01.08.10
Microsoft Finds Strategy Against Linux Phones: Mock Them
Summary: Microsoft president openly mocks Linux phones rather than stick to promoting his own offerings
MANY phones running Linux are being unveiled at CES 2010. We gave many new examples last night; the one which receives the most attention is Google's Nexus One.
Microsoft’s president who was caught inside-trading [1-3] and never punished for it (possibly a jail sentence) is reacting in an immature way. According to Joseph Tartakoff, he uses Microsoft’s typical party line; Tartakoff asks: “Why is Robbie Bach making disparaging comments about the Nexus One? How about waiting until the release of Windows Mobile 7?”
Well, Windows Mobile is in serious trouble and it has been losing a lot of money. Windows Mobile 7 was recently delayed, too.
A few days ago we wrote about Y2K-like bugs in Windows Mobile and there is more information about it in ZDNet.
Microsoft on Tuesday said it is investigating reports of a glitch causing some Windows Mobile devices to attach the wrong date to incoming SMS messages.
The bottom lines is that rather than fix Windows Mobile Microsoft is now mocking phones that run Linux. This is typical. █
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[1] Microsoft exec dumped stock prior to Red Ring announcement
To make matters more murky, the sales were not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission within the mandatory two days of the transaction, a result of an alleged “administrative error.” Microsoft has since remedied the issue by following the “procedures required of late-filers.”
[2] Microsoft’s Bach sold more stock before Xbox news
Microsoft Corp. executive Robbie Bach sold $3 million more in company stock during the period leading up to an announcement about a costly flaw in its Xbox video game console than previously reported, according to a filing Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
[3] Insider Trading Hasn’t Affect Microsoft Stock – Yet
MarketWatch.com reports that Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices division, sold $6.2 million of Microsoft stock just prior to announcing that Microsoft was going to have to extend XBox 360 warranties to three years because of extensive failures. The filings note that this was not part of any scheduled diversification or selling program; this was a conscious, unscheduled sale by the guy in charge of releasing news that could affect the value of Microsoft stock.
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Insider trading is a very serious violation of the law; just ask Martha Stewart, who served five months in prison for avoiding losses of $43,000 through trades that just had suspicious timing (no insider trading was actually proven). This is $6.3 million that went straight into Robbie Bach’s pocket.
