Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates created the Windows operating system, which runs billions of desktops and laptops around the world. However, he still regrets that his company was complacent to understand the potential of the mobile industry and failed to create an alternative to Google's Android, which now runs on more than 80-percent of the phones.
Though Microsoft made a delayed attempt with the Windows Mobile platform, the headstart the Google Android and Apple iOS got, was just too overwhelming for the Bill Gates' company to make any dent in the status quo.
"In the software world, particularly for platforms, these are winner-take-all markets. So the greatest mistake ever is whatever mismanagement I engaged in that caused Microsoft not to be what Android is. That is, Android is the standard non-Apple phone platform. That was a natural thing for Microsoft to win. It really is the winners take all. If you’re there with half as many apps or 90 percent as many apps, you’re on your way to complete doom. There’s room for exactly one non-Apple operating system and what’s that worth? $400 billion that would be transferred from company G to company M.” Bill Gates said during an interview with Village Global, a venture capital firm in 2019.
However, Gates over time has grown to love Android. In the recent interview with CNBC and NY Times journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin on Clubhouse invite-only app, Gates revealed why he prefers using an Android mobile over an iPhone.
Though he used to own an iPhone, Gates has now switched to Android, as some of the phones come pre-installed with Microsoft's Office suite of apps. And, he says Android is a bit more flexible when connecting a phone with Windows PCs.
Most people would surely agree with that and I too see the point. It's a real pain when connecting an iPhone to a non-macOS PC to exchange files and images.
Going by the statement, we believe Bill Gates most possibly owns a Samsung phone, as the latter has ties with Microsoft and offers pre-installed Office apps and also exclusive deals via Xbox Game Pass vouchers with premium Galaxy S and Note series phones.
Having said that, Apple iOS continues to be more secure and robust in screening malware-laced apps entering the ecosystem and the recent App Privacy Label feature has enabled people to know what and how much user information is being tracked and stored by the app. Also, in the soon-to-be-released iOS 14.5, Apple will give users the option to completely block all permission to apps to track user information.
During the interview Clubhouse cofounder Paul Davidson also joined the conversation and promised that the company is working hard to bring the Android version of the drop-in audio-only app at the earliest. For now, Clubhouse is available only on Apple App Store and so far, more than 10 million people have installed it.
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