Microsoft's CEO has admitted that the company's Windows Phone smartphone platform was not a success.
Satya Nadella has said that Microsoft missed the boat when it came to embracing the smartphone boom that saw Windows Phone fall far behind Android and iOS.
Speaking at a WSJD Live interview with Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Gerard Baker, Nadella said that the company, "clearly missed the mobile phone, boom there's no question," adding that, "Our goal now is to make sure we grow new categories."
The statement is surprising as a resurgent smartphone offering was thought to be one of the expected reveals at Microsoft's big launch event in New York tomorrow.
The rumoured 'Surface Phone' was thought to feature a 5.7inch touchscreen with 2K resolution, powered by a Snapdragon 830 processor, and sporting a 20megapixel rear camera with a Carl Zeiss lens.
The Surface Phone could even be a hybrid device, with leaked images suggesting it will have a keyboard cover that allows users to type, similar to Microsoft's Surface Pro devices
The launch was thought to make sense as it could tie together the company's existing Surface product range, allowing users to take advantage of Microsoft Continuum to work seamlessly across multiple devices.
Nadella seemed to suggest that Microsoft's future now lay in the "mixed reality world" - bringing together systems such as augmented and virtual reality to provide users with a fully immersive experience.
This of course is the function of the company's HoloLens device, which is now available in Europe after a long delay.
Nadella said, "The ultimate computer for me is the mixed reality world," noting that HoloLens was already being used in a wide range of use cases, from human anatomy classes to home improvement.
"Your field of view becomes an infinite display. You see the world and in the world you see virtual objects and holograms."
Nadella also said that Microsoft was investing heavily in artificial intelligence, which is now a separate group within the company.
He also seemed to hint that new Surface devices would be coming soon, reflecting on how far the hybrid device category had come within the last few years.
Nadella noted, "Think of what we did - back then, people asked 'What is a 2-in-1?' Now, it's a growing category."
"Whether it be HoloLens, mixed reality, or Surface, our goal is to invent new computers and new computing," he added.
Microsoft's launch event takes place in New York from 10am ET (3pm BST) - you can read Express.co.uk's list of everything we're expecting to see here.
Related articlesSource: Windows Phone WAS a failure, Microsoft CEO admits ahead of new Windows 10 device launch
Comments
Post a Comment