Microsoft

Andrew Hill Exxon challenges Apple to defy gravity

August 10, 2011 4:02 pm by Andrew Hill

Apple’s flirtation with the top spot in the list of the world’s largest companies by market capitalisation – which would end a six-year reign by ExxonMobil – is the sort of market trivia that we journalists love.

Perhaps it’s because rankings are so easy to understand, and a ranking voted on every day has added spice. Apple nearly went under a decade ago, which further enlivens this tale of corporate success. But given the capriciousness of markets, the other main point of interest is that Exxon has managed to hold the top position, with brief interruptions, for so long. Read more

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Posted in Business, Energy, Technology |

Andrew Hill Nokia hands Accenture its hot potato

April 27, 2011 1:55 pm by Andrew Hill

One of Nokia’s biggest challenges is to maintain its home-grown Symbian operating system, while simultaneously producing attractive Windows-run smartphones under its brand-new partnership with Microsoft. Exactly how that would be done was one of the questions I couldn’t yet answer in my recent two-part analysis of Nokia’s future.

It turns out the challenge will be met, in part, by offloading it onto Accenture. On Wednesday, Nokia announced that 3,000 staff – mainly Symbian software engineers – would transfer to the consultancy (an additional 4,000 jobs will be lost across Nokia).

I don’t know what the Finnish for “hot potato” is, but Accenture has been handed one. Read more

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Posted in Management, Technology, Telecoms |

Andrew Hill Nokia: crisis, what crisis?

April 13, 2011 11:11 pm by Andrew Hill

There is no doubting Stephen Elop and his lieutenants’ resolve to rebuild the mobile phone company’s platform, having declared that it is burning. But having interviewed the chief executive and some of his leadership team – as well as current and former staff – for my two-part analysis of the company’s management challenges, I’m left with a nagging question: is the crisis at Nokia grave enough to trigger the necessary cultural and behavioural change at the Finnish group?

It remains a profitable company, with a strong balance sheet and the largest share of mobile phones by units shipped. Barely five years ago, it was riding high, the darling of business school professors and commentators, and that good feeling is hard for veteran Nokians to forget. Read more

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Posted in Management, Technology, Telecoms |

John Gapper Android is the Windows of the smartphone

November 1, 2010 4:15 pm by John Gapper

The rise of Android, the open source smartphone operating system pioneered by Google, continues apace. According to figures from NPD Group, Android was installed in 44 per cent of all smartphones sold in the US in the third quarter, compared with 23 per cent for Apple’s iOS.

Apple has already responded by agreeing to Verizon, which has the most solid US mobile network, selling a CDMA version of the iPhone from next year.

The intriguing thing about the Android vs iOS battle is how closely it mirrors that between Microsoft and Apple’s past battle over PC operating software. Microsoft won on volume with Windows but Apple’s tight control of its OS operating system allowed it retain the quality edge. Read more

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Posted in Business, Technology, Telecoms |

John Gapper Google manages to keep on innovating

August 31, 2010 5:54 pm by John Gapper

One of the trickiest challenges for a company is continuous innovation – to keep updating and refreshing its products when the excitement of a product launch is past – so I take my hat off to Google.

In contrast to Microsoft, which in the past let products such as Internet Explorer and Hotmail get overtaken by newer rivals, Google is devoted to updating its online software suite, including Gmail and other applications including Google Calendar. Read more

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Posted in Technology |
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