Bill Gates: Microsoft's 'Mistake' Left It Behind On Mobile Phones

Gates Admits 'Mistake' Left Microsoft Behind On Mobile Phones

Bill Gates has admitted Microsoft's "mistakes" have left it behind on mobile phones.

"There were a lot of amazing things that [CEO] Steve [Ballmer]'s leadership got done with the company in the last year. Windows 8 is key to the future, the Surface computer. Bing, people are seeing as a better search product, Xbox."

"But is is it enough?" he said in the CBS interview. "No, he and I are not satisfied that in terms of, you know, breakthrough things, that we're doing everything possible."

Gates added that Microsoft had not "[got] out in the lead early" on mobile phones, implying Windows Phone has a long way to go to catch up.

"We didn't miss cell phones, but the way that we went about it didn't allow us to get the leadership. So it's clearly a mistake."

Gates also discussed with philanthropic work, which now occupies the bulk of his time after stepping back from the day-to-day leadership of Microsoft.

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