Register Log in

Infinite Loop / The Apple Ecosystem

Ballmer makes a scene over employee’s iPhone

Add an encounter with an employee's iPhone to the list of Microsoft CEO Steve …

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has pulled some crazy stunts in the past. The result is almost always poor publicity for the man and the company he represents. It's really a pity that someone as bright as Ballmer loses his cool on a regular basis. We can't say his latest antic tops the rest, but it's definitely going into the record books (especially if someone managed to film it). Yesterday was Microsoft's private company meeting at Seattle's Safeco Field. It was also the day that Ballmer snatched an iPhone from one of his peers (believe it or not, most Microsoft employees we've met have an iPhone) and didn't give it back till he was done trying to be a comedian.

"As the story goes, it happened when Ballmer was making his big entrance—slapping hands, running around, and generally whooping things up, as is his tradition at these events," TechFlash reports. "That was when he spotted someone at field level, allegedly a member of the Windows group, using an iPhone to take his picture. Ballmer grabbed the Apple device from the employee and made some funny remarks as everyone booed. Then he put it on the ground and pretended to stomp on it, before walking away. The scene was visible on the big screen, so even people in the upper deck could see what was happening. Later, during his presentation on stage, Ballmer referred to the episode again, teasing the person and making it clear that he hadn't forgotten what [had] happened."

In April 2007, Ballmer stated that "there's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share." He didn't outright admit he was wrong, but he did backpedal a bit on his statement in January 2009, by saying that the iPhone has "clear market momentum." He's also not clueless in regards to Windows Mobile: he stated in March 2009 that versions of the operating system need to start coming out faster.

Ballmer was definitely aware that whatever happened at Microsoft's annual company meeting would make its way to the Web. After all, ZDNet reported talk of the Bing 2.0 update coming as early as next week and PC World noted that employees got to see new laptops that will be coming out with Windows 7. Now we have the CEO ranting about a competitor's product. So we're interrupting the awesome hype around Windows 7 and Bing for a second since Ballmer has once again failed to restrain himself. Everyone good? Great. Back to regular programming.

Expand full story

You must to comment.

Need to register for a new account?

If you don't have an account yet it's free and easy.