Quote of the day by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer: 'There's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share' a staggering misread of the future of consumer devices

Date:
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Description:
The iPhone has become one of the most successful consumer and business
devices in history, defying initial doom and gloom

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The iPhone will go down in history as one of the most iconic technologies that any business has introduced to the world. But not everybody, including Microsoft 's former CEO Steve Ballmer, thought it would be a hit. "Right now, we're selling millions and millions and millions of phones a year. Apple is selling zero phones a year. In six months, they'll have the most expensive phone by far in the marketplace, and let's see how they do. But there's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance." Steve Ballmer, April 2007 Disrupting the market Steve Jobs' iconic presentation revealing
the iPhone in January 2007 had an air of magic around it, capturing the attention of plenty of commentators and technologists. Quote of the day This article is part of TechRadar Pro's QOTD project to provide an insight into
the minds of the brightest and most recognized figures in the technology industry today and in years gone by. Read the full series here . But there were also plenty queuing up to label it a fad that would never take off.
Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's CEO at the time, was among them. Latest Videos
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In an interview with USA Today , a grinning Ballmer laid into the new device, criticizing its expensive pricing and the lack of a physical keyboard. This
is a feature that Microsoft supported with its Windows Mobile operating
system that it licensed to third-party developers like Motorola, which itself was selling a $99 Motorola Q something that Ballmer considered a much better business alternative. The iPhone marches on To be fair to Ballmer, he did say in the same interview that the iPhone could end up selling really well. But
he certainly failed to catch onto its appeal not only as a popular device but one that businesses would embrace. You may like 'Youre holding it wrong': 11 iconic phrases that define Apple's last 50 years I saw Steve Jobs give his last WWDC presentation here's why it still matters 25 years ago, Apple changed the world of computers forever

Businesses appreciate the intuitive mobile device management (MDM) system backing iPhone in the workplace and the interoperability between Apple
devices is something many also find useful. That's not to say Android devices aren't suitable for businesses but Apple indeed tops the rankings for the highest number of shipments among enterprises.

Ballmer has since conceded that he made the wrong call and it just goes to show how tricky predicting the future could be. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/quote-of-the-day-by-former-microsoft-ceo-steve-b allmer-theres-no-chance-that-the-iphone-is-going-to-get-any-significant-market -share-a-staggering-misread-of-the-future-of-consumer-devices


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