Microsoft Big Bashes Google's Android

Microsoft Boss Steve Ballmer took a shot a rival Google (News - Alert) today calling the company’s Android operating system financially unsound and suggested the Internet behemoth is lagging in its efforts to make the desktop more mobile.

 

Speaking at Telstra's annual investment day in Australia, the Microsoft (News - Alert) chief executive said that because it was Google’s first foray into the phone operating system space it was way behind in its efforts.

 

 "They can hire smart guys, hire a lot of people, blah dee blah dee blah, but you know they start out way behind in a certain sense," he told the crowd, according to published reports.

 

Ballmer also went on to say if he had the temerity to tell Microsoft shareholders a new product was being launched but as of yet Redmond had no revenue model they would not take it very well.  In essence, he was suggesting this is what has happened with Athe Open Source Android (News - Alert).

 

Google’s mobile phone has been touted as Internet giant’s answer to Apple’s iPhone (News - Alert). The device runs on the Android operating system from Google and is designed  to advance the idea of making the desktop mobile. For now, those features have included online services such as its e-mail service, the YouTube video-sharing site andGoogle Maps.

 

"I don't really understand their strategy. Maybe somebody else does,” Ballmer told the crowd, according to published reports. “If I went to my shareholder meeting, my analyst meeting and said, hey, we've just launched a new product that has no revenue model."

 

However, many insiders say  Google Android might very well become a serious challenger to those already in the smartphone space, regardless of its business model. And, the thinking goes,  Ballmer just doesn’t get it.

 

The idea, from a Google perspective, is to give away the operating system while installing its search on devices for free.

 

Ballmer has said giving away the OS creates monetary questions and the lack of revenue could lead to the system being neglected in terms of upgrades and enhancements.

"Google doesn't exactly bubble to the top of the list of the top competitors we've got going in mobile. They might some day. But right now..." ZDNet quoted Ballmer as saying.

 

Yet Google seems to be making headway with its mobile ambitions. Last month, China Mobile (News - Alert) announced it would introduce Android to China in the second quarter of 2009.