If there was ever a case to demonstrate Microsoft’s monumental failure in capturing the smartphone market, billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has done it. Singalling that the company’s co-founder has little faith in the Windows 10 Mobile ecosystem, Gates said in an interview that he is using an Android phone with lots of Microsoft software on board.
With Satya Nadella at the helm, Microsoft has brought its much-used productivity software to both Google's Android and Apple's iOS platforms, and Gates seems satisfied with this formula.
In an interview with Fox News, Bill Gates said he was impressed with the competition that Apple founder Steve Jobs helped foster in the software and IT space, he has preferred to switch to an Android smartphone and uses all Windows-based PCs.
"It's great that Apple is continuing to good work [after Steve Jobs passed away]. I happen to use all Windows-based PCs. The phone that I have recently, I actually did switch to an Android phone with lot of Microsoft software, but the competition in software and IT space that Steve [Jobs] help foster, is phenomenal and Microsoft is a big part of that," he told Fox News.
While Bill Gates didn't specifically share the handset that he is using, the reference to "lot of Microsoft software" has led to speculation that he might be talking about the Microsoft edition of either Samsung Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+, which were launched in April this year.
The Microsoft-customised version of the smartphones comes with the Redmond-based company's applications such as Office, OneDrive, Cortana, Outlook and more.
Putting aside any doubts that Gates might be using an iPhone as well on the side, he simply said, "No, no iPhone" when the interviewer asked him if he is not using the iPhone.
