Ballmer continues Microsoft’s anti-Google campaign with new statements

Sep 20, 2013 13:28 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has recently re-launched the Scroogled campaign to show everyone that Google looks into Gmail inboxes to display ads to users, so it’s no surprise that CEO Steve Ballmer publicly slams the Mountain View-based rival.

Ballmer has said during Microsoft’s meeting with financial analysts that Google’s practices need to be discussed with competition regulators.

“I do believe that Google's practices are worthy of discussion with competition authority, and we have certainly discussed them with competition authorities. I don't think their practices are getting less meritorious of discussion,” Ballmer explains.

“We've highlighted some of their bad practices in our advertising, in our discussions with regulators, the bundling that they're doing with YouTube and Google Maps and some other things. Anyway, suffice it to say that I think they need pressure from competition authority. I think they need pressure in the marketplace.”

At the same time, the outgoing CEO says that Microsoft is currently the only company in the world that’s actually competing with Google in the search engine industry.

Redmond has invested millions in making Bing a truly powerful search engine, so the service has become a full-featured platform that can be accessed not only from the web, but also from tablets, smartphones and PCs running Windows.

Bing has been fully integrated into Windows 8.1, so the operating system’s search feature now allows consumers to use the Start screen to look for information both offline and online.

“We’re the only guys in the world trying. And that starts with a great product. We've invested in Bing, particularly in the United States, some of the new investment in Bing is to make it as good outside the United States as it is in the United States,” Ballmer continues.

“And that requires more investment because you have to index more of the Web. You have to know more about local events and information, et cetera. So, number one, got to get the product right.”