March 16th, 2007
Ballmer's take on Google: Milking one good idea
Worth watching: Speaking at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that Google is still in an early phase, in which it can milk its "one good idea" effectively. The question is does Google have an encore, another huge and profitable component of its business. Microsoft has done the desktop and servers, and it trying to an encore with online and consumer electronics. It would appear that Google has a lot more milk to extract from its search business, and a big enough herd of cows to fund new business extensions, including the desktop and consumer electronics (Google phone) over the next few decades. Of course, funding new businesses isn't a guarantee of success, but Google could learn a lot from Microsoft, a company this is incredibly persistent in going after markets. As Ballmer has said about the Zune, Microsoft will keep at it until it gets it right, as it has done with the xBox.
Regarding Google's trying to double staff in a year, Ballmer called the idea "insane," but said that it doesn't mean they won't do well.
Dan Farber, editor-in-chief of CNET News.com, has more than 20 years of experience as an editor and journalist covering technology. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
