Ballmer: KIN “just defocused activity from Windows Phone”

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Microsoft intends to be bold, in smartphones and other areas.
Microsoft intends to be bold, in smartphones and other areas.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has spoken to Seattle Times about various Microsoft industries, including Windows Phone 7 and the ill-fated KIN phones.

Noting that boldness was the company’s strategy, also going forward, he also made it clear they did not expect to reap the financial rewards from Windows phone 7 very soon.

“You put aside the questions of how you make money and blah, blah, blah. That’s all interesting in the long run. In the short run (claps his hands and rubs them together), people gotta want these phones. I think they’re going to look pretty good. … If we start the popularity chain and start kind of the buzz around these things, we’ll be able to make some money off them.”

The statement likely alludes the the expected gigantic and hugely expensive advertising campaign the company is rumoured to be preparing, with estimates ranging into the $400 million or more.

Ballmer also did not express much regret for the passing of the KIN, claiming it distracted the company from Windows Phone 7.

The No. 1 message from Kin is a message of focus. You only get so many things you can really talk about, communicate, work on with the consumer. You’ve got to be bold, you’ve got to look forward and you’ve got to stay focused. Kin was neither — with 20-20 hindsight — bold enough relative to where the market’s going, and it just defocused activity from Windows Phone.

One wonder what bold moves Microsoft plans for the future, both in Windows Phone 7 and other areas. Do our readers have any suggestions for the company? Let us know below.

Thanks Mobile Paddy for the tip.

More about the topics: kin, microsoft, Steve Ballmer, windows phone 7

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