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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer: Windows Phone 8 will finally make Microsoft relevant in mobile

Published Nov 5th, 2012 2:14PM EST
Windows Phone Sales

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As Microsoft (MSFT) enters the third year in its slow smartphone comeback campaign, sales of Windows Phone-powered handsets are still barely a blip on the radar. According to the company’s chief executive Steve Ballmer however, the new Windows Phone 8 platform will soon change the game. “With the work we have done with Nokia (NOK), HTC (2498), Samsung (005930) and others … there is now an opportunity to create really a strong third participant in the smartphone market,” Ballmer said at a Windows Phone 8 launch event in Israel, Reuters reports.

Ballmer continued, “We’re still relatively small … I expect the volumes on Windows Phone to really ramp quickly.”

Google’s (GOOG) Android platform and Apple’s (AAPL) iOS currently combine to make up the bulk of the smartphone market, and Ballmer says Microsoft plans to spend more on marketing Windows Phone 8, the Surface tablet and Windows 8 than it has on any other products in its storied history.

Smartphones running the Windows Phone 8 operating system will begin launching later this month.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.