Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told financial analysts Monday that the weak economy and declining PC sales would continue to challenge the company but that Microsoft would focus on growing market share within its seven core businesses.
Ballmer, pulling a page from his infamous "developers, developers, developers" rant, said despite the down economy that Microsoft is telling its employees the focus is on "share, share, share, share."
Ballmer made his remarks at the company's annual fiscal mid-year update for financial analysts. CFO Chris Liddell, who joined Ballmer at the meeting in New York City, said the revenue side of Microsoft would be difficult going forward and that the company was working hard to cut expenses. "We are looking to manage that side more intensively," he said.
The message was similar to the one Microsoft gave a month ago when it cut 1,400 employees and "reset" it's business and financial outlook..
Ballmer framed his share message with strategy details for all of Microsoft's "seven big businesses." He said those seven areas are Windows, Windows Mobile, desktop productivity especially Office, server, enterprise software especially SQL Server, search/advertising, and entertainment/TV.
Ballmer gave hints to developing product road maps and timeframes for upcoming software including adding a netbook version of Windows 7; a 2010 release for Office 14; a new server version and a new version of System Center tools when Windows 7 ships; a low-cost, low-functionality server version called Foundations slated to appear in the next year or so; a high-end version of SQL Server called DataCenter; and a version that runs on the cloud OS Windows Azure. He said Windows and Windows Mobile would become closer in many ways.
"There is still a real distinction between what is a phone and what is a PC, yet the amount of technology that can be shared across that border continues to go up," he said.
Ballmer graded all the businesses in terms of profitability calling Windows profitable, Widows Mobile somewhat unprofitable, desktop productivity very profitable, server very profitable, enterprise software very profitable, search/advertising very unprofitable and entertainment/TV profitable.