show.

"I think it will take a year or two before we get to $100 type offerings (of Windows Mobile devices). I may be wrong, but not by much," he told Reuters.

Today's Windows Mobile smartphones sell for between $200 and $300, before operator subsidies.

"The situation today is that a very small percentage of the market is smartphones. Our relevant share is not our share of the overall market, but of the smartphone market. And the smartphone will be a very large share of the total market."
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Read More / Source: Reuters

Feb 14, 2006, 10:50 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Microsoft CEO sees smartphones at $100 in 1-2 years BARCELONA (Reuters) - Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer expects smartphones powered by the company's Windows Mobile software to sell for $100 within one or two years, which would create a huge market. "We will get smartphones at consumer style prices," Ballmer said in an interview on Tuesday at the 3GSM wireless trade show. "I think it will take a year or two before we get to $100 type offerings (of Windows Mobile devices). I may be wrong, but not by much," he told Reuters. Today's Windows Mobile smartphones sell for between $200 and $300, before operator subsidies. "The situation today is that a very small percentage of the market is smartphones. Our relevant share is not our share of the overall market, but of the smartphone market. And the smartphone will be a very large share of the total market." __________ Read More / Source: Reuters