Microsoft Workers Hide Their iPhones From Management

wsj.com:

Microsoft Corp. employees are passionate users of the latest tech toys. But there is one gadget love that many at the company dare not name: the iPhone.

The iPhone is made, of course, by Microsoft's longtime rival, Apple Inc. The device's success is a nagging reminder for Microsoft executives of how the company's own efforts to compete in the mobile business have fallen short in recent years. What is especially painful is that many of Microsoft's own employees are nuts for the device.

Read the whole story: wsj.com

Comments

[LisaCACO]

11:32 AM on 03/17/2010

omg, this story made my day. love a good giggle at microsoft's expense.

[Cryostatic]

03:52 PM on 03/16/2010

Rediculous. Ballmer's 'iPhone Stomping" in question was a joke for the cameras, as anyone with eyes and access to Youtube can see. As far as iPhone use goes, even Allard, one of Microsoft's top execs has and uses one publicly on a regular basis.

As for the standard rank-and-file employees, it just makes sense that they'd be reluctant to show their use of a competitor's products around the higher-ups. Whether the boss cares or not, who wants to take the chance?

[zombywulf]

03:24 PM on 03/16/2010

MS employees on the phone-low

[audadvnc]

05:02 PM on 03/15/2010

Oh, yeah. There is a company out there that's even worse than Appall - Micro$oft! The people who brought you Win95 and the Blue Screen of Death. And the XBox and the Red Circle of Death. These guys are good at something, I'm told...

[Pompidio]

03:42 PM on 03/15/2010

Umm... no. I work at Microsoft, and though I've certainly heard people tease other people about their iPhones in a light-hearted and not unkind way, I've never heard of any concerted efforts along these lines. The only part that vaguely makes sense in the article is with respect to the sales force, since in their case, it's all about presentation.

Additionally, I'm never sure whether to be amused or annoyed when articles address a corporation as if it's some sort of Borg gestalt, be it Microsoft, Apple, or Google. "Microsoft's Secret" was the HuffPo link that brought me here -- ooh, sounds scary, doesn't it?

[Eris23]

02:45 PM on 03/15/2010

As usual, after reading both the article and the blog, I didn't see "kill" appear anywhere. Keep up the good work, HP. One day, the NY Post will hire some of you.

[Rogo99]

02:41 PM on 03/15/2010

Maybe somebody can design a case/cover that disguises it as another brand of phone.
But some posters are right, you won't see Fritos being served at a Coca-Cola party.

[PenguinLinux]

01:54 PM on 03/15/2010

Neither Apple or Microsoft matter. I use Linux.

[StephBr]

03:02 PM on 03/15/2010

Well, some of us just want to USE the computer to achieve things, you know, like work and such...

[Flying Dutchman]

07:37 AM on 03/16/2010

Linux kicks @ss!

[vibroluxor]

12:11 PM on 03/15/2010

Well Duh. It's just bad form. If you work for Wrangler, you can't wear Levis to the office on casual Fridays.

[Eris23]

02:44 PM on 03/15/2010

Hehe. I kind of disagree. I used to work for Nike and wore Airwalks to work. I, of course, was pulled to the side very early on and told that, in order to be a team player, I should be wearing a pair of Nike shoes. The Nike jacket I wore wasn't enough. But, easy enough, I thought. I march down to the store on the campus and, with an employee discount, can get a pair of Nike shoes for $40. I kept wearing my $20 Airwalks.

[Papasito]

12:10 PM on 03/15/2010

MS Sucks.

[lightningbolt]

11:55 AM on 03/15/2010

The iPhone rules.

[StephBr]

03:03 PM on 03/15/2010

I have one, it's just a phone, it doesn't rule my world.

[lightningbolt]

03:13 PM on 03/15/2010

You haven't used it to its full potential yet.

[crayola 08b]

04:57 PM on 03/15/2010

ooh, u obviously haven't discovered the magic button yet.

[TruEngineHearing]

11:31 AM on 03/15/2010

Now he wants to crush my iPhone. Ballmer must have an admirer - maybe many, but I would not be one of them. He can dance across a stage unlike anything on earth - part wonder-hog, part John Galt's real estate agent, but when it comes to projecting image and value, he just keeps on dancin', swinging a club at things in front of him. Sorry Steve, you'll have to settle for pantloads of money - respect, not so much.

[crayola 08b]

11:05 AM on 03/15/2010

ha! the 21st century version of "the love that dare not speak its name." :P