Apple Quote by Steve Ballmer
“We'll get a chance to go through this [Apple versus Microsoft debate] again in phones and music players. There's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance. It's a $500 subsidized item. They may make a lot of money. But if you actually take a look at the 1.3 billion phones that get sold, I'd prefer to have our software in 60% or 70% or 80% of them, than I would to have 2% or 3%, which is what Apple might get.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public remarks, 2007, Microsoft conference
Predicts low iPhone market share, emphasizing software dominance across many devices.
In simple terms: Believes software should be on most phones, not just a few high‑end ones.
Focus on broad software distribution.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- technology conference
- industry analysis
- strategic planning
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can software firms adapt to unexpected market leaders?
- What risks arise from focusing on volume over premium?
Limited by rapid market shifts and consumer preferences.