14 DAY TRIAL // Google’s chairman Eric Schmidt sat down for an interview with AllThingsD’s Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher, commenting not only on his very own company’s future plans, but also on Microsoft’s new approach for the technology sector.
After emphasizing that Google’s self-driving cars are very exciting, Schmidt said that Microsoft is not one of the four large technology companies at the moment, as it didn’t launch “state-of-the-art” products in all industry sectors.
Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Google form the so-called Gang of Four, the Google chairman said.
“You left out Microsoft,” Walt Mossberg told Schmidt. “Deliberate,” he quickly replied.
Schmidt believes that Microsoft continues to rely on Windows, even if the Redmond-based technology firm is ready to launch the Surface tablet and a possible Surface smartphone next year.
“Microsoft built a structural monopoly around Windows,” the Google chairman said. “It means a lot if the product works,” he added when talking about the Surface tablet.
“They’re a well-run company, but they haven’t been able to bring state-of-the-art products into the fields we’re talking about yet,” Schmidt explained.
October is regarded as one of the most important months in Microsoft’s history, as the software giant is getting ready to make a significant step towards Steve Ballmer’s devices and services company.
Microsoft will debut the new Surface tablet together with Windows 8 on October 25 in New York, Office 2013 will come with a subscription service, while the company may also develop its very own smartphone equipped with Windows 8 next year.
Windows 8 will be a cross platform operating system that will work not only on traditional desktop computers, but also on tablets and mobile phones.